Non-political election question. (New Orleans, Metairie, Alexandria: city hall, living in, stations)

[joshisanonymous]

Does Louisiana send out information of any kind to voters? I was only able to register in this state a month and a half ago so I assumed I didn't receive a sample ballot or information on what I need at the voting booth because of time constraints but I also had a hard time looking up ballot measures even on the secretary of state's site so I'm not sure what the deal is. When I did find the ballot measures there, they were mostly so abbreviated that I had no idea what they were referring to let alone what the arguments for or against them were. I also just found out last night that I need a Louisiana photo-ID with my address on it to vote otherwise I need some other forms of ID and I need to sign an affidavit that allows my vote to be challenged (on what appear to be vaguely defined terms). I wasn't actually told this when I registered and I had two conversations with the woman processing my registration at city hall.

So, basically, if one is registered long before an election, do they receive a detailed ballot? And do they receive information on what's documents are required when they go to the voting booth? I don't feel like waiting until the next election to find out. : /

[rburnett]

You can see your ballot in the SOS site using your address: https://geauxvotemobile.sos.la.gov/AddressSearch.aspx

To see a good explanation of the ammendments and other measures, be sure to select "FULL TEXT" at the top.

Also, NOLA.com summerized the constitutional ammendments here:
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/10/election_2012_whats_on_the_bal.html

[joshisanonymous]

Originally Posted by rburnett

You can see your ballot in the SOS site using your address: https://geauxvotemobile.sos.la.gov/AddressSearch.aspx

To see a good explanation of the ammendments and other measures, be sure to select "FULL TEXT" at the top.

Also, NOLA.com summerized the constitutional ammendments here:
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/10/election_2012_whats_on_the_bal.html

Oh I know I can find information online if I do enough digging, which is what I did, but I'm interested in knowing if this information is made available to people who maybe don't have the resources or wherewithal to do such digging.

And the voting requirements don't really make sense to require digging because one isn't going to go hunting down the information if they don't realize it could be an issue in the first place.

[rburnett]

Originally Posted by joshisanonymous

Oh I know I can find information online if I do enough digging, which is what I did, but I'm interested in knowing if this information is made available to people who maybe don't have the resources or wherewithal to do such digging.

And the voting requirements don't really make sense to require digging because one isn't going to go hunting down the information if they don't realize it could be an issue in the first place.

I'm not sure what you mean by "digging". The Times Picayune and other local publications will print the general ballot items in the weeks before the elections and the same info will be on their websites. The SOS website is for official election information and all the local news stations point people in that direction. Also, everyone in the metro area will have a different ballots depending on your address, so it's not like they can send out flyers to everyone's doorstep.

As for the voting requirements, they are all spelled out pretty clearly on the SOS website. For those who do not have internet access, you can get that info over the phone.

[joshisanonymous]

Originally Posted by rburnett

I'm not sure what you mean by "digging". The Times Picayune and other local publications will print the general ballot items in the weeks before the elections and the same info will be on their websites. The SOS website is for official election information and all the local news stations point people in that direction. Also, everyone in the metro area will have a different ballots depending on your address, so it's not like they can send out flyers to everyone's doorstep.

In the two other states I've voted in every registered voter, even if there were two or more at the same address, had a sample ballot tailored to their district sent to them up to a month in advance of all elections. In one state, where I lived in a city much larger than NOLA with even more ballot measures, not only was a customized sample ballot sent to every single voter but it also contained long explanations of what each ballot measure meant and what the arguments for/against it were. It seems it would absolutely be possible to send a pamphlet to every household.

I used the SoS website to look at the ballot measures but "PW CC (N.O. Reg. Bus. Park) 20 Mills - CC - 20 Yrs." does not tell me what I'm voting on. Even the measures that had more obvious names gave me no clue about what they really meant (ie. What on Earth does "CA NO. 2 (Act 874 - SB 303) Right of each Citizen to keep and bear arms" specifically mean as a law?). I could look up the full text of these amendments but, even though I think that's a good idea, legalese is notoriously unintelligible for laymen. I did find information on these measures through various news sources but they weren't all very in depth or even necessarily bipartisan so, yes, I had to "dig," by which I mean spend lots of time searching through numerous publications to eventually build up what the actual arguments for and against each measure are. Keep in mind also that not everyone who lacks internet access buys newspapers. It's quite possible to not use either of these mediums.

