There is a major controversy brewing in the legislature that could have significant political, social and some believe even racial implications regarding the upcoming statewide elections and the process and right to vote.
In an email statement from the Louisiana Republican Party on Monday, this issue was first raised by Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger Villere, Jr.
“House Bills 619 and 575, recently introduced by Representatives Jalila Jefferson and Juan LaFonta, respectively, are a complete misuse of taxpayer money and place an unnecessary burden on the Secretary of State’s office,” stated Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger Villere, Jr.
“House Bill 619, introducing the option for citizens to vote at ‘satellite voting centers’ outside their normal voting districts, has been rightfully criticized by Secretary Dardenne as overloading Louisiana’s electoral system. At a time when our state is 5,000 commissioners short of the 20,000 minimum needed to work the polls on Election Day, adding the burdens of additional satellite voting and hoping that everything goes smoothly is pure fantasy. As Secretary Dardenne wisely has pointed out, satellite voting was feasible when the New Orleans mayoral race was the only race at the time. But with hundreds of local and statewide elections, the already understaffed poll centers will be thrown into chaos,” declared Villere.
House Bill 575 requires the Secretary of State to mail expensive absentee ballots to all registered voters and allots more time to displaced voters to respond to voter registration challenges. Rep. Juan LaFonta’s bill carries a price tag of $16 million in its first year alone, culminating in a five-year plan for over $71 million. “Louisiana has just invested $30 million in new voter machines. With Governor Kathleen Blanco admitting we lack the funds to support our own rebuilding process, this is hardly the time to begin inserting expensive voting measures that are unnecessary. This bill has been strongly opposed by Secretary of State Jay Dardenne on the grounds that it is too quick and too costly,” explained Villere. “The passage of this bill would require this office and our state to conduct a two-track election process and send out 2.8 million or so pieces of (absentee voter) mail,” Dardenne said.
Chris Whittington, the Chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party has replied to the statement by Villere and Dardenne.Here is his reply provided to Bayoubuzz.com.
"One of the first things that Republican Secretary of State Jay Dardenne did after taking office was to immediately purge 86,000 voters from the rolls, 75% of which were Democrats. Now, he has engaged the assistance of the Republican Party Chairman to oppose legislation that would allow many of the displaced Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm victims from participating in the upcoming election process. That is downright UNAMERICAN! In the day and age of Louisiana where we have unprecedented financial surplus, the Republicans want to suppress voters rights based on funding as opposed to enhancing what has come to resemble the crown jewel of our society of choosing our leaders in government; the right not only to vote, but that the vote be counted and be based upon well informed information. Secretary Dardenne and Republican Party Chairman Villere should hang their heads in shame for working to inhibit the opportunity of storm displaced Louisiana voters from being able to vote their choice for their candidates."
(Italics supplied by Bayoubuzz)
The elections are to be held this fall and will include the Governor’s race, statewide elections and local races.
Your right Atilla, it is that and it is also perpetuating voter fraud. Allowing absentee ballots to be sent willy nilly all over the country just because the voters won't ask for them is WRONG!
Written by Ole Jarhead
on 5/22/2007
Whatever happened to personal responsibility? We have a mechanism in place to vote absentee. All a voter has to do is request the forms from the registrar in the parish in which he is registered to vote. How hard is that?
Evidently it is too hard for many who proudly march like lemmings to the sea to the drumbeat of the Democrat Party. While voting is indeed a right, it also involves at least a little effort on the part of the voter. Voters have a RESPONSIBILITY to educate themselves on the issues and, unless infirm or out of the area on election day make an honest effort to get to the polls.
This legislation is nothing more than a sham effort by Democrat officials laying the groundwork for people too lazy to get off of their behinds and request the documents they need to vote absentee.
Written by Atilla
on 5/22/2007
What happened to CITIZENS that want an absentee ballot REQUESTING ONE? Some one tell me why it is the Governments job to ensure that EVERY VOTER gets and absentee ballot? The Truth is that is NOT the governments job!! This is not like turning off street lights, this is like making sure that your Parish isn't tapped into my Parish's electricity which I am paying for and your stealing from me! He is only wrong in your opinion pointecoupeedemcorat because they wish to stamp out voter fraud, a practice your party benefits from often. (The dead Vote in Louisiana!!) My dear departed mam-ma lived in Winn Parish for most of her life and when she died everyone knew, yet she managed to vote in both 1992 and 1996 presidential elections as a registered democrat. All this despite the fact that she died in 1973! We had her removed from the rolls but we had to fight to have it done, and keep her off the rolls. Leave it to the dems to scream voter supression voter supression! NO if they want to VOTE go Vote in your home Parish or REQUEST a Absentee Ballot. this isn't about voter supression its about VOTER FRAUD! Voter Fraud is a real thing in Louisiana these two bills will perpetuate the practice.
