Elections in States Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Page: 4 of 4
This report is part of the collection entitled: Congressional Research Service Reports and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
CRS-4
Louisiana Secretary of State's office for instructions and information.9 Election officials
in 17 states reportedly made public announcements encouraging displaced voters to
participate in the Orleans Parish elections on April 22, according to the National
Association of Secretaries of State.0
Complaints were raised as well about sporadic mail service in the city, which may
have made it difficult for some voters to return absentee ballots on time. The deadline for
returning absentee ballots was midnight on April 21, and officials advised voters to send
voted ballots to the Secretary of State's office because of continuing mail problems.
Voters could request absentee ballots and return the ballots by facsimile. Before the
election, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that more than 10,000 displaced
voters had requested absentee ballots, including 2,510 in Louisiana, 3,557 in Texas, 508
in Mississippi, and 764 in Georgia."1 The Federal Emergency Management Agency
provided $733,000 to replace voting machines and equipment, but the funding could not
be used to locate voters.12 The state spent an estimated $750,000 on media advertising
in cities outside Louisiana to reach and educate potential voters.13
April 22 Results. Approximately 108,000 voters participated in the April 22
election, compared with 135,000 in the 2002 mayoral primary. Voter turnout was 36%,
down 10 points from 2002.14 According to press reports, civil rights activists, including
the Reverend Jesse Jackson, may file complaints about the voting procedures with the
Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and U.S. District Judge Lemelle.5 Black voters
accounted for 62% of the electorate in the 2002 election and 52% on April 22. Almost
twice as many absentee ballots were cast in this year's primary - 21,000 - as in 2002,
with blacks accounting for 65%, and whites for 32%, of absentee voters.16
9 The number is 800-883-2805. A website also provides instructions for voters; see
[http://www.sec.state.la.us].
10 The states are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West
Virginia, and Utah. National Association of Secretaries of State Press Release, NASS Tells
Katrina Evacuees: Don't Miss Your Opportunity to Vote, Mar. 16, 2006.
" "The Displaced Voters," New Orleans Times-Picayune, no date, at
[http://www.nola.com/katrina/pdf/vote_map.pdf].
12 Associated Press, "FEMA Won't Pay For New Orleans Election," Apr. 16, 2006, at
[http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-24/1145228347117750.xml
&storylist=louisiana].
13 Ibid.
14 Robert Travis Scott, "N.O. vote reveals hints of new political era," New Orleans Times-
Picayune, Apr. 25, 2006, at [http://www.nola.com/elections/t-p/index.ssf?/base/news-0/
1145945933313590.xm].
15 Michelle Krupa, "New challenges of election vowed," New Orleans Times-Picayune, Apr. 25,
2006, at [http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/neworleans/index.ssf?/base/news-5/
1145944899313590.xm].
16 John Pope and Matt Scallan, "Black precincts buttress Nagin victory," New Orleans Times-
Picayune, Apr. 24, 2006, at [http://www.nola.com/elections/newslog/index.ssf?/mtlogs/
nolapolitics/archives/2006_04.html#134401].
Search Inside
This report can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Report.
Coleman, Kevin J. & Fischer, Eric A. Elections in States Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, report, May 4, 2006; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc821393/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.