PLAQUEMINE, LA – In what investigators describe as an unusually cost-effective campaign strategy, a Plaquemine city council member is under scrutiny after allegedly discovering that flying in out-of-state voters costs less than a traditional yard sign blitz.
According to authorities, the candidate is accused of arranging for friends and relatives from Texas to temporarily establish residency just long enough to participate in the November election. The effort, described by critics as a “destination democracy package,” allegedly included coordinated registration, transportation, and a clear understanding of who they were there to support.
The race appeared unremarkable during early voting, where the opponent held a comfortable lead. That changed on Election Day, when a sudden surge of ballots flipped the results and raised questions among poll workers about why so many voters seemed unfamiliar with Plaquemine’s geography, history, and basic pronunciation.
Election officials later flagged irregularities after noticing shared last names, “coordinated arrivals,” matching family reunion Tshirts, and multiple voters referring to the candidate as “cousin.” Prosecutors say the case highlights a growing trend of treating residency requirements as more of a suggestion than a rule.
The investigation has also forced local officials to clarify that “bringing the family together” is considered a metaphor in campaign literature, not a logistical strategy.
