Faith leaders, Berrien Connection rally early voters to polls in Benton Harbor

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. --Faith leaders and organizations from around Benton Harbor gathered over 200 early voters for food, community, and to show that civic participation is more important now than ever.

Saturday was the first official day for early voting in Michigan, and for Berrien Connection Executive Director Chokwe Pitchford, it was a real chance to educate the Benton Springs community on how important local election decisions are.

"It's about getting people in the room and having that critical conversation about what is important right now and that's civic engagement and civic involvement," Pitchford said.

That civic engagement is exactly what was brought to the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Benton Harbor as residents showed up in droves.

For less experienced voters like Jawana Young, it was a chance to learn.

"This is the first political event that I've been to this year, and I'm sure that was the case for a lot of other people," Young said. "I wasn't fully aware of what they we're going to be talking about today, but afterwards, I'm so glad that I came."

Luckily, for voters like Young, the event provided a chance for education thanks to Pitchford.

For Pitchford, one point of emphasis is how local elections remain the most important because of the direct effect they can have on a community and those residing in it.

"What at the end of the day is going to, I think, motivate a person to vote is when someone looks at them and says, "I know that you've hit that pothole eight times this week," Pitchford said. "I know that there hasn't been new housing built that you can afford in this community in 10 years. I know that good-paying jobs left 20 years ago, and the dream that you were sold that getting a bachelor's degree and going off to college is going to give you this great life. It didn't work, but you aren't a bad person because of that. There is a system that failed you, and we can't expect a system that failed you to fix itself. You have to get involved."

If you are a Michigan resident and would like to hit those polls early, there are still plenty of chances for you to do so before election day on Nov. 3.

The best way to find your nearest polling station is by checking in with your county clerk's office.