The Fort Lauderdale version of Souls to the Polls, one of the premier political events in the Black community, is changing for this year’s primary.<\/p>\n
The traditional march planned for Sunday, the last day of early voting before the Aug. 18 primary, is canceled, former state Sen. Chris Smith, the lead organizer, said by text Wednesday. He cited “myriad of circumstances and scheduling conflicts,” and promised the march would return for the general election.<\/p>\n
Marsha Ellison, president of the Fort Lauderdale\/Broward Branch of the NAACP, said later Wednesday the rally that usually follows the march would go on.<\/p>\n
She said it’s essential to encourage people to hear from candidates, learn about the issues and vote.<\/p>\n
“This is truly the most important election of our lifetime,” Ellison said. “Everything that we care about is on the ballot. Literally, democracy and freedom are on the ballot, so we are encouraging our people to turn out after church.”<\/p>\n
Anyone is welcome to attend the event, where there will be music and free food, Ellison said. “Everybody’s welcome,” she said. “It’s going to be like a family reunion at the polls.”<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people typically gather at New Hope Baptist Church for a mile-long march down Sistrunk Boulevard, the main street of the historically Black northwest part of the city.<\/p>\n
Police shut down the street for the march, led by a bullhorn-toting Smith. Federal, state and local candidates participate. At the conclusion, politicians speak at a rally and circulate among voters.<\/p>\n
Souls to the Polls events have become a tradition since Florida authorized in-person early voting in the early 2000s. They started with clergy at Black churches urging parishioners to leave services and head directly to the nearest early voting sites.<\/p>\n
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The idea has since evolved to a broader effort by politicians, clergy and celebrities to attract attention and make a broader audience realize it needs to vote. They’re no longer Sunday-only events. A Souls to the Polls event is planned for Saturday in Miami Gardens.<\/p>\n
Though Souls to the Polls events are usually billed as nonpartisan, they’re aimed at turning out Democratic voters. Smith, a former Democratic leader in both the Florida Senate and Florida House, left public office in 2016, but still organizes Souls to the Polls activities and serves as an emcee.<\/p>\n
Ellison said any candidate for elected office who shows up will get a chance to speak.<\/p>\n