The Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) and ESSENCE are bringing back Paint the Polls Black, a three-part virtual town hall series meant to help voters prepare for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, the organizations announced this week.

The town halls will air on consecutive Mondays from 8 to 9:30 p.m. ET, starting Oct. 19 and ending Nov. 2. They will be hosted by Alphonso David, president and CEO of GBEF, and Ebony McMorris, a journalist with American Urban Radio Networks. Each session will stream on ESSENCE and GBEF platforms and include time for audience questions.

The organizers say this year’s series will tie the mechanics of voting to issues like jobs, business opportunities, housing, health care and education.

“People are asking real questions about what this election means for their families, their livelihoods and their futures,” David said in a statement. He said the goal is for participants to leave knowing “how to prepare, where to turn for help and how to protect their freedom to be heard.”

The first session, on Oct. 19, will focus on voter registration, early voting and voting by mail. Guests will discuss how to check registration status, find state-specific rules and deadlines, and locate official guidance on casting a ballot before Election Day. The session will also address misinformation and the experiences of young voters and students at historically Black colleges and universities.

The Oct. 26 town hall will center on election protection, with experts explaining where voters can turn if they run into problems at the polls. Organizers said people of color, people with past criminal convictions and married women who changed their names have reported difficulty voting. Speakers will include people working in election protection, and the session will cover volunteer opportunities and court and legislative efforts around ballot access.

The final session, on Nov. 2, will focus on finding polling information, checking identification requirements, getting voter assistance and making a plan to vote. Guests will also discuss congressional and local races.

Because registration deadlines and voting rules differ by state, organizers urged voters to check their status now through vote.org or their state or local election office rather than waiting for the first event.

Paint the Polls Black is presented by GBEF and ESSENCE . Organizers said the first event, held in 2024, drew more than 200,000 people.

Registration and streaming details are available at gbef.com and essence.com/paintthepollsblack.

Author: Shelby Stewart

Read the original article on Essence.