December election set; early voting is underway

LSN Staff Report

BATON ROUGE - The Congressional General Election is set for Saturday, December 10, and early voting is underway at the Evangeline Parish Registrar of Voters Office.
Early voting will be observed now through Saturday, December 3, (excluding today, November 27) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, December 6, by 4:30 p.m. (other than military and overseas voters). You can request an absentee ballot online through our Voter Portal or in writing through your Registrar of Voters Office.
The deadline for a registrar of voters to receive a voted absentee ballot is Friday, December 9, by 4:30 p.m. (other than military and overseas voters).
On election day, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters in Turkey Creek will be electing a new mayor between candidates Bert K. Campbell and Victoria “Vicki” Chaddrick.
In Mamou, voters will elect an alderman-at-large between candidates Ricardo “Reko” Goodley and Jimmie “JT” Thomas, and voters in District 3 will elect an alderman between candidates Eugene Manuel and Allen S. Noel Sr.
Three alderman seats (which makes up half of the city council) are up for grabs in Ville Platte. In District B, voters will select between Anna L. Frank and Jerry Joseph. In District D, voters will select between Jordan Anderson and Shawn C. Roy. In District E, voters will select between Christina F. Sam and Adam Toussaint.
Voters in Fire Protection District No. 2 will also decide on two propositions which are renewals on 5.63 mills. The first, for a period of 17 years, reads, “Shall Fire Protection District No. 2 of the Parish of Evangeline, State of Louisiana (the “District”), be authorized to continue to levy a special tax of five and sixty-three hundredths (5.63) mills on all the property subject to taxation in the District, the City of Ville Platte excepted (an estimated $439,200 reasonably expected at this time to be collected annually from the levy of the tax), for a period of seventeen (17) years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2043, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating fire protection facilities in the District, including the purchase of fire trucks and equipment therefor, and the payment of Firemen’s salaries?” The second, for a period of 15 years, reads, “Shall Fire Protection District No. 2 of the Parish of Evangeline, State of Louisiana (the “District”), be authorized to continue to levy a special tax of five and sixty-three hundredths (5.63) mills (the estimated amount reasonably expected to be collected from the levy of the tax for one entire year being $439,200), on all the property subject to taxation in the District, the City of Ville Platte excepted, for a period of fifteen (15) years, beginning with the year 2029 and ending with the year 2043, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating fire protection facilities in the District, including the purchase of fire trucks and equipment therefor, and the payment of Firemen’s salaries?
Voters parishwide will see three constitutional amendments on this ballot.
According to a pamphlet from PAR (Public Affairs Research), here are the amendments and its arguments:
•Amendment 1: Do you support an amendment to provide that no person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to register and vote in this state?”
A vote for would: Ban people who aren’t United States citizens from registering to vote or casting ballots in Louisiana elections.
A vote against would: Keep current language governing voting rights, which requires a person to be a Louisiana citizen to register to vote or cast ballots in elections.
•Amendment 2: Do you support an amendment to make appointed members of the State Civil Service Commission subject to confirmation by the Louisiana Senate?
A vote for would: Require Louisiana Senate confirmation of the governor’s appointees to the State Civil Service Commission.
A vote against would: Continue to let the governor appoint members to the State Civil Service Commission without needing confirmation of those choices from the Louisiana Senate.
•Amendment 3: Do you support an amendment to make appointed members of the State Police Commission subject to confirmation by the Louisiana Senate?
A vote for would: Require Louisiana Senate confirmation of the governor’s appointees to the State Police Commission.
A vote against would: Continue to let the governor appoint members to the State Police Commission without needing confirmation of those choices from the Louisiana Senate.