Lake Charles Veteran Casts 80th Ballot

Earnest Ford Sr., 106, has voted in every election since his first ballot in 1946.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

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Earnest Ford Sr., a 106-year-old World War II veteran living in Lake Charles, Louisiana, cast his 80th ballot in an election on November 3, 2026. He went to the polls in person, accompanied by several family members and friends.

Why it matters

Ford's record spans eight decades of voting, reflecting sustained civic participation in Lake Charles across generations. He said voting matters because it makes one's voice heard.

Ford's record covers 80 ballots since his first in 1946, and he is 106 years old. The extraction does not identify the specific races he voted in on November 3, 2026.

The players

Earnest Ford Sr.

A 106-year-old World War II veteran from Lake Charles, Louisiana, who has voted in every election since 1946.

The details

Ford went to the polls in person and was accompanied by several family members and friends to the voting booth. He has voted in every election since 1946, including his service-era civic life as a World War II veteran.

1946: Earnest Ford Sr. casts his first ballot.
November 3, 2026: Earnest Ford Sr. casts his 80th ballot.

Political Context

Ford's record places him among a small group of long-tenure voters whose participation spans from the post-World War II era into the present. His unbroken streak since 1946 illustrates how individual civic habits can persist across more than eight decades of U.S. elections.

Voters in Lake Charles and across Louisiana can take the same approach Ford describes by checking their registration status before each election. Participation in local and state races directly shapes the officials who govern the community.

The takeaway

Ford's eight-decade voting streak shows how consistent participation in each election can build a lasting record of civic engagement. Staying registered and voting regularly is a practical step any resident can take.