In November 2020, Donald Trump launched a nationwide debate over election integrity. Of course, Trump won Louisiana handily, so most of the focus has been elsewhere (as it should be). Still, some in Louisiana have used the national spotlight as motivation to move our state’s election systems into the future.
As a Louisiana Voting Systems Commissioner (an unpaid, volunteer oversight role), I’ve considered it my public duty to keep up with the process and occasionally update our readers. That’s what real oversight looks like. There’s been some real movement since I told you that Louisiana’s New Voting System Aligns with Trump’s Call for Election Integrity. So, now’s a good time to check in again.
Last week, Louisiana’s top election official said the state is closer than ever to rolling out a new voting system with a verifiable paper trail — something voters and advocates have been demanding for years. However, with aging machines failing more frequently and the 2026 election cycle looming, she warns that time is running out.
“We can see the finish line,” said Secretary of State Nancy Landry, who has led the push to modernize the state’s outdated election equipment. “We’re in year three of a four-year procurement process, and we just need to move forward.”
Old Machines, New Risk
Louisiana’s current machines were manufactured before the Internet existed. They’re not connected to any network, which is good for security, but the technology is so old it’s no longer supported. Replacement parts don’t exist; when they fail, there’s no paper trail to reconstruct or verify the voter’s intent.
“We had an election this Saturday,” Landry noted, “and two more of our machines broke down. We lose some more every time we hold an election.” That’s not just inconvenient. It’s dangerous. “If they start to fail to the point where they don’t preserve the results because there’s no paper record, we’re going to be in trouble,” she warned.
Election Integrity Isn’t the Problem
Despite its aging infrastructure, the Heritage Foundation still ranks Louisiana second in the nation for election integrity. Landry attributes that to strong state laws and rigorous oversight already in place. In fact, we jumped from ninth to second in just one year, thanks to her efforts encouraging the passage of strong legislation during the 2024 regular session.
“We have awesome election laws,” she said. “We protect election integrity in Louisiana.” The goal now is to add a critical missing layer: an auditable paper trail that ensures every vote can be verified. “If we get that system,” Nancy Landry said, “we will rock it to number one, way ahead of all the other states.”
Broad Support, Bipartisan Encouragement
This push for a secure, verifiable system isn’t just a state priority; it has strong support across the federal spectrum.
“We’ve met with the White House twice now,” Landry said. “I met with White House staff, the Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and the Election Assistance Commission.”
The message from those meetings was clear: Keep going.
“They commended us for what we do here in Louisiana,” she said. “They encouraged us to proceed with our procurement and get a new system that allows us to have an auditable paper record.”
Landry also cited a letter from the Trump administration’s intergovernmental office: “This order is intended to complement and support your work… by providing additional federal resources and coordination.”
“Both Governor Landry and the Trump administration have asked how they can help to speed things up,” she added.
The Clock Is Ticking
Right now, Louisiana is about 95% in compliance with federal guidelines related to secure elections. The remaining 5% — implementing the new system — requires time, resources, and urgency.
“This is already the most transparent procurement in the history of Louisiana,” Landry said. “It’s the most arduous procurement process, I would venture to say, in the country.”
But she remains optimistic. “We just need to get a new system. And we need to get it sooner rather than later.”
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The DOGE Effect: What If We Cut Waste in Louisiana?
Elon Musk and Donald Trump are slashing waste in Washington, and the whole world is watching. Many have said, “That’s great—but we need to do the same thing in Louisiana!”
What most don’t realize is that Citizens for a New Louisiana has been ‘DOGE before DOGE was cool.’ Our investigatory work exposes government waste, backroom deals, and left-wing slush funds. And when people know what their government is really doing, it stops.
Want proof? Just change a few words:
👉 If you knew your government was funding erotic children’s books, they’d stop doing it.
👉 If you knew your government was sending millions to activist NGOs, they’d stop doing it.
👉 If you knew your government was emboldening hard-Left activists, they’d stop doing it.
We’ve covered transparency issues for almost seven years. No one else in Louisiana is looking this closely at where your tax dollars are going. Are you fed up with the hundreds of millions of dollars flowing from Louisiana's treasury into the pockets of NGOs and left-wing activists? If so, you’re not alone. But exposing it isn’t enough—we need your help to stop it.
If every reader contributed just $10 a year, we could double our reach. Your support now ensures Louisiana’s conservative future—don’t wait—contribute today!
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