As for the voting requirements, they are all spelled out pretty clearly on the SOS website. For those who do not have internet access, you can get that info over the phone.

I talked to the person processing my registration personally twice and no mention of ID requirements was made so, no, if you don't have internet access and you talk to someone on the phone it's still not obvious.

I'm not too sure why you're ducking my simple question. If you're afraid that I'm gonna start arguing about this, I understand, but you can avoid the argument with a simple, "No, no one gets a sample ballot or information on what to take to the voting booth." I'd be perfectly willing to take that answer and never say another word but if you're immediately going to get defensive without even answering it's probably gonna turn into a full on discussion.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I never got any official mailing in Alexandria, New Orleans, or Metairie from 1962-1996. Don't know about since. The League of Women Voters puts out that kind of info.

[Neworleansisprettygood]

Originally Posted by joshisanonymous

In the two other states I've voted in every registered voter, even if there were two or more at the same address, had a sample ballot tailored to their district sent to them up to a month in advance of all elections. In one state, where I lived in a city much larger than NOLA with even more ballot measures, not only was a customized sample ballot sent to every single voter but it also contained long explanations of what each ballot measure meant and what the arguments for/against it were. It seems it would absolutely be possible to send a pamphlet to every household.

I used the SoS website to look at the ballot measures but "PW CC (N.O. Reg. Bus. Park) 20 Mills - CC - 20 Yrs." does not tell me what I'm voting on. Even the measures that had more obvious names gave me no clue about what they really meant (ie. What on Earth does "CA NO. 2 (Act 874 - SB 303) Right of each Citizen to keep and bear arms" specifically mean as a law?). I could look up the full text of these amendments but, even though I think that's a good idea, legalese is notoriously unintelligible for laymen. I did find information on these measures through various news sources but they weren't all very in depth or even necessarily bipartisan so, yes, I had to "dig," by which I mean spend lots of time searching through numerous publications to eventually build up what the actual arguments for and against each measure are. Keep in mind also that not everyone who lacks internet access buys newspapers. It's quite possible to not use either of these mediums.



I talked to the person processing my registration personally twice and no mention of ID requirements was made so, no, if you don't have internet access and you talk to someone on the phone it's still not obvious.

I'm not too sure why you're ducking my simple question. If you're afraid that I'm gonna start arguing about this, I understand, but you can avoid the argument with a simple, "No, no one gets a sample ballot or information on what to take to the voting booth." I'd be perfectly willing to take that answer and never say another word but if you're immediately going to get defensive without even answering it's probably gonna turn into a full on discussion.

Photo ID has been required here for as long as I've been allowed to vote.

As far as the sample ballots, Louisiana is usually 10 years behind the times when it comes to new technology (and yes, I know the technology required would be VERY simple).

I know you come from California, and I'm not saying this to be offensive- I welcome any and all new residents- but there are some things about living in Louisiana that you're just going to have to get used to.

[confusedasusual]

Originally Posted by Neworleansisprettygood

I know you come from California, and I'm not saying this to be offensive- I welcome any and all new residents- but there are some things about living in Louisiana that you're just going to have to get used to.

Amen!

Yes, please joshisanonymous, please don't take offense, but every time you post it seems to be to say "this is how its done other places-- why is it not done that way here?" Sometimes you have really valid points, but other times, it just seems like you are trying to point out deficiencies for the sake of knowing a better way, even after someone gives you the information you are looking for. This will not endear you to anyone.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

It's rather shocking that there are states that don't send out the ballot questions. I've lived in 7 and all did.

[confusedasusual]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

It's rather shocking that there are states that don't send out the ballot questions. I've lived in 7 and all did.

I got some from one of the political party orgs. And you can find them online.