The Louisiana Task Force on Ensuring Voter Participation, created by Senate Resolution 154, met for the first time to outline research and public‑engagement steps to address low voter turnout and the state’s frequent elections.

The task force, convened under the designee Ashley Shelton of the Power Coalition and chaired in the Senate by Senator Caleb Kleinpeter, set goals to review the election calendar, study consolidation and cost‑efficiency measures, assess voter registration and maintenance practices, and gather stakeholder input before submitting a written report to the Legislature 30 days before the 2026 regular session.

"It is my hope that through this task force that we can actually do the work of trying to understand how do we create efficiencies, and how do we do what's best for voter turnout," said Ashley Shelton, designee for Senator Royce de Plessis. Shelton said the task force will rely on state turnout data, comparisons with other states and public input gathered online and in listening sessions.

Members discussed factors the task force should study, including the high number of elections in Louisiana (the chair’s summary noted 25 elections between January 2020 and January 2025), low turnout in the 2024 presidential cycle and differences with neighboring states (Shelton said Louisiana holds about six elections a year compared with four in Georgia and two in Florida and Texas). Participants also flagged administrative and practical barriers: long ballots, polling‑place accessibility, confusion about recent law changes and the pending switch from electronic voting machines to paper‑based voting.

Steven M. Gillette of the Pelican Institute warned that long ballots and many low‑profile candidates can slow lines and depress participation, and that overly complex campaign finance regulation can reduce the funds available for voter outreach. "Raising qualifying fees will assist because often you'll go to vote for a major office like governor, and there'll be a dozen or two dozen candidates," Gillette said, arguing higher fees could shorten ballot length and support party infrastructure.

Disability Rights Louisiana executive director Rainey Thompson asked the task force to examine physical accessibility at polling places and training for poll workers to use available accessibility tools. "Every identity needs to be considered," Thompson said, urging an assessment of older or rural polling sites that might not meet accessibility standards.

Members asked staff to follow up with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office about the status of procuring paper‑ballot equipment and to compile existing research from the Secretary of State and outside groups including Invest in Louisiana, the League of Women Voters, the NAACP Louisiana State Conference and others. The task force scheduled at least two further meetings: a late‑October session focused on research and stakeholder feedback and a mid‑January meeting to refine and approve recommendations for the report.

No formal motions or votes were recorded at the kickoff meeting. Staff and task‑force members agreed to solicit public comment at the next meeting and to circulate background materials and the meeting objectives in advance.