Written by Ole Jarhead
on 5/15/2007
the satellite locations are to be in the state during early voting. since early voting is a relatively slow period, there will not be much confusion. since the 11 locations are in the state, there is no real increase in expense. read the legislation before commenting willy nilly on why you believe Jay Dardenne is right. For it is obvious that he is wrong.
Written by pointecoupeedemocrat
on 5/10/2007
I agree with Kelly. I'm certain that there will be many recruiters out there for absentee voters to cast ballots... but, regardless, the option should be available. I know many people "sleep" in Texas, but come HOME to work on their properties, as time allows. They should certainly be given the opportunity to cast ballots here. Many people are living in FEMA trailers outside of Baton Rouge. Since they don't live in their original domiciles, should they be purged, one and all, as a group and be made to re-register in their new locations? I'm certain some would say, "Yes." Perhaps Jindal doesn't fear losing in a fair fight, but, seemingly, some in the Republican leadership do. They didn't even want to run a fair contest within their own party!
Written by Maxwell
on 5/9/2007
Guys, we got rules about domicile, and everyone has had the same ones for, oh, 150 years or so. There are only two of them, they are simple, and they are easy to remember. (1) Domicile is the combination of "presence" and "intent." (2) You keep the last one until you establish the new one, no matter where you go or what you or how long it is between (1) and (2). You can live in Houston (or Atlanta) until the day you die and still be a La. domiciliary the whole time. Things like a drivers license and registering to vote and buying a new house in Texas and selling your old one in La. are NOT "domcile." That sort of stuff is EVIDENCE of domicile; it's evidence of a change in your intent. It was even a question on the 2005 bar exam . . . the guy staying in New Orleans for 2 years was STILL a Miss. domiciliary because he was only here waiting for his bike to get built. He could have stayed here 12 years or 42 years without ever losing Miss. and gaining La. You never form the intent; you never switch your domicile. BUT, "Jay Dardene isn't supposed to care where I sleep at night" is NOT the same thing as "the gummit (i.e., SecSt Jay) has a duty to track me down and put an absentee ballot in your hand." We already have rules for requesting absentee ballots, they worked just fine for me in Guam and North Dakota, and they will work in Texas or Georgia. You want to vote absentee, fine. BUT, don't tell me La. has a duty to drop an unrequested ballot into your mailbox or set up satellite polling places outside the state. If anybody out there can't see the distinction I'm drawing then see a lawyer and get a second opinion.
Written by Kelly Haggar
on 5/9/2007
Democracy is not a corporation. Should we shut down all the street lights and stop lights in the name of fiscal conservatism? For this is what Villere and Dardenne are arguing. Their policies are antidemocratic and reckless, indeed dangerous.
Written by pointecoupeedemcorat
on 5/9/2007
Maxwell, how are you going to check to see if someone is registered to vote in another state? Who is going to check? As far as I am concerned, I think it is way past time that the voter registration rolls were purged. From personal experience I know that people who have not lived in Louisiana for years are still on the books and that many of them seem to vote in elections. Even some dead people vote regularly. These bills open the possiblity of widespread fraud. I would love to have Jindal stay in Congress. IMHO Jindal does not fear losing in a fair fight but I am sure that he knows all too well how politics in Louisiana can produce strange results.
Written by Sharon
on 5/9/2007
Seemingly, one party is fearful of losing the seat of Governor, once again. The best way to make certain of a victory is to get as many poor minorities off the voter rolls as possible. As a Republican, I feel that we should have open, fair elections. If I was displaced to another state because my home was demolished by the storm, but Louisiana was the ONLY state I actually owned property in (and I didn't register to vote in the new state), I would certainly want to vote in Louisiana. I realize that renters don't own property, but still... if they were registered to vote prior to the storm and are still displaced because of bureaucracy, and have not registered to vote in a new state, they should certainly have a say in their home state (Louisiana), especially for a position as important as Governor. This should, however, be the last election that people should vote in, locally, if they are displaced. Voters should be warned that they will not be allowed to vote in the upcoming national elections unless they register at the registrar located in their actual physical locale, prior to the elections.
Written by Maxwell
on 5/9/2007
Hopefully, the Legislature will do the right thing and defeat both of these bills. This nonsense must end.
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