By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
As North Carolina approaches Election Day, members of the Divine Nine, along with civil rights organizations, student groups, and community advocates, have organized a series of events throughout Durham and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area focused on the 2026 midterm elections. Through these efforts, historically Black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs) and their community partners have worked to promote voter participation, provide voter education and support election protection efforts.
The nation's nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations, collectively known as the Divine Nine (D9), have a longstanding history of community service, leadership development, and civic engagement. This election season, local chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. have partnered with organizations including the North Carolina Black Alliance, Advance Carolina, the Black Alliance, the NAACP, and other community groups on voter engagement initiatives.
In Durham, one of the major initiatives has been Party at the Polls, supported by the North Carolina Black Alliance and community partners, including the Kappas of Durham Foundation, 1KWomenStrong and the HBCU Collective. The events have featured music, food, entertainment, and family-friendly activities alongside efforts to encourage residents to participate in early voting.
Last Thursday, the North Carolina Black Alliance and Advance Carolina hosted a Party at the Polls event at the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law. Billed as "Brunch, Ballots & Bull City Energy," the gathering featured music, food, and opportunities for community members to come together while encouraging NCCU students and Durham residents to participate in early voting.
The Party at the Polls initiative continued Saturday when the Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. hosted an event at the Durham Main Library. The gathering took place on the final day of early voting and was part of the chapter's broader community engagement and political awareness efforts.
The final gathering took place Monday at the Durham Main Library, where the HBCU Collective's Durham Party at the Polls effort brought community members together to mark the end of early voting and the beginning of Election Week.
The event featured free food, music by DJ RAWW, children's activities, and giveaways. Organizers also recognized the reported high turnout during early voting, including participation among Black voters, and encouraged residents to remain engaged ahead of Election Day.
In addition to the community activities, Monday's event highlighted voter education and election protection efforts. Organizers acknowledged the contributions of Election Protection volunteers, poll monitors, and the Black Legal Network, which work to assist voters and address potential barriers to voting.
Election Protection volunteers and poll monitors are trained, nonpartisan individuals who provide assistance at or near polling locations. Their responsibilities include helping voters navigate polling procedures, answering general questions, providing information about registration and identification requirements, and directing voters to appropriate resources when issues arise. They may also assist with concerns involving long lines, accessibility, and potential voter intimidation.
The Black Legal Network provides an additional level of support through volunteer attorneys, legal professionals, and law students who can help address more complex election-related concerns. These may include voter registration disputes, provisional ballot questions, voting machine malfunctions, and other issues involving election procedures or voting rights. The election protection efforts are particularly relevant to communities that have historically faced barriers to voting, including African American voters.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Carrboro, members of the Divine Nine joined civil rights organizations for a Stroll to the Polls March on Sunday, marking the final Sunday of early voting. The march was organized by the Chapel Hill Zetas of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Chapel Hill Sigmas of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and other local Divine Nine chapters, including members of Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta.
