Early voter turnout explodes in New Orleans; could be good sign for Mary Landrieu
Here In New Orleans:
New Orleanians have been voting early in droves, according to the Orleans Parish registrar of voters.
About 17,430 city residents have cast ballots during early voting, which ends today, said Sandra Wilson, registrar of voters. That's nearly twice as many early voters as the last midterm election in November 2010, when 9,031 voted early in person, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State's figures.
The primary election in October of that year, which included statewide races and constitutional amendments, saw even fewer early voters at 3,278.
The big early voting turnout this year may be a good sign for Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu as she fights to keep her Senate seat. African-Americans, who vote overwhelmingly Democrat, have much higher early voting rates than whites, and maximizing voter turnout in New Orleans is seen by many as key to Landrieu's electoral hopes.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/10/early_voter_turnout_explodes_i.html