BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Senators have refused to loosen Louisiana's absentee voting rules.

Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, a New Orleans Democrat, proposed to allow any people who expect to be away from their home parishes on Election Day to be able to vote absentee by mail.

Currently, people can only vote absentee by mail if they meet a list of specific criteria, like being in the military or in college away from home.

Peterson suggested the change would open voting options to more people.

But questions had been raised about the cost of mailing out more ballots and the need for lessening restrictions when Louisiana has other early voting options for those away from home on Election Day.

Without debate, the Senate voted 24-11 against the bill Tuesday.