“Your Platform Has Power”: Montgomery Influencers Challenged to Mobilize Voter

By Jamal Thomas

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The message was direct Thursday evening at The Nest at ASU Stadium: having influence comes with the opportunity to inform, educate and engage.

Community leaders, elected officials, content creators and local influencers gathered Sept. 10 for “Open Mic: The Power of Platforms,” a special influencer event centered on voter participation and the Reach the 619 initiative. Organizers encouraged attendees to use their platforms to reach Alabamians who are registered but do not consistently participate in elections.

Throughout the evening, speakers stressed that voting should not be viewed only through the lens of presidential elections. Decisions affecting education, public safety, healthcare, economic development, infrastructure and other everyday concerns are also made by officials elected at the state and local levels.

“We have to do a better job of communicating with our people,” Alabama House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels told the audience. “All of you have influence with people that we’re trying to reach here in the state of Alabama.”

The Reach the 619 campaign is focused on engaging more than 619,000 Black Alabamians who do not consistently participate in elections. Through community outreach, education and personal connections, the initiative aims to encourage more registered voters to recognize the power of their voices and become active participants in the electoral process. Organizers emphasized that increasing voter participation can strengthen communities and ensure that more Alabamians have a voice in decisions that affect their families and neighborhoods.

For the speakers, the solution begins with conversations—not simply political advertisements. Organizers argued that trusted voices such as community advocates, business owners, clergy members, media personalities and digital content creators may be able to reach people traditional political messaging does not.

One of the evening’s strongest themes was the importance of participation beyond national elections.

“We have to exercise our right to vote in every election,” Alabama Senate Minority Leader Sen. Bobby Singleton said, while emphasizing the impact state legislators and local elected officials can have on residents’ daily lives. “We can’t sit down on the sideline and talk about what are they doing and what they should be doing. Do your part. Volunteer. Ask, ‘What can I do? How can I help?’”

The next Alabama general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Alabama’s official voter guide lists races for U.S. Senate and House, governor and other statewide offices, state legislative seats, judicial offices and various county positions. The state’s voter-registration deadline for the general election is Oct. 19.

As November approaches, the challenge issued at Open Mic was simple: know your voting status, learn about the candidates and issues, and make an informed decision about whether and how to participate. For those with an audience, organizers added another responsibility—make sure accurate voting information reaches the people who trust their voices.

Check your vote registration status here.