The state has declared this Voter Registration week, and officials are encouraging all who have not signed up to vote to do so in time for the October and November elections.

The annual event will be observed Monday through Friday.

Washington Parish Registrar of Voters Randy Strickland said voters must be registered 30 days prior to the election, so the deadline for the Oct. 19 election is Sept. 18.

There are currently two items on that ballot: the parish’s .33 percent sales tax proposition and the 5th Congressional District seat, which is being vacated by U.S. Congressman Rodney Alexander. Fourteen candidates have qualified for that race, with the runoff Nov. 16 if necessary.

Voter registration forms are available at the Registrar of Voters office in Franklinton. Other Franklinton locations include the post office and Department of Motor Vehicles. In Bogalusa, forms can be picked up at City Hall, the Bogalusa Library, the Health Unit, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the post office. The Mt. Hermon and Angie post offices have forms available as well.

Strickland said individuals can also pick up a form at one of those locations and bring it to someone who needs to register. Additionally, voter registration can be done online at geauxvote.com.

People who are currently 17 years old and will be 18 by the next election can register to vote. Strickland said their registration will be automatically activated on their 18th birthday.

Early voting will run Oct. 5-12, excluding Sunday, Oct. 6. It will take place at the Registrar of Voters office in the parish courthouse and at Northshore Technical Community College, Sullivan Campus, in Bogalusa, from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day in both locations.

Voters will need to take a picture ID, either their driver’s license or state-issued identification card, in order to vote.

Because the October election day is the Saturday of the fair, Strickland recommends people take advantage of early voting. In addition to the fair, there are a number of other factors that could keep people from voting that day, such as weather or transportation issues.

He said voters could get sick, have to work or be out of town, and early voting gives people a whole week to vote on either side of the parish.

“I want us to increase early voting more and more each election,” he said.