On to the next round of elections: Early voting starts today

Published 8:14 am Saturday, November 26, 2016

<span class="AText">Early voting for the Dec. 10 election begins today and continues through Dec. 3 in Southwest Louisiana.</span>

<span class="AText">Voters can cast ballots 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, except Sunday, Nov. 27 at voter register offices and other designated locations.</span>

<span class="AText">In Calcasieu Parish, voting will be in the parish courthouse, 1000 Ryan St.; the Moss Bluff Library, 261 Parish Road and the West Calcasieu Business Center, 500 A N. Huntington St. in Sulphur.</span>

<span class="AText">Voters should bring a driver’s license, a Louisiana special ID or some other generally recognized picture ID that contains a name and signature.</span>

<span class="AText">The last day to request an absentee by mail ballot is 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6.</span>

<span class="AText">In Southwest Louisiana, the ballot will include a runoff election for U.S. Senate and two U.S. House seats in District 3 and 4.</span>

<span class="AText">There is also a runoff for Lake Arthur aldermen and tax renewal propositions for water and street improvements in Iowa.</span>

<span class="AText">A runoff election for Fenton aldermen will not be on the ballot after Marella Hubacheck withdrew on Nov. 16. Gweneveere Artis Johnson will fill the seat.</span>

<span class="AText">Voters in Allen Parish are deciding on two new taxes to help generate revenue for the police jury’s general fund. Vernon Parish voters will also decide on a bond-issue for the police jury.</span>

<span class="AText">In statewide races, John Kennedy and Foster Campbell are vying for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by incumbent David Vitter, who did not seek re-election.</span>

<span class="AText">The U.S. House, District 3 race pits Scott Angelle against Clay Higgins for the seat being vacated by incumbent Charles Boustany, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate.</span>

<span class="AText">In the U.S. House, District 4 race, Marshall Jones and Mike Johnson will face-off for the seat being vacated by incumbent John Fleming, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate.</span>

<span class="AText">Polling locations and sample ballots are available using GeauxVote app or Voter Portal. Other voting information is available at www.GeauxVote.com.</span>

<span class="AText">Here is a parish by parish ballot:</span>

<span class="AText" style="font-weight: bold;">Allen Parish:</span>

Allen Parish voters are being asked to approve two new tax issues to help fund general fund expenditures for the police jury.

Voters in unincorporated areas will decide on a new 10-year, .3 percent sale tax. It would generate $280,000 a year to help improve and maintain roads , bridges and drainage in the parish.

Voters parishwide are also being asked to decide on on a 10-year, 10-mill property tax expected to generate $930,000 annually for general fund. The millage would be covered by homestead exemption.

The taxes are needed to help keep the parish afloat due to declining severance tax revenue from oil, gas, sand and timber, according to Police Jury President H. Creig Vizena.

Severance taxes have dropped from $1.2 million in 2010 to $805.923 in 2015, he said. First quarter revenue for 2016 were $51,974.

<span style="font-weight: bold;">Calcasieu Parish</span>

Voters in Iowa are being asked to support  a one percent sales tax to fund improvements to the water works, sewer and wastewater systems, streets repairs, park improvements, economic development and funding for bonds. It will generate $650,000 annually.

<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jeff Davis</span>

In Lake Arthur, Kirk J. Conner and Auldon Robinson Sr. are in a runoff to fill a vacant aldermen seat, following the death of alderman Eric Turner in February.

<span style="font-weight: bold;">Vernon Parish</span>

The Vernon Parish Police Jury is seeking voter approval to sell bonds to raise up to $1.55 million to improve and equip public buildings owned by the parish. The 15-year bond issue would be retired by revenue generated by ad valorem property taxes.<p>(MGNonline)</p>