MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Early votes continue to come in as we approach Election Day on Nov. 5, but turnout is below what we saw in 2020. As of Thursday, 145,743 people voted early in Shelby County. That is an increase over the 2016 early voting numbers, but still lower than the 219,454 who had early voted by this time in 2020. WREG talked to voters about what is, or isn't, pushing them to the polls. "The division between the two parties has really played a big role in just kind of wearing people out, I feel like a lot, and it's led to some apathy," said Alex Bateman, who said he plans to cast his ballot on Election Day. Over at the NAACP office, there is a direct appeal to a segment of voters, Black men, with local leaders urging them to cast their ballot. "We got to get black men fired up and ready to go to the polls," Van Turner said. 1 in 4 young Black men say they will vote for Trump: Survey Ian Randolph with the Shelby County Voter Alliance says, despite record voter registration this year, the number of people actually heading to the polls is down."You can't just go and register for somebody to vote, you have to follow up with that person to get them to show up at the polls," Randolph said. "So that's part of what Shelby County Alliance does as well, that is follow up with people that we register." Siju Crawford with Up the Vote 901 says the only way to get grievances addressed is to vote. "What I hear them saying is they feel that they are being left out," Crawford said. "Now that the presidential election will be behind us and we will have whatever candidate we have, this is our opportunity to galvanize as a community, but particularly Black men, and say, these are the things that we want, locally and federally, in exchange for our votes."Wagner Osborne agrees voting is the key but she also thinks there may be a disconnect with some citizens."I think early voting, I think not enough people know about it," Osborne said. "I was with my friends earlier this week, and we were talking about it, and, like, half of them didn't know that you could vote early. So maybe that, maybe just, like, awareness of early voting."That is why voter mobilizations and rallies have been taking place all over the city, like the Rolls to the Polls event at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on Thursday night, making people aware of early voting opportunities and getting them to the polls to punch the ballot. ELECTION GUIDE: Presidential, state and local races, Nov. 5, 2024 Voting officials say Shelby County has consistently been behind other large cities in Tennessee when it comes to voter turnout. They are hoping that changes this year. "Whatever candidate you're you're voting for, I just think it's important to either side, get your voice out there and, you know, make your make your vote count," Bateman said.