Louisiana Sheriff Election Won by Single Vote Triggers Recount

Concerns raised over state's outdated voting machines lacking a paper trail for in-person votes.

In a Louisiana sheriff election, the Democratic candidate won by a single vote out of over 43,000 cast, prompting the Republican candidate to demand a recount.
The recount process will only include absentee ballots, which account for about 17% of the total vote, as Louisiana's voting machines do not produce an auditable paper trail for in-person votes.
Louisiana's voting machines, bought in 2005, are paperless and have been criticized for their lack of a paper trail, despite officials' assurances of election security.
Efforts to replace the current machines have been ongoing for the past five years, but have been delayed due to allegations of a rigged bidding process.
Secretary of State-elect Nancy Landry has stated that implementing a new voting system is a top priority, but new machines will not be in place ahead of the 2024 presidential election.