As you head to the polls this Election Day, be assured that the State of Louisiana goes to great lengths to ensure the integrity of the election.
Secretary of State Nancy Landry says only certain people are allowed to handle the voting equipment.
“Only our trained technicians and the secretary of state employees — they are the only ones who touch our equipment,” says Landry. “They program it and do the maintenance on it. We don’t allow anyone else to touch our equipment.”
And the voting equipment is sealed before the election to ensure that it is not tampered with ahead of time.
“We test and seal our equipment in open public meeting,” Landry says, “and we put a tamper-evident seal on the equipment before every election.”
And don’t believe a single word of anyone hacking into the machines.
“Our machines are never, ever connected to the internet, despite what you may hear,” says Landry, “and they’re kept under lock and key when not in use.”
In the State of Louisiana, electioneering is not allowed within 600 feet of the polling place – the length of two football fields – and as such, there is a dress code of sorts when you cast your ballot.
“No campaign clothing, no materials to pass out, no signs,” Landry says, “and we ask our voters to please not wear apparel that has your candidate’s name or slogan on it, or you will be asked to turn that apparel inside out before you vote.”
Landry’s office is expecting an overall voter turnout of between 68% and 71%, with about 975,000 voters casting early or absentee ballots.
Polls are open from 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; anyone still in line at that time will indeed be able to vote.
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