Alachua County candidates and community groups lined NE First Street behind the Supervisor of Elections office as part of Saturday’s Souls to the Polls event.  

Hosted by the NAACP and African American Accountability Alliance (4As), the event aims to register voters, inform them on issues and encourage everyone to vote.  

Rodney Long, president of 4As, said the group brings African Americans together to strategize on the issues they find important—like the political process and voting. 

“Too many people have died and sacrificed and gave their lives for us to have the right and the privilege to vote,” Long said. “So, our job is to make sure that we do that.” 

The event featured music by the New Beginnings Christian Worship Center and others, along with free hotdogs and hamburgers.  

Candidates who participated also gave three-minute stump speeches about their platform and experience. 

The primaries will arrive on Tuesday and decide the School Board of Alachua County and Gainesville City Commission races. Voters will also select Democratic and Republican nominees for Alachua County Commission, Alachua County Sheriff and state seats.  

Evelyn Foxx, president of the Alachua County chapter of the NAACP, encouraged attendees to get 10 other people to go to the polls and vote. 

“The NAACP theme for this year is ‘all in,’” Foxx said. “That means we want everyone to join together to make things happen, especially in getting out to vote in this very crucial general election in November.”