Louisiana Runoff Looms As Controversial Voting Machines Replaced

In the aftermath of the Louisiana governor’s mansion returning to Republican control in the recent election, voters must return for a runoff to decide who will be secretary of state. The issue is further clouded by the pending replacement of aging voting machines.

On Nov. 18, voters will choose between Republican Nancy Landry, a three-term state representative, and Democratic attorney Gwen Collins-Greenup. She is making her third attempt at the office.

Whoever wins, they will face the legally mandated transition to new voting machines after serious concerns over irregularities in the 2020 races.

Landry asserted that Louisiana conducted a “fair and accurate” election in 2020, despite “very troubling allegations.”

A law enacted by the legislature in 2021 required there to be a paper trail and bans the old machines. Landry reiterated her faith in the state’s system but said the current machines are 30 years old and “outdated.” They are breaking apart, she said, and replacement parts are unavailable.

The candidate said her preferred system “is one that employs technology and uses machines so we have the speed, accuracy and efficiency that we’re used to, but it would be fully auditable, a paper backup, a way for the voter to verify the accuracy of their vote.”

Collins-Greenup, who lost two previous elections by double digits, concurred that there is a need to have a paper trail produced by voting machines. “I think candidate Landry and I agree on that.”

She asserted that the only thing Louisiana elections are missing that involves security is updating machines that produce a paper backup.

The two candidates finished in a virtual dead heat. Both finished last week’s race with 19% of the statewide vote, just 1% ahead of another Republican, Public Service Commissioner Mike Francis, who tallied 18%.

The margin between the two runoff candidates was less than 700 votes out of over 1 million cast. However, there is hope for Landry if she can gather the Republican votes that went to Francis in Saturday’s election. 

The GOP candidate is currently the first assistant and second in command to Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, who decided not to seek reelection.

Collins-Greenup, who lost twice to Ardoin, is based in Baton Rouge and serves as an accountant as well as a lawyer. 

Jeff Landry won the governor’s job back for the Republican Party in the election that produced the runoff for secretary of state.