La. secretary of state wants fewer elections

Secretary of State Tom Schedler has begun meeting with various stakeholders in hopes of working out an agreeable process for cutting down on the high number of local “emergency” elections held in Louisiana. Schedler argues the current system is costly and results in “voter fatigue,” driving down turnout at the polls. He’s not pushing a formal proposal, at least not yet. But one concept Schedler says might be worth considering is creating an election commission with representation from his office, the governor’s office, the leaders of the state House and Senate, and the local entity asking for the election. With everyone at the table, a discussion could be had about whether a proposed local election is a true emergency, or whether it might make sense to wait and consolidate the election with others, he says. Schedler met with the board of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana last Friday; association Executive Director Roland Dartez says he and his members are keeping an open mind as the conversation moves forward. “Our guys [hold] local elections for local projects, and they think it’s important to move forward as quickly as possible,” he says. “[But] anytime you can get together, compromise, and work out a plan before you get to the Legislature, it makes it a lot easier on all parties.” —David Jacobs