EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 00-03

State of Emergency--Suspension and Rescheduling of Qualifying in the Parishes of Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union, Webster, and West Carroll

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, absentee voting in person, and elections"; and

WHEREAS, on January 28, 2000, pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 18:401.1(B), the secretary of state, in conjunction with the commissioner of elections and registration, certified to the governor that as a result of an ice storm, a state of emergency exists in parishes of Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union, Webster, and West Carroll and they recommend that qualifying underway in those parishes be suspended until such time as qualifying may be resumed;

NOW THEREFORE, I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and 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 January 29, 2000, certification of the secretary of state, in conjunction with the commissioner of elections and registration, that a state of emergency exists in the parishes of Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union, Webster, and West Carroll, and recommendation that the qualifying period in those parishes be suspended, a state of emergency is hereby declared to exist in the following parishes and qualifying in the following parishes is hereby suspended for the time periods and dates designated:

A. Parish of Bossier, suspended from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2000;

B. Parish of Caddo, suspended from 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2000, until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2000;

C. Parish of Claiborne, suspended from 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2000, until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 28, 2000;

D. Parish of Lincoln, suspended from 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2000, until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 28, 2000;

E. Parish of Union, suspended from 3:00 p.m., on Thursday, January 27, 2000, until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 28, 2000;

F. Parish of Webster, suspended from 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, January 27, 2000, until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 28, 2000; and

G. Parish of West Carroll, suspended from 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, January 27, 2000, until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 28, 2000.

SECTION 2: In accordance with the procedures set forth in R.S. 18:401.1, qualifying in the parishes of Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union, Webster, and West Carroll shall be rescheduled for and/or resume at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, January 31, 2000, and conclude at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2000.

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 the state of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 28th day of January, 2000.

M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Governor

ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State