MOULTRIE, Ga. — Colquitt County Democrats emphasized the importance of getting out the vote during a “Listen-Up” session Thursday night.

“I believe that we can get more people out to vote, but it’s going to take us doing that as a community versus someone out there doing it as a candidate,” said Moultrie City Councilman the Rev. Cornelius Ponder III at the event. “If we want to see a change from our state and local level, it’s imperative that for the next two months we work hard as we can to get more people out to vote in November.”

It was a packed house at the session, which was held at the Colquitt County Arts Center.

After Ponder’s welcome, the program featured a brief video that gave background on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and what she brings to the table as a potential governor.

Cheri Blackman, a state campaign organizer for Abrams, spoke afterwards.

“I am happy to be here,” Blackman said. “The turnout for this meeting is bigger than what I usually   see.

“Most people don’t know that Southwest Georgia is the most important district on this campaign,” she said. “The south is where this election will be won. We have to knock on doors and get people to the poll.”

As November rapidly approaches both sides are trying to do last minute campaigning and Alma Fleming, head of the Colquitt County Democratic Committee, knows it.

“I remember it was one point where the Moultrie -Colquitt area was a forgotten county,” said Fleming, “but we got fired up and got it done. Now we need to do the same to make sure Stacey Abrams is the next governor of Georgia.”

Abrams faces Republican candidate Brian Kemp, the state’s current secretary of state, in the general election Nov. 6. Early voting starts Oct. 15.