Elections in States Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Elections in States Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Order Code RS22436
October 17, 2006
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Elections in States Affected by Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita
Kevin J. Coleman
Analyst in American National Government
Government and Finance Division
Eric A. Fischer
Senior Specialist in Science and Technology
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Summary
The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita created staggering problems and
challenging conditions for the people of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas,
as well as for the state and local governments there. Many problems were immediately
apparent, whereas others that involved ongoing government functions, such as elections,
were less obvious at first. As 2006 approached, the challenge of running elections in the
many affected communities became clearer. The Governor of Louisiana rescheduled a
February city council and mayoral election in New Orleans for April 22; a runoff
election for mayor was held on May 20, at which incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin was
reelected. Questions about voter eligibility for displaced hurricane victims, particularly
those from New Orleans, were raised, along with concerns about damaged and destroyed
voting equipment, the availability of election workers and polling places, and numerous
other logistical considerations. More broadly, a diminished electorate has altered the
political landscape. Several bills have been introduced with respect to the impact of
Katrina and Rita on the 2006 elections. S. 2166, passed by the Senate in February,
would provide $50 million in disaster relief for elections.
Impact of the Hurricanes on the Election Process
More than 600,000 displaced Louisiana residents, nearly half of them from the city
of New Orleans, are currently scattered across the country. In Mississippi, an estimated
66,000 persons are unable to return to their Gulf Coast communities at present.1 Although
some of those displaced by Hurricane Katrina are living elsewhere in Louisiana or nearby
in Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama, many are living hundreds or thousands of miles from
home. With the 2006 election cycle underway, the challenge of protecting the voting
1 See CRS Report RL33141, Hurricane Katrina: Social-Demographic Characteristics of
Impacted Areas, by Thomas Gabe, Gene Falk, Maggie McCarty, and Virginia W. Mason.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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rights of displaced citizens has moved to the forefront. The first test took place in New
Orleans on April 22, when a citywide primary election was held, and a runoff mayoral
primary election was scheduled for May 20. More than half the city’s electorate, an
estimated 250,000 voters, were displaced by Katrina.2 By one estimate, more than 45,000
of those voters are living in Houston at present.3 In Alabama and Mississippi, primary
elections were held June 6 and July 18 (Alabama runoff). Texas held its primary on
March 7, but experienced no difficulties other than needing to consolidate a number of
polling places because some buildings were unavailable as a result of Hurricane Rita. The
general election is scheduled for November 7 in all four states. New Orleans’ experience
on April 22 will likely presage the kinds of challenges and pitfalls other jurisdictions may
experience in conducting elections later in 2006 under conditions created by Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita. Other issues have also arisen, including loss of equipment, polling
places, and pollworkers in affected local jurisdictions. In some cases, state funds
originally intended to meet Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requirements have had to
be used instead for recovery efforts. However, early concerns about potential loss of voter
registration records have not been realized.
New Orleans
Mayoral and city council elections scheduled for February 4, 2006 (primary), and
March 4 (runoff) were postponed indefinitely last December by Governor Kathleen
Blanco because of the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In January, the Governor
rescheduled the elections for April 22 and May 20. U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle had
warned state officials that he would step in to protect voters’ rights under federal law if
the elections were not rescheduled.
A principal concern about the elections was that the elected mayor and city council
members would significantly affect how New Orleans is rebuilt, while fewer than half of
the city’s voters were currently living there. Displaced voters had three options: to vote
absentee, travel to an early voting location in one of 10 Louisiana parishes outside New
Orleans before election day, or travel to the city on election day to vote in person.4 An
estimated 272,000 black residents of Orleans Parish were displaced by the hurricane,
compared with 101,000 non-black residents.5 Some observers have suggested that a city
that was once approximately 70% black has become predominantly white because areas
of the city that remain uninhabitable were mostly black.6 The large number of displaced
2 Kris Axtman, “Big Easy has candidates, ballots, ... but voters?,” Christian Science Monitor,
Mar. 10, 2006, p. 1.
3 Kristie Rieken, “Group encourages Katrina evacuees to cast absentee ballots,” Associated Press
State & Local Wire, Mar. 12, 2006.
4 Satellite early voting was available at the office of the Registrar of Voters in Caddo, Calcasieu,
East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Ouachita, Rapides, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and
Terrebonne Parishes, and at other locations in East Baton Rouge and Jefferson Parishes.
