By Ed James III, lifetime NAACP member, media consultant, reporter and host of The Rap Sessions on WSLR 96.5 FM

The right to vote gives citizens a powerful way to influence public policy, hold elected leaders accountable and help shape the future of their communities.

On Saturday, June 27, the Sarasota County Branch of the NAACP will host a public forum on voting rights at Morganroth Auditorium on the Ringling College of Art and Design campus in Sarasota. The event, “Defending Our Democracy: The Voting Rights Act,” is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon.

Hosted by Ed James III, the forum will bring together community leaders, legal experts and voting-rights advocates to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing American democracy in 2026.

The discussion will include the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais and what it may mean for voting access, representation and political participation in Florida and across the country. The ruling, issued April 29, addressed Louisiana’s congressional map and has prompted renewed debate about the Voting Rights Act’s role in redistricting.

The forum comes as voters prepare for the 2026 midterm elections. Those elections will help shape state and federal policy, while local government decisions continue to affect daily life across Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Why the Voting Rights Act still matters

Passed in 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act sought to prohibit discriminatory practices that kept Black Americans and other voters from exercising their right to vote.

More than six decades later, questions about voting access, election administration, redistricting and political representation remain part of the national conversation. As courts and lawmakers address those issues, understanding how voting laws work—and how changes may affect communities—is important for every voter.

Why midterm elections matter

Presidential elections often draw the most attention, but midterm elections also shape policies that affect people’s everyday lives. Florida voters will help choose leaders who make decisions about education, health care, housing, public safety, economic development, environmental protection and voting rights.

Local government matters, too. County commissions make decisions involving growth, transportation, land use and public services. School boards set policies affecting students and families. City commissions establish priorities for local budgets and community development. When these offices are on the ballot, the choices voters make can have a direct impact close to home.

The forum will offer residents an opportunity to learn more about these issues and consider how civic participation can extend beyond Election Day.

Why Black civic engagement matters

The history of Black political participation is one of perseverance and determination. Generations of Black Americans fought for access to the ballot and equal representation, helping expand the promise of American democracy.

Civic engagement includes voting, but it doesn’t end there. Residents can also attend public meetings, join community organizations, speak up about local concerns, share reliable information with neighbors and encourage young people to take part in public life.

For Black residents in Sarasota and Manatee counties, participation in civic life can help bring community concerns into conversations about education, housing, health care, economic opportunity, criminal justice and neighborhood development.

A community conversation

The forum is being presented with support from civic, civil-rights and community organizations, including Suncoast Women of Action; the Sarasota County Branch NAACP; the Manatee County Branch NAACP; the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County; the League of Women Voters of Manatee County; the Gamma Xi Boulé Foundation; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated; and the Sarasota/Bradenton Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

Together, these partners bring a broad network of experience in civic education, voter engagement and community advocacy.

At a time when many people have questions about the future of democracy, public discussion and reliable information can help residents understand the issues and take part in the decisions that affect them.

Democracy works best when people participate. The conversation begins June 27.