Geaux vote!

I voted Louisiana 2023

After literal decades of voting by mail, I voted in person this week.

In Seattle, voting couldn’t have been easier. I received my ballot in the mail, along with the King County voter’s guide, and once I’d consulted the Stranger’s Election Board, I inked in my ballot, signed it, tore off a tracking strip, and put the sealed envelope in a ballot box or mailbox. Done.

In New Orleans, about the only indication of an upcoming primary has been the candidate signs in folks’ yards and windows. I went online to look up early voting and after a lot of clicking around on the Secretaryof State website, found 3 locations, none closer than an hour walk or 30 minute bus ride from my house. For voter’s guide, I found the Antigravity voter education guide, which I read through a couple of times, wincing at the races with only R candidates. (do better Dems!)

Finally on a rare weekday off, I bought myself an iced coffee and walked across town. The address on the SoS website took me to city hall, where I walked inside to immediately be confronted by a security desk and X-ray machine. No signs about voting anywhere so I walked through security and looked around some more. Lots of people bustling about but still no signs about where to vote. Finally I approached the security guard, standing in a plexiglass cage, and asked. All the way down that hall, then go right, she said.

I walked down a long hall, past tax offices and a sheriff scrolling on his phone, and finally saw it. Early voting here, a sign read. A smiling woman pointed me into another room where I showed my ID (gah), got an “I voted” sticker and a little fob. The election clerk was warm and efficient and pointed me to the right.

Out in the hall were little booths, all empty at 9.30am on a Wednesday, so I plugged in the fob and up popped my ballot. Touchscreen voting was easy, since I’d consulted the voter guide, so I ran through my choices and submitted it. I don’t think I had the option for a paper print out.

On my way out I noticed 2 women consulting sample ballots posted on the wall. I walked past a couple of uniformed sheriffs on my way out.

All in all voting in New Orleans took a lot more effort and time. I didn’t enjoy going through security or seeing all the law enforcement although I imagine both deter mischief makers. But they probably also deter regular ole citizens just trying to have their say.

This was just the primary. We get to do it all again for the general election.

Geaux vote citizens, wherever you might be.