Will the dispersed victims from NO be able to vote for LA candidates

[MoonRiver]

in '06/'08, if they are not living there? I've been reading some information stating that the area will not be habitable for some time. In this case, and assuming that many of these folks don't get new voter registrations in states they've landed in, I'm wondering about whether they can mail in absentee ballots.

[napi21]

1. NO. Not if they aren't living in NO at the time.

That's way too long for someone to claim they have a residence that doesn't exist anymore.

[MoonRiver]

2. Then I think we're in for trouble in LA elections.

Most of those dispersed are Democrats. And NO was the biggest Democratic stronghold in LA.

[Benbow]

3. They are disenfranchised - what does the Constitution say about that? n/t

[MoonRiver]

5. They weren't disenfranchised when they lived in NO.

LA voted in Landrieu and Blanco. It was one of our few victories in '04, in large part due to the NO black vote.

[Benbow]

4. Could they be treated like US citizens living abroad n/t

[MoonRiver]

7. That's what I'm wondering. Also, professors take leaves

and are able to vote absentee in their home states. I think we need to start planning about how to make sure these evacuees can still vote for LA candidates.

[sasha031]

6. I have thought of that also

I was watching Nagin on meet the press, he was saying certain groups were trying to set up trailer parks and tent cities in LA and he was against it. Said they were better off in Texas. I think he has shown his true colors, I don't like him.A repuke who changed parties to win in NO.
Their address is where ever they are at now. I read yesterday so long as they are under Fema they are not allowed to leave for 6mnths, don't think they are aloud communication with the outside world either.

[AndyTiedye]

9. The Ones Who Are "Under FEMA" Are Essentially Incarcerated

and who knows for how long?

Don't expect them to be allowed to vote at all. If they are, the
votes will not be counted.

TPTB certainly have no intention of allowing them to return to New Orleans.

[...of J.Temperance]

15. Baton Rouge should decide, not the Repuke Nagin

If the Democratic politicians in Baton Rouge want to do their best to set up tents and trailer parks, with the help of certain groups, then I think they should go for it.

Sure, the displaced were from New Orleans BUT they are STILL citizens of Louisiana. They can't vote in the Crescent City ever again, but they could vote in Shreveport, Lake Charles and countless other places and it should be up to Baton Rouge not the Repuke Nagin.

Of course Nagin doesn't want them voting in Louisiana ever again, because I'm convinced he's now going back to where he always came from and thats the Bush bastards party...the WHITES of NOLA own Nagin now.

Baton Rouge should tell him to go Cheney himself.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

8. From the Secretary of State of LA's web site:

Start here:

http://www.sec.state.la.us/elections/elect-absentee.htm#mail

The above refers you to here:

http://www.sec.state.la.us/elections/misc/RS_18_1303.pdf

Which says:

"B. By mail. The following persons, otherwise qualified to vote, who expect to be out of the parish on election day, may vote absentee by mail upon
meeting the requirements of this Chapter:
(1) A member of the United States Service, as defined in R.S. 18:1302, and his spouse and dependents.
(2) A student, instructor, or professor in an institution of higher learning located outside the parish in which he is qualified to vote and who lives
outside of said parish by reason thereof, and his spouse and any dependent accompanying and residing with him.
(3) A minister, priest, rabbi, or other member of the clergy assigned to a religious post outside the parish in which he is registered and his spouse and
any dependents accompanying and residing with him.
(4) A person who is or who expects to be temporarily outside the territorial limits of the state or absent from the parish in which he is qualified to vote during the absentee voting period and on election day.
(5) A person who, after the registration books have closed as required by R.S. 18:135, has moved his residence to another parish and the new residence
is more than one hundred miles from the parish seat of the parish of his former residence, in which case he may vote by absentee ballot in the parish of
his former residence.
(6) A person involuntarily confined in an institution for mental treatment outside the parish in which he is qualified to vote, who is not interdicted and
not judicially declared incompetent.
(7) Repealed by Acts 1993, No. 418, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1994.
(8) A person residing outside the United States."

Maybe special legislation will need to be passed to allow the voting of the Katrina survivors in other states.

[MoonRiver]

10. Unfortunately, I don't think federal legislation will be enacted to help

Democrats vote. Maybe something can be done via the LA legislature though.

[...of J.Temperance]

16. Louisiana State Legislature is run by the Democratic Party and the

Lt. Governor of Louisiana is Mitch Landrieu, brother of Senator Landrieu. So, here's hoping ;) Here's hoping because I'm sure Mitch wants to be Governor next and I'm sure he wants his sister to be re-elected.

[MoonRiver]

17. Very good news. Hopefully they will act long before the '06 elections.

Dems still intact in LA should light a fire under em.

[TankLV]

11. I imagine they'll have to prove their identity, etc.

No papers - no problem! - for the repukes!

[MoonRiver]

12. Isn't that the truth. Soon few Democrats will have valid "papers"

for voting purposes. Even when we do, the black box will eat our votes.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

13. Depends on Louisiana law

States control voter eligibility. LA law is a pretty unique animal, but assuming their elections laws are typical in this regard, then the displaced persons should still be able to vote by absentee ballot.

The fact that they are physically present in a different state, even for years, does not make them residents of that state for voting purposes. Establishing residency requires more than mere physical presence, it also requires a subjective intent to make the new state your domicile.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

14. See # 8 above for the Louisiana law

on who is eligible to vote absentee.