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Cantrell recall voter threshold decreased by 25k, reducing amount of signatures needed

The Louisiana Secretary of State clarified that nobody would be removed from voter rolls, however.

NEW ORLEANS — The effort to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell scored a major victory on Wednesday when the Louisiana Secretary of State announced that the total threshold would be decreased by around 25,000 people, which would lower the amount of signatures necessary to trigger a recall election.

The Secretary of State also clarified that this does not mean that anyone will be purged from the voter rolls due to Wednesday's agreement, as it would be done in accordance with "due process and with all state and federal laws."

"The initial communication of qualified electors from Secretary Ardoin to Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters Sandra Wilson was 249,876. The consent judgment reached will revise that number to 224,876," the statement from Sec. of State Kyle Ardoin said.

It is still currently unclear how many signatures are exactly required for the recall to proceed.

Ardoin said that he believes a supplemental voter canvass would help in situations such as this one, and to make list maintenances an easier process, and called upon Governor Edwards to sign legislation.

"The ability of all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, to participate in the democratic process necessitates accurate voter rolls. If presented with evidence that voter rolls are incorrect, it is critical that election officials review any alleged inaccuracy," Ardoin said.

Mayor Cantrell had recently criticized the recall as an attempt to "disenfranchise" black voters.

“It’s evident that this recall is just not about me,” she said at her weekly. “It is about disenfranchisement of our voters, particularly Black voters in this community.” 

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