My classmate, friend and neighbor Wilbert Lewis recently started a movement, I'm hoping will catch-on.  Lewis, a local leader and former Lake Charles NAACP President is well known and respected in the community.  After reading an artical about the low percentage of African Americans registered to vote or turning out to vote in our area, he felt moved to try and change that.  So he formed the Love To Vote Foundation (Life Opportunity Vision Enhancement Foundation) and then issued a challenge to ALL area citizens, via video.  Check it out below.

His message is simple, but needed.  African Americans ESPECIALLY those in the South, should be the last group of people having to be reminded or asked to vote.  Lewis stopped by the studio, to further explain his challeage and his foundation.  See the video below for more details.

The next election is the Gubernatorial Primary on October 24.  Let's make the ongoing trend of low African American voter turn-out a thing of the past.  This is going to take everyone's cooperation.  Voting is going to have to be something that we on a consistent and automatic basis.

If you're not registered, now is the time to get registered to vote or become an ACTIVE VOTER.  It's so easy to register, there's no excuse a person can give that would be a good enough reason, not to do.

Below is a list of qualifications to register to vote:
  • a U.S. citizen;
  • be 17 years old (16 years old at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles), but must be 18 years old to vote;
  • not be under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony;
  • not be under a judgment of full interdiction for mental incompetence or partial interdiction with suspension of voting rights; and
  • reside in the state and parish in which you seek to register.

You can register to vote online or simply apply in person and go to the Registrar of Voters Office in the courthouse at 1000 Ryan Street, on the second floor in suite 7.  You can also apply at the DMV in person or online.

As for the upcoming election, there is going to be a number of items on the ballot and you'll want to educate yourself on what the races are, who the candidates are, what office their running for etc.  It's time for everyone to get involved.  Get to know the candidates here.

For voter registration and absentee ballot deadlines, earlier voting dates and more click here.  For all election dates past, currant and future, click here.  Do you know the difference between a primary and general election?

The ‪#‎LoveToVoteChallenge‬ has been born and it's catching on!  Put your video up to and share it with the Love To Vote Foundation Facebook page today.

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