Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Here's some information that will help you vote - if you haven't already.
In Louisiana polls open at 6 a.m. for Tuesday elections, and close at 8 p.m. By law, all voters in line at 8 p.m. have the right to vote.
The Louisiana Secretary of State website offers this information:
Be prepared to show a photo identification card with your photo and signature or a United States military identification card that contains your name and picture when voting. If you do not have a photo ID, you may obtain a free Louisiana special identification card by presenting your voter registration information card to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) or you may vote by affidavit after correctly answering identifying information before voting.
Never wear any campaign shirt, hat, and button or pin when voting. All polling places have a 600 foot campaign free zone.
Find your voting precinct to know where to vote on Election Day. Download the free GeauxVote appto have this information easily accessible, to view your sample ballot two weeks prior to each election, to see upcoming election dates and to sign up for electronic notifications.
Update your voter registration information onlineor contact your parish registrar of voters of any changes to your residential address to keep your voting status active. Inactive voters must verify their residential address before voting, either online, in person at the Registrar of Voters Office or in person on Election Day.
Louis Perret, Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court, reminds voters that they need to practice social distancing and wear a mask to the polls. He said it's also a good idea to find out what is on the ballot ahead of time.
"We want to make sure voters are prepared when they show up at the polls. The best thing you can do is put the GeauxVote app on your phone, or go to GeauxVote.com to get your personal ballot. Be prepared before you go into the precinct," Perret says.
There are Constitutional amendments, local and regional races, as well as some local tax propositions on the ballot, he said.
"We anticipate heavy turnout, and it's a long ballot, so we want to encourage voters to be prepared before they go into the voting booth to vote, as each voter is limited by law to three minutes at the precinct," Perret says.
To see our story about how you can get details on the Constitutional amendments, click here.
To our story about what's on each parish ballot, you can click here.
However you plan to vote, Perret says you need to do so.
"We're expecting great weather, so we want to encourage the people to get out and vote," he said. "It's what you can do to be a good citizen."
