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|alma_mater=[[Louisiana State University]]}}
|alma_mater=[[Louisiana State University]]}}
'''Robert Kyle Ardoin''', known as '''Kyle Ardoin''' (born July 31, 1967), is the outgoing [[Louisiana]] Secretary of State, a post he has filled since May 18, 2018. A convert to the [[Republican Party]], he won an easy victory in the [[special election]] runoff contest to finish the remaining thirteen months of the term of [[Tom Schedler]], who resigned in the spring of 2018 under a sexual harassment cloud. He then won a full term in 2019. He did not seek reelection in 2023, and the post will pass on January 8, 2024, to his first assistant secretary, [[Nancy Landry]], who won the seat in the November 18, 2023, runoff election against Ardoin's former opponent, Gwen Collins-Greenup, a [[Baton Rouge]] attorney.
'''Robert Kyle Ardoin''', known as '''Kyle Ardoin''' (born July 31, 1967), is the former [[Louisiana]] Secretary of State, a post that he filled from May 18, 2018, until January 8, 2024. A convert to the [[Republican Party]], he won an easy victory in the [[special election]] runoff contest to finish the remaining thirteen months of the term of [[Tom Schedler]], who resigned in the spring of 2018 under a sexual harassment cloud. He then won a full term in 2019. He did not seek reelection in 2023, and the post will pass on January 8, 2024, to his first assistant secretary, [[Nancy Landry]], who won the seat in the November 18, 2023, runoff election against Ardoin's former opponent, Gwen Collins-Greenup, a [[Baton Rouge]] attorney.
==Background==
==Background==
==Political life==
==Political life==
On November 6, 2018, in the in nonpartisan blanket primary to fill the remainder of Schedler's term through January 13, 2020, Ardoin received 298,652 votes (20 percent), barely leading the field but advancing to the runoff contest in which he faced [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gwen Collins-Greenup, an [[African-American]], who finished with 289,070 votes (also 20 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 6, 2018.</ref> In the runoff, held a month later on December 8, Ardoin defeated Collins-Greenup, 306,538 (59 percent) to 210,080 (41 percent), in a turnout of just 17.2 percent of registered voters.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, December 8, 2018.</ref>
On November 6, 2018, in the nonpartisan blanket primary to fill the remainder of Schedler's term through January 13, 2020, Ardoin received 298,652 votes (20 percent), barely leading the field but advancing to the runoff contest in which he faced [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gwen Collins-Greenup, an [[African-American]], who finished with 289,070 votes (also 20 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 6, 2018.</ref> In the runoff, held a month later on December 8, Ardoin defeated Collins-Greenup, 306,538 (59 percent) to 210,080 (41 percent), in a turnout of just 17.2 percent of registered voters.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, December 8, 2018.</ref>
In July 2019, Ardoin hired outgoing state Representative Nancy Landry, a [[Moderate Republican]] from [[Lafayette]], to become his chief of staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/get-access/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenewsstar.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2019%2F07%2F17%2Fstate-rep-nancy-landry-resigns-work-secretary-state%2F1756621001%2F|title=State Rep. Nancy Landry resigns to work for Secretary of State|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]''|date=July 18, 2019}}</ref>
In July 2019, Ardoin hired outgoing state Representative Nancy Landry, a [[Moderate Republican]] from [[Lafayette]], to become his chief of staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/get-access/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenewsstar.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2019%2F07%2F17%2Fstate-rep-nancy-landry-resigns-work-secretary-state%2F1756621001%2F|title=State Rep. Nancy Landry resigns to work for Secretary of State|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]''|date=July 18, 2019}}</ref>
In the primary election for a full term as secretary of state held on October 12, 2019, Ardoin led a four-candidate field with 528,246 (41 percent). Two other Republicans, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, and Amanda "Jennings" Smith, held, respectively, another 244,139 votes (19 percent) and 78,903 (6 percent). Therefore, Ardoin faced his former opponent Gwen Collins-Greenup, who received 434,580 votes (34 percent) in the primary. Nearly two-thirds of primary voters cast ballots for the three Republican candidates. Turnout in the contest was 43.4 percent of registered voters.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12, 2019.</ref> In his advertising in the primary, Ardoin stressed his support to maintain [[election integrity]].<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]], October 11, 2019.</ref> With 99 percent of returns tabulated, Ardoin defeated Collins-Greenup, 867,449 to 601,102 votes, again a 59-41 percent split, even as Republican gubernatorial candidate [[Eddie Rispone]] was defeated by incumbent Democrat [[John Bel Edwards]].
In the primary election for a full term as secretary of state held on October 12, 2019, Ardoin led a four-candidate field with 528,246 (41 percent). Two other Republicans, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, and Amanda "Jennings" Smith, held, respectively, another 244,139 votes (19 percent) and 78,903 (6 percent). Therefore, Ardoin faced his former opponent Gwen Collins-Greenup, who received 434,580 votes (34 percent) in the primary. Nearly two-thirds of primary voters cast ballots for the three Republican candidates. Turnout in the contest was 43.4 percent of registered voters.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12, 2019.</ref> In his advertising in the primary, Ardoin stressed his support to maintain [[election integrity]].<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]], October 11, 2019.</ref> With 99 percent of returns tabulated, Ardoin defeated Collins-Greenup, 867,449 to 601,102 votes, again a 59-41 percent split, even as Republican gubernatorial candidate [[Eddie Rispone]] was defeated by incumbent Democrat [[John Bel Edwards]].
In 2007, Ardoin fell short in a race for House District 68 to succeed the Democrat-turned-Republican incumbent William Daniel, a petroleum engineer. Ardoin led the legislative vote with 5,531 ballots (41 percent) to fellow Republican [[Steve Carter (Louisiana politician)|Steve Carter]]'s 5,242 votes (38.9 percent). The remaining 2,705 votes (20 percent) were received by Jay Lyles.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> In the second balloting on November 17, which had a lower turnout because of the lack of a gubernatorial contest, Carter prevailed by 87 votes, 4,967 (50.4 percent) to Ardoin's 4,880 (49.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>
In 2007, Ardoin fell short in a race for House District 68 to succeed the Democrat-turned-Republican incumbent William Daniel, a petroleum engineer. Ardoin led the legislative vote with 5,531 ballots (41 percent) to fellow Republican [[Steve Carter (Louisiana politician)|Steve Carter]]'s 5,242 votes (38.9 percent). The remaining 2,705 votes (20 percent) were received by Jay Lyles.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> In the second balloting on November 17, which had a lower turnout because of the lack of a gubernatorial contest, Carter prevailed by 87 votes, 4,967 (50.4 percent) to Ardoin's 4,880 (49.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>
===Expansion of mail-in ballots in 2020===
===Expansion of mail-in ballots in 2020===