Bomb Threat At Louisiana Polling Site Forces Relocation

A bomb threat at a polling location in Louisiana has forced authorities to change the location and increase security.

Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin responded to the bomb threat by changing the polling location from the Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy on Loyola Drive to Audubon Elementary School.

According to a press release from Ardoin’s office, “early investigations indicate that the motive was not election-related… Personnel have been stationed at the location to direct voters to Audubon Elementary, and voters who signed up for electronic notifications through the Geaux Vote online portal were notified of the change electronically.”

“I am exceedingly grateful to Kenner Chief of Police Keith Conley and Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto for their prompt response and thorough investigation, which appears to show that this was never targeted toward voters or election workers,” Ardoin said.

“I also applaud our department’s elections staff and Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court Jon Gegenheimer for this quick response to move the location and inform voters of the emergency move,” Ardoin added.

The original polling location, Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy, had received a potentially related bomb threat last week, according to the Kenner Police Department’s Twitter account.

“Kenner Police are on scene investigating and trying to determine if this will be related to a bomb threat the school received on Thursday, November 3, 2022,” the account tweeted.

Cont’d

There were no children in school today due to elections.

Any questions concerning the polling station at Kenner Discovery are to contact the Secretary of State.

— Kenner PD (@KennerPolice) November 8, 2022

The previous threat forced the evacuation of all students and staff from campus.

“All middle and high school students have evacuated the Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy Loyola and Vintage campuses due to an electronic bomb threat called into the high school demanding bitcoin payment. The Kenner Police and Fire Departments are searching the buildings,” the school’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Patty Glaser said in a statement following the incident.