News Summary
Voters in New Orleans experienced significant frustration during the Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District election due to a shortage of ballots. Many polling locations, including New Harmony High School, ran out of ballots shortly after voting began, leading to claims of voter suppression. The district only provided 300 ballots per polling place, not anticipating the high turnout. Acknowledgements of poor planning followed the incident, highlighting the need for better preparations in future elections to ensure voter accessibility.
New Orleans – Voters in New Orleans faced significant frustration during the Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District election when dozens of polling locations ran out of ballots. Hundreds of residents arrived to cast their votes, only to learn that ballots were no longer available shortly after voting began.
Polling places, including New Harmony High School, displayed signs directing voters that they had exhausted their supply of ballots. This election was particularly important as it featured candidates Erica “Sage” Johnson, an urban farmer from Orleans Parish, and Lloyd Landry IV, a commercial fishing captain from St. Charles Parish. The winner will serve as a representative responsible for overseeing the management of water, soil, forests, and wildlife across the Crescent District, which spans Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Charles parishes.
The Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District operates under the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which oversees 44 similar districts statewide. For this election, the district announced the provision of only 300 ballots at each of its eight polling locations across the three parishes. However, many voters, who began appearing at polling locations starting around 9 a.m., discovered that by the time they arrived, ballots had already run out.
Voters in attendance expressed their discontent with the process, referring to the shortage of ballots as an instance of voter suppression. Those unable to vote were instructed to sign a sheet to indicate their presence, although those signatures would not count as actual votes. This prompted widespread dissatisfaction as many residents took time off work or made special plans to participate in the election.
As the election proceeded, Board member Daniel Milojevic admitted that the district had underestimated the number of voters who would turn out on the election day. He acknowledged that pre-election planning for the event was sorely inadequate, despite prior confirmations regarding ballot numbers. Organizers did not anticipate such a high turnout and failed to allocate a sufficient quantity of ballots.
Some voters were directed to other polling locations in nearby parishes in search of ballots, yet many still expressed frustration and concern over the diminished ballot supply. Local officials indicated that this election was a different situation than usual, as the Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District had organized it rather than the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office.
In acknowledging the predicament, a district representative offered an apology for the lack of ballots and noted that the individuals managing the election were volunteers trying their best to handle the turnout. Meanwhile, City Councilwoman Helena Moreno stated that the election process would need to be reviewed, labeling the circumstances a “complete mess” stemming from inadequate preparations.
Residents attempted various workarounds including creating makeshift ballots, but these attempts ultimately did not count towards the election results. The fallout from the ballot shortage has raised concerns about voter accessibility and accountability, prompting discussions on how future elections might be better organized to avoid similar situations.
The Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District election has underlined the importance of effective planning and the necessity for sufficient resources to ensure that all voters have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process without obstacles.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Historic Election for Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District
New Orleans Faces Serious Downturn With Population Exodus
Additional Resources
- WDSU: Louisiana Voters Frustrated
- Wikipedia: Elections in the United States
- NOLA: Voters Turned Away
- Google Search: Crescent Soil Water Conservation District election
- WWLTV: Rare Election This Weekend
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Electoral System
- Fox 8 Live: Councilwoman Calls for Redo
- Google News: Ballot Shortage Election
