BUFFALO, N.Y. —   VOICE Buffalo kicked off the start of early voting Saturday by hosting Souls to the Polls at the Delavan-Grider Community Center

The organization says many crucial races are at stake this year and want to push people to vote in them.

"Because of us being powerless, not activating our power to vote, we have become the victim," said New Cedar Grove Life Change Church Pastor John Sullivan. "And we have been suffering in silence. Today we come to souls to the polls to say not again."

Last month, VOICE Buffalo also hosted a candidate forum for those running in the Erie County sheriff’s race.