Hometown roots, civic push: Elizabeth City natives host voting awareness night

Two men with deep roots in Elizabeth City are inviting their hometown to a nonpartisan evening about voting, and what comes after it.

"From Awareness to Action: Your Voice. Your City. Your Vote." runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at The Pines at Elizabeth City, 1525 N. Road St. The community voting awareness event is organized by Carolina Roots Initiative and sponsored by Unwavering Belief Inc. Free food and drinks will be served, and guests are asked to dress business casual, according to the event flyer.

Darius Walton and Shawn Walker are part of the team behind the evening. Asked what the night is really about, Walton described it as community development, growth, involvement and engagement: getting neighbors into the same room, hearing from the people who lead the area and turning that conversation into action at the ballot box and beyond.

Walton is an Elizabeth City native and a graduate of Northeastern High School, where he was a team captain, an all-conference football player, a National Honor Society member and president of the school's Future Business Leaders of America chapter, according to his NC State athletics profile. He played football at NC State, where he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting, and went on to complete a master's degree in real estate finance and development at UNC Charlotte's Childress Klein Center for Real Estate. He has written publicly about his goal of developing undervalued and underserved communities through financial and business education and real estate development.

Organizers say residents will hear from local leaders, including the mayor of Elizabeth City, members of the City Council and some Pasquotank County commissioners. Also expected are Sam Davis III, the Democratic candidate for N.C. House District 5, who faces Republican incumbent Bill Ward on Nov. 3, and Superior Court Judge Eula Reid, an Elizabeth City native and Elizabeth City State University graduate who is on the ballot for District 1, Seat 2 against Republican Robert Trivette.

But organizers say the most important guests are the voters of Elizabeth City. The event is nonpartisan, and the goal is for residents to be free to be who they are, voice their concerns and vote the way they choose. No invitation is needed. "You might not have an invitation, but you are invited," organizers said in a message to the community.

The timing is deliberate. In-person early voting in Pasquotank County is held only at the county Board of Elections office, 1409 Parkview Drive, from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, the last day. Eligible residents who are not registered can register and vote in the same visit during early voting. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Dionna Robinson, who brought news of the event to GET News, said she is excited about the evening and has decided to join forces with the organization. She is encouraging everyone in Elizabeth City to come out tonight and be part of the movement.

Voters can check their registration, find their Election Day polling place and view a sample ballot at ncsbe.gov.