GOP Senators Reject Wider Mail-in Vote for Louisiana Primary

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Republican state senators have blocked an emergency plan to expand early voting and mail-in balloting options for Louisiana’s July presidential primary in response to the coronavirus.

GOP Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin ran into a wall of opposition from his fellow Republicans for his proposal. They objected to its broadening of Louisiana’s current allowances for people to vote absentee by mail. Republicans lawmakers on a Senate committee voted against Ardoin and stalled the plan. Senators suggested Ardoin should make changes and return with a new proposal.

But Ardoin said he's not certain he can negotiate a redesigned plan in time to order supplies he’ll need to conduct a safe election.

(Story written By MELINDA DESLATTE/AP)