Photos courtesy VOTE and X Marks the Ballot
Jayvon Watkins Data News Weekly Contributor
Only 36-percent of 3 million registered voters in Louisiana cast a ballot in the 2023 governor’s race, according to data from the Louisiana Secretary of State. With the presidential and national elections approaching in November, local voting organizations are focused on reaching out to residents, especially those who often feel disengaged from the voting process.
“We register people to vote, and our target audience is formerly incarcerated people,” said Charles Amos, the New Orleans Chapter Organizer for Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), who is also working to engage formerly incarcerated individuals in the electoral process. VOTE was founded by Norris Henderson who was wrongfully incarcerated and served a 27-year sentence.
“Formerly incarcerated people do have the right to vote,” Amos explained. “It’s important that they realize this and not only register to vote but pledge to vote.”
In Louisiana, people who have been convicted of a felony can vote if they are no longer serving a sentence, if they are on probation, or if they have been on parole for more than 5 years. Amos said it’s important for formerly incarcerated individuals to know their rights, and to be involved in decisions that affect their communities.
“I remember the quote ‘no taxation without representation,’” Amos said. “If you’re going to tax me, then I should have a say on how my money is being spent.”
Young voters are another focus of VOTE’s efforts. Tayla Chatman, a canvasser with the organization, first got involved by joining the group at the capital to sit in during a legislative session.
“I learned a lot about how laws work and how the people we put in office make decisions that affect our lives,” Chatman said. She now focuses on encouraging others to vote in local elections because those elections are important, too.
“A lot of young people are aware of problems, but I don’t think they understand they can actually change the way things are when they vote,” Chatman said.
VOTE is working to engage new and younger voters, Amos said, who often may not know how to register for the first time, find a voting location or understand which districts they are eligible to vote for. The organization is collaborating with College Campus Voting Organizations to improve the rate of young voter participation.
“What we’re trying to emphasize is that voting and being active in politics impacts your everyday life,” said Keziah-Yvonne Smith, the Director of Elections for Xavier University of Louisiana’s Student Government. Smith is also a Co-Director in Xavier’s “X Marks the Ballot” Initiative which focuses on getting students civically engaged and passionate about voting.
However, getting young people active and involved in voting has not been easy. Smith’s team recently traveled to Loyola University in New Orleans to conduct surveys of students to see how they felt about voting.
“A lot of people feel like their vote doesn’t matter,” Smith said. “If everyone actually went to do their civic duty that is when change happens. Students and young voters have been changemakers in a lot of previous elections,” she added.
Nevertheless, Smith is still determined to reach out to students who feel disconnected from politics. “It’s been a challenge, but it’s been a good challenge,” Smith said. She also emphasizes that her goal is not just to get people registered to vote but to also get them to be active voters. “It’s one thing to register, and it’s another thing to actually vote.”
Initiatives like X Marks the Ballot and organizations like VOTE are bringing voter resources to communities who often may not know where to look for voting guides and information.
“People fought tremendously to give me the right to vote, so now in 2024 it is our job to go out and do what they couldn’t,” Smith said.
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