Pretend it's 2008. How would evacuees be able to vote ?

That's when New Orleans should have mayoral elections. "Should have" being the key words.

Two elections have been postponed. No one knows whether Blanco will postpone the mayoral election.

If they are the former, ie: repuglicon voters we'll certainly find a way, if they are likely dem voters-who cares?

It's called the "The Displaced Citizens Voter Protection Act of 2005" and it's aimed at exactly what you're worried about :)

http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/003344.html

Wednesday, 14 September 2005

Rep. Artur Davis introduces Displaced Citizens Voter Protection Act
Congressman Artur Davis (D-AL7) has sent a press release concerning three hurricane-related bills he has introduced. One relates to voting rights: The Displaced Citizens Voter Protection Act of 2005 (HR 3734) ensures that victims of Hurricane Katrina have the right to vote by absentee ballot while temporarily displaced. Its provisions ensure that displaced citizens receive the same voting protections currently available to military and overseas voters. The absentee ballot voting provisions of the Act apply only to those individuals who certify that:

1) they are otherwise qualified to vote in their original place of residence; and

2) they intend to return to that residence in the near future.
The Act covers elections for federal office held through 2008 and provides that state agencies designated under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 take steps to notify individuals of their absentee voting rights.

"Our displaced citizens should have the same rights as our soldiers, and for that matter our college students, to participate in their states elections while they are temporarily away from home. This bill would allow evacuees to assert by affidavit that they intend to return to Louisiana or Mississippi and to vote in the 2006 and 2008 federal elections by absentee ballot," Davis said.

Registration methods vary, state to state. Are there still any voting rights activists out there? They can make registration easier. In the south, the activists will remember the Same Old Shit & be prepared. For evacuees in isolated areas far away, there may actualy be more problems.

Some evacuees will have moved home by then. But those who haven't can still vote--if they want to & they get some assistance.