‘When We Vote, We Win’: Hundreds Pack Baton Rouge Town Hall as Leaders Link Voting Rights, Funding Battles, and Generational Power

BATON ROUGE, La. — Pastor Mark A. Ellis Sr. opened the doors of United Christian Faith Ministries Annex to community leaders, elected officials, advocates, and residents Tuesday night for a powerful town hall focused on civic engagement, voting rights, youth participation, and the future of political representation in Louisiana.

The annex was filled to capacity as more than 100 residents gathered in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, a decision civil rights advocates say could reshape congressional representation and Black political influence in the state.

Organized by the Power Coalition for Equity & Justice and the United Excel Social Justice Ministry, the event brought together a wide lineup of Louisiana leaders, including U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, State Sen. Regina Barrow, State Rep. Vanessa Caston LaFleur, Daniel Vane of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee, and Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Edmund Jordan.

A video message from U.S. Rep. Troy Carter set the tone.

“When we vote, we win,” Carter said. “The answer to any challenge to our democracy has never been retreat. It has always been greater participation.”

Library Funding and Council on Aging Services Highlight Community Concerns

The evening opened with two foundational public institutions: the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system and the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging.

Tameka Rovy, speaking on behalf of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, highlighted the library’s role in literacy programs, workforce development, internet access, and educational services for families and children. She also acknowledged the sudden surge of attention surrounding the library’s funding and financial stability, noting how quickly public institutions can become central in political debates over budgets and priorities.

Ann Jackson, representing the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging, called for continued support of the agency’s millage renewal. She described the Council as a critical lifeline for seniors, providing meals, transportation, housing assistance, and wellness programs that help elderly residents maintain independence and dignity.

Together, both speakers emphasized that libraries and senior services are not abstract government line items—they are daily survival systems for working families and aging residents.

Davante Lewis on Voting Rights and Political Power After Louisiana v. Callais

One of the most detailed presentations came from Davante Lewis, who walked attendees through the legal and political history leading up to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais.

Lewis framed the issue as fundamentally about power—who holds it, and who is excluded from it.

“This redistricting fight is about the power of government,” Lewis said. “Because if you control who makes the decisions, you control what policies are enacted.”

Lewis stressed that voting rights and representation are directly tied to outcomes in education, healthcare, economic development, and public investment. He warned that when communities lose representation, they lose influence over the policies that shape everyday life.

He urged attendees to remain engaged and organized, emphasizing that political participation is essential to protecting community interests in future elections.

C. Denise Marcelle on Voting Access and Election Restrictions

State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle delivered one of the strongest reactions of the night, addressing Senate Bill 319 and new voting requirements affecting residents without proper identification.

Marcelle explained that voters who arrive without an acceptable photo ID can no longer complete an affidavit process at the polls. Instead, they must go to a parish registrar’s office after the election to verify their identity before their vote is counted.

“I am so tired of hearing people say, ‘My vote doesn’t matter,’” Marcelle said. “Because if it didn’t matter, they wouldn’t be trying to take it from you.”

Her remarks drew strong applause as she argued that election changes disproportionately affect working-class voters, seniors, and young people.

Regina Barrow on Leadership and Working-Class Reality

State Sen. Regina Barrow urged attendees to evaluate elected officials based on whether they understand the lived realities of everyday people.

“You have to make sure that you are electing people who understand how their policy decisions translate to how it affects your life,” Barrow said. “Some of the people that we serve with have never been poor.”

Barrow said decisions made in government directly affect housing, education, healthcare, and wages, making informed voting critical for communities seeking fair representation and accountability.

Vanessa Caston LaFleur on Engaging Younger Voters

State Rep. Vanessa Caston LaFleur focused on the challenge of engaging younger voters, arguing that traditional messaging alone is no longer effective.

“It’s not enough to tell young people that somebody died for their right to vote,” LaFleur said. “That doesn’t move them the same way anymore.”

She said voter engagement must be rooted in present-day issues such as education quality, job access, housing affordability, and community investment, stressing that younger generations must see clear connections between policy decisions and their daily lives.

Daniel Vane on Political Organizing and Party Infrastructure

Daniel Vane, a member of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee representing District 62 and former vice chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, spoke about the importance of building long-term political infrastructure.

Vane emphasized that voter engagement must extend beyond election cycles, arguing that sustained grassroots organizing, education, and outreach are essential to maintaining political participation and strengthening turnout.

Edmund Jordan on the History and Fragility of Black Political Power

Closing the evening, Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Edmund Jordan delivered a sweeping historical warning about the fragility of Black political representation in Louisiana.

Jordan reminded attendees that during Reconstruction, Black political participation reached historic levels before being dismantled through decades of suppression.

“In the 1867 Constitutional Convention, 49 of 98 delegates were Black,” Jordan said. “By 1900, we were down to zero.”

He warned that current political conditions reflect a similar pattern of erosion in political power.

“What you’re seeing right now is the dismantling of Black political power,” Jordan said. “If you think it can’t go back down to zero, don’t fool yourself.”

Jordan stressed that voting is only the beginning of civic engagement, not the end, urging continued organizing and participation across generations.

A Unified Call to Action

As the town hall concluded, speakers called for continued voter registration, civic education, and sustained support for key community institutions, including the East Baton Rouge Parish Library and the Council on Aging.

The evening closed with a unified message echoing through the annex: political power is not permanent—it must be organized, protected, and exercised.

And as leaders repeated throughout the night, when people vote, they win.