Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
By Jodi Yonder
TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida is famous for its razor thin statewide election margins. And for the last twenty years, the nail-biting phenomenon has been the only certainty voters and candidates are assured of when all the ballots are counted. In Election 2020 the Florida chapters of the nation’s oldest African American Greek sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha has launched an effort to increase Black voter participation in rural counties with significant Black voter population.
Around 50 rural counties have made the difference in the outcomes of major races. In 2018, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum lost to Governor Ron DeSantis by just over 30,000 votes. But for US Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, the loss by around 10,000 votes to former Governor Rick Scott, after a recount, was stunning. In both races, Black turnout in the overlooked rural counties could have made the difference.
Capitol City Connection Chairmen Gayle Andrews of Delta Kappa Omega and Gina Henderson of Chi Upsilon Omega were guided by the sorority’s national mandate “AKAs LEAD” to the Polls to develop virtual rallies, Florida AKA’s Stroll to the Polls. Florida Connection Coordinator Veronica E. Phillips and Florida South Atlantic Regional Representative to the International Connection Committee Sylvia Sloane Jones provided leadership in the mobilization of 37 chapters that have adopted rural counties for phone banking during early voting in Florida from October 19 – November 1.
“The Alpha Kappa Alpha mantra is “Service to All Mankind.” That has not changed in 112 years. Our focus on humanity equates to improving quality of life. Participating in democracy achieves that end. Participation in the democratic process is the path to progress. And we will LEAD in 2020,” according to South Atlantic Regional Director Carolyn Gause Randolph.
The Florida AKAs are planning two virtual rallies. The Old School on October 17 and the Hip Hop for millennials on October 24. The Sunshine State Soros also produced an infomercial on voting early by mail. The Florida AKAs are the first Black Greek sorority to initiate a coordinated campaign effort in Florida, a major battleground state.