New Orleans’ downpour of rain and thunderstorms did not discourage a heavy turnout of voters from showing up to city hall on the last day of early voting.
“We were very happy to see the enthusiasm with the voters coming out,” said Lisa Manning Bridges, Orleans Parish registrar of voters.
For some ballot casters, voting was about paying homage to their family lineage and bettering the future.
“A lot of sacrifices have been made for people that look like me to be able to vote,” said Bernard Waters, an Orleans Parish voter. “It was very important to my father. And since I’ve been 18 to now, I have voted every election because the stories that I was told by my ancestors and what they went through for me to have the privilege.”
Waters emphasized he felt disheartened by the recent Supreme Court’s decision that ruled the state’s congressional maps with two majority Black districts unconstitutional, which he said was more incentive to vote early.
The deadline to request an absentee is Tuesday May 12. For mail-in voters, the registrar must receive ballots by 4:30 p.m. Friday May, 15.
READ MORE:Early voting wraps up Saturday
