UPDATE:Louisiana Lawmakers Back COVID-19 Rules for Next Elections

UPDATE: BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana appears on track to broaden the mail-in balloting options for spring municipal elections and two upcoming special congressional elections because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The emergency plan easily won bipartisan support Tuesday from two legislative committees and head next to the full House and Senate for a vote. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin wants to use the same expansion of absentee-by-mail voting that was in place for the summer and fall elections, including the November presidential competition. Ardoin’s proposal would give voters five COVID-19-related reasons to request an absentee ballot rather than vote in person.

The provisions also need the backing of Gov. John Bel Edwards to take effect.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana’s top elections official is asking lawmakers to back his proposal to broaden the mail-in balloting options for spring municipal elections and two upcoming special congressional elections because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin wants to use the same expansion of absentee-by-mail voting that was in place for the summer and fall elections, including the November presidential competition. Lawmakers on House and Senate oversight committees Tuesday will consider the package of COVID-19 emergency rules proposed by the Republican elections chief. If approved there, they advance to the full Legislature for a vote.

The provisions also would need the backing of Gov. John Bel Edwards to take effect.

(Story written by MELINDA DESLATTE/AP)