by John Reid

Back in 2021, early voters were given an opportunity to participate in the voting process on Sundays as “Souls to the Polls” took place throughout the state. Yesterday in Prince William County at several locations, this year’s event saw a multitude of voters come out and let their voices be heard. It was a successful event as it took place at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Woodbridge, the Office of Elections in Manassas, and the Haymarket Gainesville Library.

The voters were greeted by candidates who are running for Prince William County school board seats, Board of County Supervisor positions, as well as for delegates. Candidates took the time to answer questions and hand out literature. According to the Prince William County Office of Election’s X page, it was the highest single-day turnout in the county so far this election season.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Omicron Zeta Sigma Chapter President Deon K. Young provided the PW Perspective the following statement: “Many people know about the march for voting rights that occurred on March 7, 1965, known as “Bloody Sunday,” when over 600 people crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama and were violently attacked by Alabama State Troopers.  However, very few people know that it was two men, Reverend Hosea Williams and the late Honorable Congressman John R. Lewis, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) founder and Chairman, of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., who led that march. So, when Virginia first allowed for early in person voting on Sundays, as a fraternity committed to empowering generations of men to believe in advocacy, community service, and engagement, the men of Omicron Zeta Sigma Chapter, Prince William County,Virginia, committed to the mantra of our late Brother, the Honorable John R. Lewis by “gettng in good trouble, necessary trouble” through our Souls to the Polls get out the vote initiative.”

The fraternity, which has hosted the “Let’s Be Clear” town hall series the past few months to address issues such as public safety and education, will host the next edition at Saunders Middle School this Thursday at 7:00pm. This will be focused on the Board of County Supervisors race. For more information, visit their Facebook page.