Politics
Texas faith coalition urges members of historically Black churches to vote early
Black Out Sunday is seeking participation from 1,000 historically Black churches across Texas during the final week of early voting. At a Fort Worth church, organizers paired voter outreach with a community festival.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A statewide faith-based effort is encouraging congregants to vote early, with participating churches sharing polling information, offering voter assistance and, in some cases, arranging transportation.
The Black Out Sunday initiative, led by Impact Texas 2026, aims to engage 1,000 historically Black churches across Texas during the final weekend of early voting. The effort is nonpartisan and focused on increasing voter participation.
Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth marked the initiative with a festival intended to motivate its congregation, which numbers about 1,000 people, to cast ballots. Valerie and Fred Smith voted early Sunday.
Valerie Smith said voting early gives people a chance to cast their ballots before unexpected circumstances might prevent them from voting later. Fred Smith described voting as a right and responsibility instilled in him from childhood.
The Rev. Parish Lowery, the church’s pastor, said voting is a way for residents to pursue change in their communities and honor those who died fighting for the right to vote.
Early voting was scheduled to continue through Friday, Oct. 30. More than 3 million Texans had already voted early, according to VoteHub’s 2026 Midterm Early Voting Tracker.