5 See CRS Report RL33141, Hurricane Katrina: Social-Demographic Characteristics of
Impacted Areas, by Thomas Gabe, Gene Falk, Maggie McCarty, and Virginia W. Mason.
6 Ann M. Simmons, “Racial Current Runs Through Campaign,” Los Angeles Times, Apr. 17,
2006, p. 4.

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voters from New Orleans and elsewhere may have an impact as well on the election of
state and federal officeholders in the November election.
Post-hurricane conditions have created unusual obstacles for voters, whether they
presently reside in New Orleans or not. According to the League of Women Voters of
New Orleans, 295 out of 442 polling places were destroyed and are no longer available
for use on election day. Many of those voting in person on election day needed to
determine where their new polling places were.7 All eligible Louisiana residents may
register by mail to vote, although displaced persons who have registered in other states
are not eligible. Voters who were already registered in Louisiana were eligible to vote in
person, but the rules varied for absentee voting and early voting at the satellite early
voting places in parishes outside New Orleans. The same rules were in effect for the May
20 mayoral runoff election:
! all displaced, registered voters were eligible to vote by absentee ballot;
! any voter who was registered before September 24, 2005, was eligible to
vote in person at one of the satellite voting places established for early
voting;
! early voting locations were not open on election day;
! all persons who met eligibility requirements (U. S. citizen, age 18 by the
next election, Louisiana resident, not in prison or judged mentally
incompetent) were eligible to register absentee, but first-time registrants
had to vote in person in New Orleans;
! New Orleans registered voters living in the city could vote absentee only
by meeting one of the standard criteria for absentee voting.
The New Orleans election plan received Justice Department preclearance on March
16, as required by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; but objections were raised
because the state did not set up polling places outside the state where there are large
numbers of displaced New Orleanians, such as Houston.8 A bill to create out-of-state
polling places was considered by a committee of the Louisiana State Senate in March, but
no further action was taken. U.S. District Court Judge Lemelle heard complaints from
civil rights groups about the election at a hearing on March 27, but declined to postpone
it. The NAACP established voter assistance centers in 15 cities in nine states across the
country: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Tennessee, and Texas. Voters could also call a toll-free number established by the
Louisiana Secretary of State’s office for instructions and information.9 Election officials
in 17 states reportedly made public announcements encouraging displaced voters to
7 See League of Women Voters of New Orleans website at [http://www.lwvno.org/elections.html
#wheretovote].
8 For an explanation of Sec. 5, see the Voting Section Homepage on the U.S. Department of
Justice website at [http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/sec_5/about.htm].
9 The number is 800-883-2805. A website also provides instructions for voters; see
[http://www.sec.state.la.us].

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participate in the Orleans Parish elections on April 22, according to the National
Association of Secretaries of State.10
Complaints were raised as well about sporadic mail service in the city, which may
have made it difficult for some voters to return absentee ballots on time. The deadlines
for returning absentee ballots were midnight on both April 21 and May 19, and officials
advised voters to send voted ballots to the Secretary of State’s office because of
continuing mail problems. Voters could request absentee ballots and return the ballots
by facsimile. Before the election, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that more
than 10,000 displaced voters had requested absentee ballots, including 2,510 in Louisiana,
3,557 in Texas, 508 in Mississippi, and 764 in Georgia.11 The Federal Emergency
Management Agency provided $733,000 to replace voting machines and equipment, but
the funding could not be used to locate voters.12 The state spent an estimated $750,000
on media advertising in cities outside Louisiana to reach and educate potential voters.13
April 22 Results. Approximately 108,000 voters participated in the April 22
election, compared with 135,000 in the 2002 mayoral primary. Voter turnout was 36%,
down 10 points from 2002.14 According to press reports, civil rights activists, including
the Reverend Jesse Jackson, may file complaints about the voting procedures with the
Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and U.S. District Judge Lemelle.15 Black voters
accounted for 62% of the electorate in the 2002 election and 52% on April 22. Almost
twice as many absentee ballots were cast in this year’s primary — 21,000 — as in 2002,
with blacks accounting for 65%, and whites for 32%, of absentee voters.16
May 20 Runoff Results. New Orleans incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin faced
Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu in the May 20 runoff mayoral election.
Voting procedures, including early voting at satellite locations in Louisiana and the use
of facsimile return of absentee ballots, were the same as for the April 22 primary.
