BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (WAFB) – Women tend to have higher voter turnout than men and can therefore make a difference in the outcome of an election, but some organizations in state capitols still believe it is important to encourage women to vote.

“It’s important to know what’s going on so that in the future we can have a say in issues that directly affect us as women,” said Lacogna Hilliard Scott, president of the Baton Rouge Delta Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

One way is to learn about the candidates. The Baton Rouge Delta Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has partnered with 17 women-led organizations to host a panel where people in the community can learn about the candidates on the ballot this fall.

“You don’t want someone who’s just going to be on TV. You want someone who’s going to come and show that they care about you,” says Lauren Sanders, president of Southern University’s Collegiate 100.

She says events like this also help make young voters aware of their role in the community.

“A lot of college students and women feel like their voice doesn’t count or doesn’t mean anything,” Sanders added, “but we are the future of this country and this community, basically everything. It may not affect us now, but in the long run it will affect us.”

The event was hosted by Baton Rouge Community College. The goal of the event was to encourage educated women of all ages to vote, they said.

“The entire population, but more importantly, we as women, need to recognize the need for our voice and to really engage in the community,” said Dr. Pamela Ravare-Jones, Vice Chancellor for External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at BRCC.

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