FARRELL, Pa. - The number of eligible black voters is reaching more than 34 million ahead of the presidential election on November 5. 

Local groups including Mercer County's NAACP hosted voters in the minority community to discuss the key issues deciding their vote.  

Many agree they've never seen the political climate as heated as the present day.  

Affordable housing, police brutality, and racial equality are on the minds of African American voters in the Farrell community as they head to the polls in just two weeks.

"This election is very crucial," explained Farrell Mayor Kimberly Doss. "It's important for your democracy, freedom, rights, and family to get out and vote."

The Mercer County NAACP was planning on hosting prominent Civil Rights Activist Reverend Jesse Jackson to discuss the key political issues facing the black community. A scheduling error from Jackson's team led to a last-minute cancellation, but it didn't stop the community from discussing topics most important to them, including affordable housing and housing shortages in town.

"There's some candidates that are pushing for the affordable housing," Doss added. "Helping with down payments and stuff like that which would be great for our community."

"I'm happy to see more diversity on the ballot and another minority with the potential of being elected as well," explained Lamont Peterson with The Farrell Podcast. "You're always going to have voters that are going to come out with negative stuff to say during election season, but there will also be positive parts. Your neighbor or coworker may come out to surprise you that your values align."

A USA Today poll shows Harris and Trump are statistically tied and both are focused on Black voters heading into the last week of October. VP Harris bolstered her campaign to focus on minority voters, utilizing prominent Democratic figures including former President Barack Obama.  

"Real strength is about helping people who need it," Obama shouted at a Detroit rally on Tuesday. 

"People fear what they don't understand," explained Richard Hughes with The Farrell Podcast. "And if more people would take time to understand one another instead of going with the low-hanging fruit of common differences, then I think we could achieve more as a country."

"It takes more than just the presidency," Peterson added. "You have to think about the local communities and the small towns."

"Remember that your vote counts," Doss added. "And you want to cast your vote because if you don't vote, you're giving the other candidate a vote."

Other issues discussed include small business assistance and combating drugs in the community.