Only 33 percent of the 125,428 registered voters of Calcasieu Parish voted in the Oct. 14 election. That means only one-third of the registered voters decided what happens to everyone else in the parish on a state and local level, said Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court Lynn Jones.

Kim Fontenot, Calcasieu Parish Registrar of Voters, said it is the lowest turnout for a gubernatorial election statewide in 12 years — and the numbers could be even lower for the Nov. 18 election.

The last time that voting turnout was at 50 percent or higher was the last presidential election. Fontenot expects the same percentage for next year’s presidential election.

Fifty-six-year-old Mary Yvonne Suarez of  DeQuincy was among those who exercised her right to vote last month. She plans to vote again on Saturday.

Since she registered at age 18, she has missed only two elections. She votes, she says, because it’s a freedom not every citizen in every country enjoys.

“We’re lucky and blessed to have a voice,” she said. “I believe my vote counts.”

Even when her candidates do not win, she believes casting her vote communicates her opinion to those in office, and those who are running for office.

Suarez said her parents always voted Democrat and she did, too, until she became older. Now she is a Republican, joining 45,848 other registered Republicans in the parish. Forty-two thousand, six hundred and sixty one voters are registered as Democrats.

Jones said the largest group of voters are 65 or older, and many of those men and women are mailing in their ballots. He is in favor of increasing that availability.

In Nevada, placing voting booths in popular retail locations is a big winner. Jones and a former Secretary of State traveled to Clark County to see the process up close, to find out how one state consistently has a 70 to 80 percent turnout — and not just for the big elections. The technology is available now to confirm registration and address of voters, and tally the vote to the home precincts.

Incorporating this into Louisiana’s elections might have a significant upfront cost, Jones said, but could save money in the long run.

Jones said the addition of more early voting days and early voting in more locations has been a good thing for Calcasieu Parish. The consolidation of precincts at mega sites, as was done in Calcasieu Parish during COVID-19 mandates and after the hurricanes, was well received, according to Jones. That might be the solution to the challenge of recruiting enough commissioners for the future.

Sadly, he said online voting — a hot topic only five years ago — is on the backburner.

“As long as the cybersecurity threat is an issue, I don’t see online voting as an option any time soon,” Jones said.