Your Guide to the Nov. 5th Ballot
POLLS ARE OPEN 7AM-8PM ON NOVEMBER 5TH ELECTION DAY. EARLY VOTING IS OCT 18 - OCT 29.
Why are we voting?
The purpose of this election is to vote on candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President of the United States, U.S. Representative 2nd Congressional District, plus one State-wide Constitution change, and two Parish-wide Charter changes. It’s important to vote all the way down the ballot to the very end. Since many voters drop off after the President race, we’re here to help you fight the status quo! This guide has the information you need to be an informed voter.
People on the ballot...
The President of the United States is: the head of state of the United States of America; the Chief Executive Officer; and, the Commander in Chief of all military forces. The powers of the President are prescribed in the Constitution and federal law. The President appoints the members of the Cabinet, Ambassadors to other nations and the United Nations, Supreme Court Justices, and Federal judges, subject to Senate approval. The President, along with the Cabinet and its agencies, is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the laws of the United States. The President may also recommend legislation to the United States Congress. The President serves a term of 4 years, limit of two terms. Their base salary is $400,000 per year.
The U.S. House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws. Among other duties, representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. There are 435 representatives with full voting rights. This number of representatives per state is proportionate to population. The term is 2 years, and the base salary is $174,000 per year.
This race is for U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District. Louisiana has six Congressional Districts in the U. S. House of Representatives which is one of Congress’s two chambers (the other is the U.S. Senate), and part of the federal government’s legislative branch.
Member of School Board District 7- The candidate in this race is unopposed. This race is for the member of School Board District 7. The Orleans Parish School Board consists of seven officials who represent one of seven districts in the Parish. All New Orleans public schools are governed by the School Board. Each member of the school board is part of a smaller committee that makes recommendations to the full board; such committees include accountability, policy, budget, and legal.
Judge- Court of Appeal 4th Circuit 1st District Division E- The candidate in this race is unopposed. In the Louisiana court structure, there are 5 courts of appeal. This race is for the Court of Appeal 4th Circuit, 1st District, Division E having jurisdiction over appellate cases in Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes. Along with most other states, Louisiana has established the intermediate courts of appeal between the district courts and the supreme court. These courts guarantee the right to have almost any trial court decision reviewed by a higher court. The appellate jurisdiction extends virtually to all civil and criminal cases triable by a jury, except for those few cases which are directly appealable to the supreme court.
Propositions & Amendments on the Ballot...
Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1: The Louisiana Constitution outlines how the state treasurer should make yearly deposits into the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund using federal money earned from oil and gas activities in the Outer Continental Shelf. The proposed Constitutional Amendment retains present constitutional language and adds other federal revenue sources received by the state, including, but not limited to: wind energy; solar energy; tidal energy; wave energy; geothermal energy; and other alternative or renewable energy production or sources.
The Proposition reads:
Do you support an amendment to require that federal revenues received by the state generated from Outer Continental Shelf alternative or renewable energy production be deposited into the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund?
Voting YES would Dedicate federal money Louisiana receives from alternative energy production offshore to the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund, where it can only be used on projects aimed at safeguarding the coastal area.
Voting NO would allow federal money Louisiana receives from alternative energy production offshore to flow into the state general fund, where it can be spent on any legislative priority.
Home Rule Charter Amendments:
The governing document for the City of New Orleans is called the Home Rule Charter. It puts governing structures, processes and procedures for the City into law, much like the Federal or State Constitution, but at the local level.
Home Rule Charter Amendment No. 1: Housing Trust Fund
This proposition would amend the Home Rule Charter to establish a Housing Trust Fund; and require the City to dedicate 2% of their annual tax revenue exclusively for ensuring the availability of affordable housing.
Currently the City of New Orleans budgets less than 0.3% of the General Fund on Housing. This is a choice the Mayor and City Council make annually. New Orleans had a small fund dedicated to housing in the past that the City used for rental assistance, housing rehabs and and gap financing for affordable housing developments; but it was a millage (or a small additional property tax) and it expired in 2022. This proposed trust fund would not be a new tax, but would require the City to dedicate existing tax revenue to housing. This initiative was spearheaded by housing advocates in coordination with the City Council.
The Proposition reads:
Shall Article VI of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans be amended to establish a Housing Trust Fund dedicated exclusively to ensuring the availability of affordable housing within the City, and to require an annual appropriation of at least two percent of the City's annual general fund to the Housing Trust Fund as provided in Ord. No. 29828, M.C.S.?
Voting YES would require the City to dedicate the equivalent of 2% of tax revenue to a special housing trust fund annually, dedicating approximately $15M of general funds to Affordable Housing each year.
Voting NO would not change the City’s budget requirements.
Home Rule Charter Amendment No. 2: Workers Bill of Rights
This proposition will amend the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans to include rights for workers in the municipal bill of rights.
The Charter contains a bill of rights that details the rights guaranteed to New Orleans residents, including many of the rights enshrined in the US Constitution. This initiative was spearheaded by labor rights activists in coordination with the Health Department and City Council. It would enshrine the rights of workers into the City’s guiding document and make way for additional support for workers rights in New Orleans.
The Proposition reads:
Shall Article II, Section 2-202 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans be amended to include rights for workers, as described in Ord. No. 29864 M.C.S., among the rights contained in the municipal bill of rights?
Voting YES would add specific rights for workers into the City Charter’s existing bill of rights, including a living wage, paid sick leave and the right to organize.
Voting NO would leave the City Charter’s Bill of Rights the same.
Where & When to vote
We recommend voting early, so you can help others vote on Election Day. You can vote early at any of these locations from 8:30am-6:00pm, Monday through Saturday until October 29th.
CITY HALL, 1300 PERDIDO ST., #1W24
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70112-2127
ALGIERS COURTHOUSE
225 MORGAN ST RM#105
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70114
VOTING MACHINE WAREHOUSE
8870 CHEF MENTEUR HWY
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70127
LAKE VISTA COMMUNITY CENTER
6500 SPANISH FORT BLVD, 2ND FLOOR
MEETING ROOM
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70124
TREME COMMUNITY CENTER
900 NORTH VILLERE ST
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70116
Voter Resources from The Power Coalition
The Power Coalition for Equity & Justice has compiled a voter guide to answer your questions and make it as easy as possible to vote!
Click the button below for resources including frequently asked questions, rides to the polls, and ways to volunteer to support your community on Election Day.
