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CARIE CLELAND

SPECIAL TO THE DAILY NEWS 

 

December 7, 2024 there will be an election held for four proposed amendments to the Louisiana State Constitution. The election will also be held for the run-off race for Bogalusa District B councilman. A special primary will be held in Washington Parish, which was rescheduled from the November election due to the death of candidate Frank Crosby for alderman of Franklinton. Finally, there will be a vote held for fire protection millage in District 1.

It is important to have a plan in place for each individual planning on voting. If you are planning on voting on election day the polls open at 7am and close at 8pm. If you are going to be out of town or unable to vote on December 7th, there is no need to wait, you can start preparing now. You can choose to vote early or request an absentee ballot. It is important to remember that absentee ballots are not preemptively sent to voters. You must request an absentee ballot and in order to qualify for absentee voting you must have previously voted in-person in a previous election and confirmed your identity. There are many protocols in place to keep voting safe and honest. Some of those protocols include showing a photo ID in order to be able to vote as well as each voting location being monitored by trained election commissioners.

Live, real-time check in ensures that each voter is only voting once.

Whichever way you plan to vote, there are some important dates to keep in mind. November 6 was the deadline to register in person or by mail and November 16 was the deadline to register online

or on the GeauxVote app. Early voting begins on November 22 and ends on December 30th. The last date to request an absentee ballot is on December 3rd. December 6th is the last day for absentee ballots to be received. For polling locations, sample ballots, and more download the GeauxVote app, visit the voter portal at voterportal.sos.la.gov or call 800-883-2805.

The following information is each amendment on the December 7th ballot:

• Proposed Amendment No. 1: Act 405 (2024 Regular Session) – Proposing to amend Article V, Section 25(C) and to add Article V, Section 25(A)(4) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the judiciary commission; to require the judiciary commission to conduct certain investigations; to provide for membership of the judiciary commission; to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors; and to provide a ballot proposition.

• Proposed Amendment No. 2: Act 406 (2024 Regular Session) – Proposing to add Article III, Section 16(F) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to provide relative to consideration of appropriations bills; to provide for time periods and required information relative thereto; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters.

• Proposed Amendment No. 3: Act 407 (2024 Regular Session) – Proposing to amend Article III, Section 2(A)(3)(a) and (4)(a) of the Constitution of Louisiana and to add Article III, Section 2(A)(5) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to regular sessions of the legislature, to allow the legislature to extend a regular session for a limited time period for a specific purpose; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters.

• Proposed Amendment No. 4: Proposed Amendment No. 4 Act 409 (2024 Regular Session) – Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 25 of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to ad valorem tax; to provide for the administration of tax sales of immovable property; to provide for the postponement of taxes under certain circumstances; and to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors and provide a ballot proposition.