Pre-election preparation is important, but some challenges - anticipated and otherwise - are nearly certain on Election Day and beyond, said Goldman, of the Lawyer's Committee.
"While voter education before the election is important, it's really important to not minimize the effects of an Election Day program . there are going to be problems that are unique to Election Day," Goldman said.
Some expected challenges relate to the use of polling places that are new both to voters and election workers and the lack of provisional balloting in Louisiana for non-federal elections. Additionally, it's possible that one of the 23 mayoral candidates - or any of the 100 candidates on the ballot - might challenge the election in the aftermath.
"I don't think anyone thinks this is an election that's going to go smoothly ... we don't know when this process is actually going to end," Goldman said. Many organizations, including the Lawyers' Committee, will have attorneys at the polling places on Election Day.
After the New Orleans primary, Perkins said that the NAACP plans to hold hearings to learn about and correct problems during the primary so the general election runs well. Barbara Burt, vice president and election reform programs director for Common Cause, said that several election protection organizations are planning to meet at the end of the month to discuss their strategy for the November elections. Goldman predicted that the groups will focus on communities with high levels of minority and disenfranchised voters.
Eliot Mincberg, general counsel and legal director for People for the American Way, said that his organization had a pilot election protection program in Phoenix, Ariz. following the enactment of Proposition 200 and expects that they will focus their post-New Orleans efforts on areas that have new laws in place. "I can't promise that every municipality with new laws will be covered . but I think so" adding that he hoped similar efforts would be mounted in other municipalities. He noted that New Orleans had not been on groups' radar before Hurricane Katrina, saying "I think New Orleans has definitely been a diversion - an important diversion - but there's no question that groups are [still] trying to help displaced voters in that election."
"While voter education before the election is important, it's really important to not minimize the effects of an Election Day program . there are going to be problems that are unique to Election Day," Goldman said.
Some expected challenges relate to the use of polling places that are new both to voters and election workers and the lack of provisional balloting in Louisiana for non-federal elections. Additionally, it's possible that one of the 23 mayoral candidates - or any of the 100 candidates on the ballot - might challenge the election in the aftermath.
"I don't think anyone thinks this is an election that's going to go smoothly ... we don't know when this process is actually going to end," Goldman said. Many organizations, including the Lawyers' Committee, will have attorneys at the polling places on Election Day.
Eliot Mincberg, general counsel and legal director for People for the American Way, said that his organization had a pilot election protection program in Phoenix, Ariz. following the enactment of Proposition 200 and expects that they will focus their post-New Orleans efforts on areas that have new laws in place. "I can't promise that every municipality with new laws will be covered . but I think so" adding that he hoped similar efforts would be mounted in other municipalities. He noted that New Orleans had not been on groups' radar before Hurricane Katrina, saying "I think New Orleans has definitely been a diversion - an important diversion - but there's no question that groups are [still] trying to help displaced voters in that election."
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