Connect with us

Louisiana

Secretary of State says $100 million needed for new voting machines

Published

1 week ago

on

Secretary of State says 0 million needed for new voting machines


play

  • Louisiana needs an additional $25 million to replace its aging voting machines, bringing the total cost to $100 million.
  • The new system will feature touchscreen machines that produce a voter-verifiable paper ballot.
  • An investigation found 403 non-citizens were registered to vote, with 83 having cast a ballot in at least one election.
  • Officials say the state’s current 35-year-old machines are obsolete and replacement parts are no longer manufactured.

BATON ROUGE — Secretary of State Nancy Landry said this week that $25 million more is needed to cover the $100 million cost of replacing Louisiana’s 35-year-old ballot machines.

The system would consist of new touchscreen voting machines that print paper ballots and have climate-controlled facilities for storage. Additional expenses would maintain cybersecurity protections and allow for risk-limiting audits, which are considered the top standard for voter integrity.

Advertisement

“Louisiana voters have consistently indicated that they want a system that combines the speed of modern technology with the security of a voter-verifiable paper ballot, as required by state law,” Landry told the Senate Finance Committee on Monday.

The paper ballots will allow voters to verify their choices before casting.

Landry also told the committee that her agency’s investigators had identified 403 non-citizens who were registered to vote in Louisiana. Eighty-three of them had voted in at least one election, she said.

President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders have claimed that large numbers of unauthorized immigrants are voting in American elections. The Louisiana Legislature passed a bill in 2024 requiring proof of citizenship in registering to vote.

Advertisement

But the 403 non-citizens, who have all been removed from voter rolls, amounted to a miniscule percentage of the 2.9 million registered voters in the state.

The new voting system will slowly phase out the older machines before completely taking over.

Six certified vendors are being considered for new machinery. No vendor has been selected, but the secretary of state’s hope is to have one before the end of the year.

She said manufacturers no longer make replacement parts for the current machines. Parts are often cannibalized from other machines.  

Advertisement

“Simply put, the system has reached the end of its life cycle,” she said.

Even with old machines, Louisiana ranks fourth in the nation for voter integrity only behind Arkansas and Tennessee, which are tied for first, and Alabama, according to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C.

“When I took office, I pledged to make Louisiana #1 in election integrity,” Nancy Landry said. “At that time, Louisiana was ranked ninth.”



Source link

Advertisement
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Louisiana

Louisiana has the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the nation. See the parish data.

Published

10 hours ago

on

March 5, 2026

By

Louisiana has the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the nation. See the parish data.


Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, with an estimated 333,830 new cases and 36,320 deaths projected for 2026 for the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. 

In the U.S., there are approximately 116 new prostate cancer cases per 100,000 people annually. Louisiana has the highest prostate cancer incidence rate in the country at 147.2 cases per 100,000 — a rate that has been steadily rising since 2014, according to data from the National Cancer Institute. 






Advertisement

New prostate cancer drug can extend life expectancy by 8 months, Baton Rouge doctor says

These parishes had the highest rates, in cases per 100,000, of prostate cancer from 2018 to 2022, in descending order: 

  • West Feliciana Parish with 218.6 cases per 100,000; 
  • Iberville Parish with 182.3 cases per 100,000; 
  • Bienville Parish with 179.7 cases per 100,000; 
  • West Baton Rouge Parish with 179.4 cases per 100,000; 
  • Vermillion Parish with 176.5 cases per 100,000; 
  • Iberia Parish with 173.8 cases per 100,000; 
  • East Baton Rouge Parish with 173.6 cases per 100,000; 
  • East Carroll Parish with 172.9 cases per 100,000; 
  • East Feliciana Parish with 166.3 cases per 100,000; 
  • Tangipahoa Parish with 166.2 cases per 100,000; 
  • St. Martin Parish with 166 cases per 100,000; 
  • Jackson Parish with 165.3 cases per 100,000; 
  • and Lincoln Parish with 165.1 cases per 100,000. 

