Attorney Tracie Washington filed a lawsuit in Civil District Court yesterday, Thursday March 16, against Registrar of Voters Sandra Wilson on behalf of two New Orleans registered voters who were upset that at least two voters received incorrect absentee ballots for the House District 93 race which will be held on March 25. The Louisiana Secretary of State blamed the mistake on a packaging issue.
Electrical constructor Bill Brusseau, a fierce advocate for voter protection, and his wife Allyson Brusseau, an advocate for civic engagement, are the plaintiffs in the case as well as all electors in Orleans Parish. The litigation points out that having the option of voting by absentee ballot is important because some citizens may find it difficult to get to the polls on Election Day. There can be no more important arena for civic participation than voting and all electors must be assured their ballots reflect accurately the candidates and/or initiatives for which they are voting. The Brusseaus allege that Wilson failed and refused to provide this assurance to voters and must be compelled to do so.
In the filing, attorney Washington wrote that Wilson placed the burden on the elector to request a corrected ballot and that an elector who does not know to make this request would not receive a corrected ballot. This process fails to insure accurate ballots for all electors. The plaintiffs request a Declaratory Judgment that Wilsons failure to correct her error was a denial of the electors registration to vote in an election that she failed to correct.
The lawsuit has been allotted to Judge Nicole Sheppard who could hear the case within the next ten days. Early voting continues through Saturday, March 18. All absentee ballots must be received at the registrars office by March 24.
