Dick added extra days for early voting and reinstated expanded options for absentee-by-mail ballots that Ardoin had used for the summer elections, a plan that Republican lawmakers opposed for the Nov. 3 election and a Dec. 5 runoff election.
That will allow people to seek an absentee ballot if they are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 because of medical conditions; are subject to a quarantine order; are advised by a health provider to self-quarantine; are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking medical confirmation; or are caring for someone who is isolated because of the disease.
Ardoin said he remains concerned that the number of absentee ballots will slow the tally of votes, which usually can be posted unofficially on election night.
Parish registrars of voters report that about 185,000 absentee mail ballots already have been requested with another month to go before the Oct. 30 deadline. Usually the requests run less than 50,000, though in the 2016…
