Washington Parish Registrar of Voters Randy Strickland said that voters in the Saturday, Oct. 24 primary election should be sure their information is current and up to date.

Today is the final day to register to vote in the Oct. 24 election.

“Anything we need in regard to any changes in your information has to be in our office by 4:30 p.m., or at least be postmarked at the post office by 5 p.m.,” Strickland said. “I run into this problem every election where somebody tells us they took their information to the post office by 5:30 p.m. Some of the post offices close at 4 or 4:30 p.m., but it wasn’t postmarked by 5 p.m.

“The most sure way to get that postmark before 5 p.m. is to walk it into our office or drop the information by the post office before noon on Wednesday.”

Strickland said a change of address is one of the more important pieces of information voters need to update, when registering to vote.

“Along with the change of address, there is their party affiliation and name. Those are the three biggies right there,” Strickland said. “I always have somebody call up in Varnado, but they’re still registered to vote in Bogalusa. If our office doesn’t get written notification, we can’t change it.

“I’ve had notifications on paper bags and on napkins. Voters should have their Social Security number or date of birth listed for identification purposes.”

The Washington Parish Free Fair is scheduled for Oct. 21-24 at the Washington Parish Fair Grounds in Franklinton.

Strickland said his office has fielded a number of questions concerning absentee, or early voting, for the primary. Early voting is scheduled from Oct. 10-17.

The general election is Nov. 21. Absentee voting for the general election is Nov. 7-14.

Citizens have several other options to register to vote, as well. They can visit online at www.geauxvote.com or use the “GeauxVote Mobile” app on a smartphone. Registration is also often available at the Office of Motor Vehicles, public assistance agencies, public schools, libraries and colleges.

For more information, call the Washington Parish Registrar of Voters office at 985-839-7850. The office is located in the courthouse, 900 Washington St. in Franklinton.