(Originally posted in Citizens for a New Louisiana) — Louisiana is poised to upgrade its voting system significantly, reflecting a growing national consensus about election security and transparency. Recent rules promulgated by the Secretary of State in November 2024’s Louisiana Register have set robust standards, ensuring the state’s next voting system includes a critical feature previously lacking: a paper ballot, also known as voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) (Louisiana Register, §303.B.1.b).

This paper trail represents a significant change from Louisiana’s current system, which relies exclusively on Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) machines without auditable paper records. The lack of paper records has drawn criticism from election integrity advocates and even prominent national figures, including President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly emphasized the importance of “paper ballots.” Trump’s statements often stress the need for auditability rather than rejecting technology entirely, aligning closely with Louisiana’s current trajectory.

Legislative Progress and Auditable Elections

Indeed, the push for auditable paper records gained legislative support with former Senator Sharon Hewitt’s Act 480, passed during Louisiana’s 2021 regular legislative session. Act 480 guarantees that any future voting system in Louisiana must have a tangible paper component, addressing longstanding criticisms of the current system’s auditability.

Responding to Critics and Public Concern

Critics of electronic voting systems, including some vocal advocacy groups, continue to loudly demand paper ballots while ironically overlooking that the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office is already diligently implementing precisely that. Articles like the recent sensationalized piece from The Gateway Pundit tend to muddy the waters by mixing legitimate concerns with wild speculations, making it harder for genuinely concerned citizens to stay accurately informed.

The frustration voiced by such critics is understandable, as the complexities involved in upgrading election systems can overwhelm even the best-informed observers. After all, the Louisiana Register document laying out the voting system standards alone runs to an imposing 1,782 pages.

Yet, despite these complexities, Louisiana is steadily advancing toward greater election integrity. The recently adopted standards (Louisiana Register, §303.B) require new systems to provide voter-verified paper records that are manually auditable without electronic assistance. That means no barcodes or QR codes. They must also include stringent cybersecurity measures, a detailed chain of custody, accessibility for disabled voters, and efficient absentee ballot processing capabilities (Louisiana Register, §303.B.1.h, §303.B.3.p, §303.B.5).

Louisiana Recognized Nationally for Election Integrity

Knowing that there are trusted bellwethers should be helpful for those worried about these salacious, click-driven articles surrounding our election systems. Using these resources, even someone with only a passing interest in this topic can easily distinguish fact from fiction. While there are several examples, one in particular stands out as a conservative standard bearer.

The Heritage Foundation recently recognized Louisiana’s progress, ranking the state #2 nationally on its Election Integrity Scorecard, a significant improvement from #9 just last year. This advancement, highlighted in our earlier report on Citizens for a New Louisiana, confirms Louisiana’s dedication to transparent, secure elections and Secretary of State Nancy Landry’s commitment to constant improvement. Her push for legislative changes in the 2024 regular session catapulted Louisiana to the #2 spot in the nation. Perhaps this time next year, Louisiana will hold the nation’s top spot as we continue to move toward a paper-based system.

Looking Ahead

Despite vocal (and often misinformed) criticism, Nancy Landry continues to address election skeptics’ most pressing concerns directly and transparently. As misinformation swirls, her office quietly but decisively advances Louisiana toward a voting system that even the harshest critics have demanded.

As a Louisiana Voting Systems Commissioner, I’ve closely observed this evolution and can affirm that the state is genuinely committed to transparency and security in our elections. The upcoming procurement process, with an anticipated Request for Quotations (RFQ) this summer, will further clarify the technology vendors propose to meet these rigorous standards.

Ultimately, while the debate over election integrity is unlikely to cease, Nancy Landry’s proactive approach to incorporating voter-verified paper ballots and robust security protocols has made Louisiana a national leader. So, stand proud and get used to the idea that Louisiana has set an election integrity standard that every other state is feverishly trying to catch up with.