PLAN OPPOSED - Republican lawmakers in Louisiana have blocked an emergency plan by Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin to expand early voting and mail-in balloting options for Louisiana’s July presidential primary in response to the coronavirus. Fellow Republicans opposed Ardoin’s proposal as they objected to broadening of Louisiana’s current allowances for people to vote absentee by mail.
The Secretary of State’s plan has come on the heels of the recent election in Wisconsin where lawmakers there prevented people from safely voting by mail and instead having them vote in person at polls during the Coronavirus outbreak- Speaking before the committee vote, Ardoin had this to say:
"The images coming out of Wisconsin's election last week were shocking,"Ardoin exclaimed. "Individuals waiting in lines for upwards of five hours to vote. I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening here. Additionally, the Wisconsin's state leadership's tepid response to the crisis has been universally panned with the Republican party receiving most of the scorn."
On a 5-1 party-line vote, the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee rejected an emergency certification that would’ve allowed Ardoin to move forward, They suggested Ardoin to return later with a new proposal. But Ardoin said he's not certain he can negotiate a redesigned plan in time to order supplies he’ll need to conduct a safe election.
