Black Voters Matter made a stop in Youngstown Thursday afternoon, rallying voters to head to the polls.

It's part of their efforts to fight voter disengagement in communities across the United States, as many Black Americans report feeling disconnected from the nation's political agenda.

"We don't want them to silence their vote, we want them to be able to use their voice to uplift the things we see in our communities every day," BVM's Vashitta Johnson tells 21 News.

The issue of Black voter turnout is in the national spotlight as early voting continues in many states. Winning over this bloc of voters could give a leading edge to either candidate in the run for the White House.

Historically, Black voters have rallied behind Democratic candidates, notably giving a boost to Barack Obama in 2008 and Joe Biden's campaign in 2020.

Some voters at the BVM rally tell 21 News that the stakes of this years election have cemented their alignment towards Kamala Harris.

"This is such an issue for our Democracy," voter Charlene Allen said. "I just couldn't vote for anybody else, other than the Democratic ticket."

But Black voters are also feeling the effects of polarization. While Harris still maintains a strong lead, some are reportedly shifting towards Trump. A recent public opinion poll shows support for Harris has dropped among Black men in swing states.

Long-time Republican voter Homer Warren says, he feels it's because many are buying into an image of Trump's platform being sold to them, rather than its values. "Politicians treat us as sheep, they treat us as somebody to be manipulated," he said. "and they're able to do that because we see ourselves as consumers."

Despite that trend, Warren says, this year marks his first time voting a straight Democratic ticket.