State of Emergency—Extension of Qualifying in the Parish of Desoto
WHEREAS, “in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to qualify or exercise their right to vote, to minimize to whatever degree possible a person's exposure to danger during declared states of emergency, and to protect the integrity of the electoral process,” the Louisiana Legislature enacted R.S. 18:401.1 to provide “a procedure for the emergency suspension or delay and rescheduling of qualifying, early voting, and elections”; and
WHEREAS, on February 12, 2010, pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 18:401.1(B), the Secretary of State certified to the Governor that as a result of severe weather conditions, a state of emergency exists in the parish of Desoto and they recommend that qualifying in that parish be suspended and rescheduled for Wednesday, February 17, 2010;
NOW THEREFORE, I, BOBBY JINDAL, Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: Under the authority of R.S. 18:401.1(B) and based on the February 12, 2010 certification from the Secretary of State that a state of emergency exists in the parish of Desoto and the February 12, 2010 recommendation that the qualifying period in that parish be suspended until Wednesday, February 17, 2010, a state of emergency is hereby declared to exist in the following parish and qualifying in the following parish is hereby suspended for the time periods and dates designated: Parish of Desoto, Council Member(s), Village of Longstreet, suspended from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 12, 2010;
SECTION 2: In accordance with the procedures set forth in R.S. 18:401.1, qualifying in the parish of Desoto shall be rescheduled for and/or resume at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, and conclude at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.
SECTION 3: This Order is effective upon signature.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the City of Baton Rouge, on this 12th day of February, 2010.
Secretary of State