Early voting for the Oct. 24 primary began today, Saturday, Oct. 10, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 17.
Early voting will be conducted at Northshore Technical Community College-Sullivan Campus in Bogalusa, and at the Washington Parish Courthouse in Franklinton. It will be conducted from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Washington Parish voters will be selecting candidates in state, parish and local races.

Washington Parish Registrar of Voters Randy Strickland urged citizens to vote early.

“I encourage everybody to get out and vote early,” Strickland said. “Pick the date, and pick the weather. Remember we have the Washington Parish Fair from Oct. 21-24. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to vote, so vote early.

“You don’t know if there will be bad weather, you’ll be sick or have car problems, so go vote early at one of the two locations.”

Bogalusa residents will be voting on whether or not to renew a property tax. It is a renewal for 10 years. The renewal will help fund city employees’ retirement fund.

Bogalusa Mayor Wendy Perrette has said it is important voters renew the tax.

“It’s imperative that we renew it. Without it, that money will have to come from somewhere else and we don’t have it,” Perrette previously said.

Among the local elections on the ballot is a hotly-contested race for Washington Parish Sheriff between incumbent Randy “Country” Seal and challenger Scott Blair. Seal is in his first term. Both are running as Democrats.

In the Assessor’s race, incumbent James “Jimbo” Stevenson Jr. faces opposition from Helen M. Hart. Both are running as Democrats.

All seven seats on the Washington Parish Council are being contested.

Bogalusa residents Melvin Keith and Perry Talley are running for the District 1 seat currently held by Kenneth Wheat, who is not seeking reelection.

Parish Council Chairman Mike Fussell, of Franklinton, is being challenged by Franklinton’s Richard Berry for the District 2 seat.

In District 3, Bogalusa residents Merlin Duke and Christopher Workman are running for the seat currently heldby Dr. Charles Nassauer, who is running for State Rep. from District 75. Nassauer is being opposed in that state Senate race by Malinda B. White.

District 4 incumbent Andre Johnson, of Bogalusa, faces a challenge from Angie’s Levi Lewis Sr.

Angie’s Justin “Pete” Thomas is District 5 incumbent and is opposed in the race by Franklinton’s J.C. Sumrall.

Greg Route, the District 6 incumbent from Franklinton, is being opposed by Franklinton’s Reginald McMasters.

District 7 incumbent Aubrey Posey, of Franklinton, faces two opponents in Franklinton’s Philip J. Magee and Mount Hermon’s David Anthony.

Voters will also elect candidates for statewide offices, including governor and lieutenant governor.