These parishes had the lowest rates, in cases per 100,000, of prostate cancer from 2018 to 2022, in ascending order: 

  • Cameron Parish with 101 cases per 100,000; 
  • Evangeline Parish with 102.7 cases per 100,000; 
  • Union Parish with 106.9 cases per 100,000; 
  • Winn Parish with 108.2 cases per 100,000; 
  • Vernon Parish with 109.4 cases per 100,000; 
  • Grant Parish with 109.7 cases per 100,000; 
  • Franklin and La Salle parishes with 111 cases per 100,000; 
  • St. Bernard Parish with 113.9 cases per 100,000; 
  • Tensas Parish with 115.2 cases per 100,000; 
  • Terrebonne Parish with 117.5 cases per 100,000; 
  • Washington Parish with 121.1 cases per 100,000; 
  • Livingston Parish with 122.8 cases per 100,000; 
  • Sabine Parish with 122.9 cases per 100,000; 
  • Bossier Parish with 123.7 cases per 100,000;
  • and La Fourche Parish with 124.8 cases per 100,000.

Data represents an annual average for all stages of prostate cancer.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Louisiana

Shavers leads ULM past Louisiana 79-63

Published

22 hours ago

on

March 5, 2026

By

Shavers leads ULM past Louisiana 79-63


PENSACOLA, Fla. — Marcavia Shavers posts 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead ULM Warhawks women’s basketball past Louisiana 79-63 in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

ULM (15-15, 7-11 Sun Belt) took control early, outscoring Louisiana 17-7 in the first quarter and extending the lead to 41-21 by halftime. The Warhawks never trailed and led by as many as 28 points in the second quarter.

Shavers anchored the inside for ULM, finishing 9-of-15 from the field with 13 rebounds. Jazmine Jackson added 17 points off the bench, knocking down four 3-pointers, while J’Mani Ingram scored 16 points and dished out six assists.

ULM shot 46.9% from the field and held a 42-27 advantage on the boards. The Warhawks also converted Louisiana turnovers into 29 points and scored 26 second-chance points.

Advertisement

Louisiana (5-26, 2-16 Sun Belt) was led by Mikaylah Manley with 18 points and Imani Daniel with 17 points and seven rebounds. Amijah Price chipped in 12 points.

After struggling early, Louisiana shot better in the second half, scoring 42 points after the break. However, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

ULM advances in the Sun Belt tournament, while Louisiana closes its season with the loss.
————————————————————
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.

To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE.

Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers

Advertisement

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Subscribe to our Youtube channel





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Louisiana

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race

Published

1 day ago

on

March 4, 2026

By

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race


BATON ROUGE (KNOE) – Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming is accusing Governor Jeff Landry of interfering with the state Senate race, which Fleming is a part of.

Fleming took to social media to accuse Landry of working “behind the scenes” to get Congresswoman Julia Letlow elected to the Senate.

According to Fleming, Dr. Ralph Abraham offered him the position of Deputy Director of the CDC shortly before announcing he was stepping down. Fleming said he politely declined.

A week later, news broke that Abraham is now leading Letlow’s Senate campaign.

Advertisement

“We know that Jeff has been heavily lobbying the Trump campaign team for the endorsement, he is pressuring the Republican Party of Louisiana and the Republican Executive Committees to support and endorse Letlow as well,” Fleming wrote on Facebook. “And, he is personally calling his donors to raise big money to save the Letlow campaign.

Landry formally endorsed Letlow for the U.S. Senate on March 4. Letlow also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

“We need a warrior who stands with the President to Make America Great. And there’s no greater warrior than a Louisiana mom,” Landry wrote on Facebook.

Fleming continued his commentary, asking when Landry will stop interfering with the state’s Senate race.

“Who is best to decide who represents you in Washington? Jeff Landry, or YOU?” Fleming asked.

Advertisement

Also in the heated race is incumbent Bill Cassidy, M.D.

Party primary elections in Louisiana are set for May 16, 2026.

Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending