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WASHINGTON PARISH, La. – Early voting for the October 14 election is in full swing across Louisiana. On Saturday, Sept. 30, 404 people voted early in Franklinton and 367 in Bogalusa. Check your registration at geauxvote.com to see where you are registered and to look at your sample ballot. The early voting period will be open until Saturday, Oct. 7 from 8:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. each day.

“When you go to cast your vote early, you will be asked to identify yourself with either a photo ID or signature on a voter affidavit,” according to Kyle Ardoin, the Secretary of State. “You may use a Louisiana driver’s license, a Louisiana special identification card, a United States military identification card that contains your name and picture, or other generally recognized picture identification card that has your name and signature.”

There are four ballot measures to be voted on, aside from the elected offices on the ballot. The amendments (in the order as seen on the ballot) are looking to: 

1. Make it illegal for money, goods, and services that are donated by a foreign government or nongovernment source to be used in organizing elections. 
2. Include in the Louisiana constitution that “the freedom to worship in a church or other place of worship is a fundamental right that is worthy of the highest order of protection.”
3. Make it mandatory that a minimum of 25% of nonrecurring Louisiana revenue be applied to the balance of unfunded liability of the Louisiana retirement system.
4. Make it illegal for any nonprofit organization to get a property tax exemption if they own a  residential property that is in such bad condition that it is a danger to the public’s health and/or safety.

The following locations are designated as the early voting locations for Washington Parish:

• Bogalusa
  • Northshore Technical College
    1710 Sullivan Drive
• Franklinton
  • Washington Parish Courthouse
    900 Washington Street

For more information, contact the Washington Parish Registrar, Randy Strickland, at 985-839-7850 or visit sos.la.gov.