SPLC Action Fund Salutes Louisiana Legislators for Increasing Voting Time, Opportunities

BATON ROUGE, La. – This afternoon, the Louisiana Senate voted 35-0 to pass House Bill (HB) 286. HB 286 was authored by Rep. Fred Jones (D-Monroe) and will extend the early voting period for presidential elections in the state to 11 days if signed by Governor John Bel Edwards.  

Previously this session, the Legislature passed Rep. Edward “Ted” James’s (D-East Baton Rouge) HB 285, which will extend the time available for voters in the voting booth. 

The following statement is by Terry Landry, Jr., Policy Director - Louisiana for the SPLC Action Fund: 

“We salute Louisiana legislators for increasing early in-person voting opportunities for Louisianans in future presidential elections so that we make elections in the state more accessible to everyone.  

“In a unanimous vote today, legislators in Louisiana bucked the trend elsewhere in the Deep South to pass anti-voter bills inspired by the violent lies about past elections online extremists spew daily. Advocates like Power Coalition put in the work to ensure legislators were responsive to voters’ needs this legislative session. 

“Louisiana’s work to make voting easy and accessible for all is not over. While 34 states and the District of Columbia have widespread mail-in voting opportunities, Louisiana limits this option for voters unnecessarily. Legislators should implement mail-in voting without delay.”