New voting machines will be used for early voting which starts Saturday. Kevin Barnhart has a preview of what to expect.
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A new poll shows Governor Edwards just shy of avoiding a run-off and Eddie Rispone vaulting Ralph Abraham for the right to take on the Governor in a potential run-off. Matt Doyle has more.
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Voters casting their ballots early can expect to do so with new voting equipment. Lafayette Parish Registrar of Voters Charlene Meaux-Menard says participants will receive a voter card to insert into the machines that will pull up their ballot on a touchscreen.
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Meaux-Menard says the machines are not connected to the internet and store the voting data to memory sticks inside the computer.
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Meaux-Menard says while she expects the operation of the machine to be easy for voters, each voting location will have a person to assist in the voting process if needed.
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A We Ask America poll of the governor’s race has Governor Edwards at 47 percent, Eddie Rispone at 23 percent, and Ralph Abraham at 17 percent.
Pollster Andrew Weissert says Edwards continues to sit just shy of avoiding a run-off because while he has a 56 percent approval rating, voters still aren’t confident he’s righted the ship.
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The poll did have one encouraging bit of news for Edwards, 61 percent of independents have a favorable view of him.
It’s the second independent poll to show Rispone climbing ahead of Abraham. Weissert says the GOP side of the race will be fascinating because if they can’t force a run-off, neither of their efforts matter.
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The poll surveyed 600 likely voters and has a four percent margin of error.
Weissert says If Edwards remains stuck under 50 percent and gets thrown into a run-off, the Governor could be in big trouble, as Republicans appear ready to unite behind either option.
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The poll has 11 percent undecided, with two percent saying they’ll vote for Independent Gary Landrieu.
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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is hosting National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrations at four locations around the state on Saturday. LDWF spokesperson Trey Iles says there will be no shortage of activities, including fishing.
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The events are in Baton Rouge, Haughton, Woodworth and Monroe. Iles says the goal is to get kids more active outdoors as opposed to hooked on technology.
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Iles says there will be something for everyone, no matter the skill level.
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The event is free and will feature various outdoors clubs, conservation organizations, businesses and more.
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The candidates were asked about their view of capital punishment last night at the second gubernatorial debate, with the two Republicans staking opposite claims while the Governor differed.
Baton Rouge Businessman Eddie Rispone, now the top polling Republican in the race, was the only person on stage to come out against the practice.
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Congressman Ralph Abraham came out strong in support of executions. He says not only would he work to restart executions in Louisiana, but he’d also expand their use.
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Governor Edwards continued his policy of refusing to state where he personally stands on the issue, instead saying he is bound by law as Governor to allow the practice in Louisiana.
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Louisiana has not performed an execution in nearly a decade due to difficulties in securing the necessary chemicals to carry out the act.