Blanco sets April 22 election date for New Orleans

The Associated Press (AP) ^ | January 24, 2006 | Melinda Deslatte

[caryatid]

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Under pressure from a federal judge, Gov. Kathleen Blanco set an April 22 date for New Orleans elections.

Though Blanco solidified the elections date Tuesday with her executive order, the state doesn't yet have all the approvals it needs to proceed with April elections in New Orleans for mayor, city council, sheriff and tax assessors.

The Legislature and the U.S. Justice Department need to sign off on Secretary of State Al Ater's emergency elections plan for the city, which includes beefed-up absentee balloting and the creation of "mega-polling" sites to replace those damaged by the hurricane.

On Wednesday, the judge, U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle, wants an update on the rescheduling and what's been done to give New Orleanians a chance to vote.

If the emergency elections plan is approved, the sign-up period for candidates will be March 1-3. If a runoff election is needed, it will be held May 20.

To track down displaced voters, Ater's office intends bulk mail-outs and media campaigns to notify evacuees of their voting rights, the way to request an absentee ballot for elections and the planned election dates once they are scheduled.

[caryatid]

LPNS COMMENTARY:

WHERE WAS THE MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR THE PEOPLE OF CAMERON PARISH? THEY ARE NEARLY ALL EVACUEES AND THE STATE HELD AN ELECTION THERE THIS PAST WEEKEND.

IS THE "ATER PLAN" POLITICALLY OR RACIALLY BIASED OR BOTH?

# posted by Louisiana Political News Service January 24, 2006 @ 4:41 PM

[caryatid]

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[scrabblehack]

Hmmm...surely at some point you would have to say that the evacuees are no longer city residents...