Katrina Evacuees Can Vote by Mail

SALEM—Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury is urging all of New Orleans' Hurricane Katrina evacuees who have temporarily relocated to Oregon and the Northwest to immediately contact the Louisiana Secretary of State in order to participate in the upcoming Orleans Parish elections.

Elections postponed in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will be held April 22 and May 20.

"I want to ensure that no eligible voter is denied the opportunity to vote, even if they are voting in another state's elections," Bradbury said. "All evacuees must have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in Louisiana's upcoming elections."

Registered Louisiana voters who have temporarily relocated to other states are still eligible to vote in their home parishes if they have not registered to vote in another state. Those voters have three opportunities to vote: by mail using an absentee ballot, in person at the Registrar of Voters' Office six to 12 days before an election or in person at the polling place on Election Day.

Hurricane Katrina evacuees who want more information on how to check their current registration status, register to vote or cast a ballot should contact Louisiana Secretary of State Al Ater's Office, 1-800-883-2805, or by e-mail at elections@sos.louisiana.gov.

Louisiana voters may download an application to vote absentee by visiting www.sos.louisiana.gov/elections/MISC/request_absentee_ballot.pdf.