10 The states are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West
Virginia, and Utah. National Association of Secretaries of State Press Release, NASS Tells
Katrina Evacuees: Don’t Miss Your Opportunity to Vote, Mar. 16, 2006.
1 1 “The Displaced Voters,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, no date, at
[http://www.nola.com/katrina/pdf/vote_map.pdf].
12 Associated Press, “FEMA Won’t Pay For New Orleans Election,” Apr. 16, 2006, at
[http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-24/1145228347117750.xml
&storylist=louisiana].
13 Ibid.
14 Robert Travis Scott, “N.O. vote reveals hints of new political era,” New Orleans Times-
Picayune, Apr. 25, 2006, at [http://www.nola.com/elections/t-p/index.ssf?/base/news-0/
1145945933313590.xml].
15 Michelle Krupa, “New challenges of election vowed,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, Apr. 25,
2006, at [ ht t p: / / www.nola.com/news/t-p/neworleans/index.ssf?/base/news-5/
1145944899313590.xml].
16 John Pope and Matt Scallan, “Black precincts buttress Nagin victory,” New Orleans Times-
Picayune, Apr. 24, 2006, at [http://www.nola.com/elections/newslog/index.ssf?/mtlogs/
nola_politics/archives/2006_04.html#134401].

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The total number of ballots cast was 113,591, with nearly 25,000 voters voting by
absentee ballots or at satellite polling places before the election.17 Nagin won with 59,460
votes (12,512 absentee), compared with Landrieu’s 54,131 (12,336 absentee).18 The New
Orleans Times-Picayune reported that turnout was up one percentage point to 37% over
the April 22 primary.
Statewide Elections in 2006
Some of the challenges of the New Orleans experience will likely reoccur with
upcoming statewide elections in November in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. As
in New Orleans, election officials in the numerous counties affected by Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita will need to locate voters and may also need to replace voting equipment
and find new polling places. And although the circumstances for the New Orleans
election involved the largest number of potential voters in a single jurisdiction, the
situation did not involve a statewide election across many affected counties. Conducting
the state’s three fall elections in Orleans Parish could cost the state as much as $1 million,
because it will need to compensate workers traveling to polling places for travel costs,
including hotel accommodations. The state needed to recruit poll workers elsewhere due
to a lack of volunteers in Orleans Parish. The normal cost to the state for running an
election in New Orleans is approximately $400,000.19
Voters who are in the military, their spouses and dependents, and overseas citizens
who no longer maintain an address in the United States are eligible to register and vote
absentee in federal elections under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting
Act (UOCAVA, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff). For others, absentee voting rules in Alabama require
that a voter be out of the county or state, incapacitated, required to work hours that
coincide with polling hours, or working as a polling officer at a vote site that is not his or
her own. Those who voted absentee in the Alabama primary (June 4) and the runoff (July
18) needed to submit a ballot request for both elections. In Mississippi, voters can request
an absentee ballot because of age, health, or work demands; specific eligibility
requirements are determined at the local level.
Legislation
On February 9, the Senate passed S. 2166 (Lott) by unanimous consent. The bill
would provide $50 million for FY2006 to replace voting equipment and other election
administration supplies that were lost or damaged in Hurricanes Katrina or Rita. The
Election Assistance Commission would administer the grants. H.R. 4140 (Millender-
McDonald) is similar and would also provide $50 million to restore and replace supplies,
materials, and equipment used in the administration of elections. Alternatively, Congress
may consider providing funding directly through the appropriations process.
17 Lousiana Secretary of State’s office at [http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=
elcpr&rqsdta=05200636].
18 Ibid.
19 Melinda Deslatte, “Elections costs in New Orleans expected to double,” Associated Press,
Sept. 8, 2006.

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Three bills would provide for displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina to be eligible
to vote in federal elections from 2006 to 2008 under provisions of the Uniformed and
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act: H.R. 3734 (Artur Davis), H.R. 4197 (Watt), and
S. 1867 (Feingold). H.R. 4197 also would provide $50 million in grants to replace voting
supplies, records, and equipment. The grants would be administered by the Election
Assistance Commission.
H.R. 4666 (Fitzpatrick) would extend the deadline for replacing punch card and lever
voting machines until the November 2006 election. Under the Help America Vote Act,
states that took Section 102 funds to replace these voting systems were required to do so
by January 1, 2006. Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi received Section 102 funds.
H.R. 3163 (Goode) would extend the Section 102 deadline, as well as the deadlines for
meeting HAVA requirements, by 48 months.