新奥尔良宣布选举日为市定假日：鼓励市民投票
路易斯安那州奥尔良堂区新奥尔良市长 Helena Moreno 与市议会合作宣布，将 2026 年 11 月 3 日（周二）选举日定为市定假日，鼓励居民和市府雇员行使投票权。
莫雷诺说：“多年来我一直致力于维护和保护投票权：从疫情期间开放 Smoothie King 中心作为提前投票点，到推动立法把选举日定为市假日，再到为保护邮寄选票而斗争。我很自豪能与市议会站在一起，把 11 月 3 日定为庆祝投票权、扩大所有人投票渠道的日子。”
市议会议长 JP Morrell 说：“没有人应该在工作和投票权之间做选择。”市议会副议长 Matthew Willard 表示，把选举日定为市假日有助于消除投票障碍。市议员 Aimee McCarron 表示，选举日关闭市政厅，能让雇员和居民都有机会参与民主进程。市府雇员还可在 10 月 20 日至 27 日在市政厅参加提前投票。今年新奥尔良选票上包括联邦参议员、联邦众议员、法官等多项竞选。
New Orleans declares Election Day an official city holiday to encourage voting
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Mayor Helena Moreno, in collaboration with the New Orleans City Council, has established Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, as a city holiday in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, to encourage residents and city employees to exercise their right to vote.
"For years, I've worked to sustain and protect the right to vote; from opening the Smoothie King Center for early voting during COVID, to passing the original law to make Election Day a city holiday, to fighting to protect access to mail-in ballots," Moreno said. "I'm proud to stand together with the City Council to make November 3rd a day to celebrate our right to vote and expand access to the ballot for all."
"No one should have to choose between their job and their right to vote," said Council President JP Morrell. Council Vice President Matthew Willard said recognizing Election Day as a holiday helps remove a barrier to voting, and Councilmember Aimee McCarron said closing City Hall on Election Day gives employees and residents the opportunity to participate. City employees can also take advantage of early voting at City Hall from October 20 through October 27. This year's ballot in New Orleans includes races for U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative and judges, among others.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：新奥尔良杰克逊广场。图片：Diego Delso，CC BY-SA 3.0，经Wikimedia Commons。 / Jackson Square in New Orleans. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
