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On Thursday, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed an executive order formally delaying the upcoming fall elections in Louisiana, following severe damage from Hurricane Ida in southeast Louisiana, which would make holding the election difficult and could lead to challenges for displaced voters.

“Secretary (of State Kyle) Ardoin briefed me this past Tuesday on the upcoming fall elections,” Edwards said. “Based on his reporting and certification to me yesterday that holding the elections as currently scheduled would impair the integrity of those elections, based on numerous issues related to displaced voters and election day personnel as well as extensive power outages and damage to early-voting and election day polling places, I signed an executive order today to reschedule the upcoming fall elections.”

The elections that would have been held on Oct. 9 will now be held on Nov. 13 and the general elections for run-offs that would have been held on Nov. 13 will now be held on Dec. 11.

Early voting is also rescheduled for both election dates — the first early voting period will be held Oct. 30 through Nov. 6, except for Sunday, Oct. 31, and the second early voting period will be held Nov. 27 through Dec. 4, except for Sunday, Nov. 28.