By james art 
The usual 9 a.m. service at Bethel AME Church in Tallahassee concludes with religious leaders offering final words of wisdom to their congregation. On Sunday, however, the clergy asked their congregation to take that wisdom to the voting booth in Souls to the Ballots.
This statewide effort by the Florida Democratic Party and the Harris-Waltz campaign is their latest push encouraging black voters to “put their faith into action at the ballot box,” according to organizers.
With the election just days away and more than 55 percent of Leon County registered voters already casting ballots, members of Bethel AME Church met with local candidates at the Perry Library for the final day of early voting. School Board member Daryl Jones emphasized why their votes matter in this upcoming election.
“The Black Church remains the unbiased and uncompromising voice of its people. And he always spoke truth to power. So, with that comes the responsibility for our people to be politically engaged.
“The reason I’m involved in Souls to the Polls is because there’s been a long history of discrimination against African-Americans being able to vote. I feel like there are people who have died for the opportunity to vote, and it’s imperative that I be able to have a voice,” said Bethel AME Church member Olivia Jones, who voted today on the last day of early voting. “My voice is my voice.”
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