Thanks to a law passed in the most recent Louisiana special legislative session, election officials did not have to wait until today to begin counting mailed-in absentee ballots.
The law authored by Northshore Rep. Sharon Hewitt (R-Slidell) allows that counting process to start four days ahead of election day.
"That piece of legislation, in particular, was something that was very well received by the Clerks of Courts and those parish election officials in charge of running the election," said Hewitt.
However, despite the head start, Orleans Parish Criminal District Clerk of Court Arthur Morrell says that the volume of mail-in ballots in New Orleans could drag the counting out past midnight, reported The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate.
Morrell said they spent Sunday and Monday processing 120,000 ballots. Military and overseas ballots could continue arriving into tonight.
Click here to read more from The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate.