Hurricane Nate: Early Voting In 4 Parishes Ending Early

NEW ORLEANS, LA — Voters who want to cast an early ballot in Orleans Parish and three others must do so before 3 p.m. Saturday, state officials said. Secretary of State Tom Schedler and Gov. John Bel Edwards will suspend early voting at that time for Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and Plaquemines Parish, which will probably be the first parishes affected by dangerous rains, winds and storm surges from Hurricane Nate.

Early voting in the rest of Louisiana will continue as scheduled and close at 6 p.m, according to a news release.

“The safety of the voting public as well as our early voting commissioners is extremely important and we want to be sure they have time to get home and secure their homes before the first heavy weather enters the state,” Schedler said in the release. “The rest of the state will be able to complete early voting as scheduled at 6 p.m., and we encourage voters to get out early and early vote!” (For more information on Hurricane Nate and other New Orleans stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Elections officials across the state are preparing to try to protect voting equipment and supplies from the storm. All election activities are expected to continue Monday as the state prepares for the Oct. 14 election.

“This storm certainly puts another wrinkle in our ability to predict overall turnout for the 14th,” said Schedler. “Overall, using historical and early voting data, I’m reducing my initial 20 percent turnout prediction because I believe we may struggle to get to 15-20 percent participation statewide. It will take all of the candidates and others encouraging voters to get out and cast a ballot to improve turnout on Election Day for sure.”

Nate, upgraded to a category 1 storm late Friday, could strengthen to a Category 2 story as it closes in on the U.S. Gulf Coast. New Orleans and the Louisiana bayous are not protected by levee systems. The storm has already been blamed for nearly two dozen deaths across Central America and brings with it the potential for 7-foot walls of water crashing onto parts of the mainland Saturday night or Sunday morning.

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