Early voting, once known as absentee voting, for the November 13, election will begin Saturday, October 30, at the Allen Parish Registrar of Voters’ office. Residents will be able to cast their ballot from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day through Saturday, November 6, excluding Sundays.
The only remaining way to register to vote for the November 13, ballot is through online registration. That portal closes on Saturday, October 23. The in-person registration deadline was October 13.
The November 13, election features four constitutional amendments and a renewal for a 10.81 millage for the library. The ballot will ask you to vote yes or no on the following items:
•CA NO. 1 (ACT 131, 2021 – HB 199) — Authorizes streamlined electronic filing, remittance, and collection of sales and use tax.
Louisiana PAR states a vote for would: Allow a single authority to oversee the collection, electronic filing and policy guidance for state and local sales taxes.
A vote against would: Continue to constitutionally require separate collection, filing and policy oversight of sales taxes by the state and local governments
•CA NO. 2 (ACT 134, 2021 – SB 159) — Lowers maximum allowed rate of income tax and allows providing a deduction for federal income taxes.
Louisiana PAR states a vote for would: Lower the maximum rate of the income tax and allow removal of a major state tax deduction, triggering statutory reforms for individual and corporate income and franchise taxes.
A vote against would: Keep the Constitution’s current tax rates and the requirement to allow a deduction for federal taxes paid, which would stop all the statutory reforms.
•CA NO. 3 (ACT 132, 2021 – SB 87) — Allows certain levee districts to levy an annual tax for certain purposes.
Louisiana PAR states a vote for would: Allow the boards of the levee districts created since 2006 to raise up to a 5-mill property tax without voter approval.
A vote against would: Continue to allow levee districts created since 2006 to get voter approval for any tax millage.
•CA NO. 4 (ACT 157, 2021 – HB 487) — Increases amount of allowed reduction to certain dedicated funds when a budget deficit is projected.
Louisiana PAR states a vote for would: Allow the transfer of more dedicated funds to fix a state budget deficit.
A vote against would: Keep the current 5% limit for tapping dedications to fix a deficit.
•Parishwide Proposition — 10.81 Mills Renewal – PJ – 10 Yrs. (The millage proposal reads, “Shall the Parish of Allen, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), levy a ten and eighty-one hundredths (10.81) mills tax on all the property subject to taxation within the Parish (an estimated $1,351,250 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2023 and ending with the year 2032, for the purpose of providing funds for equipment, supplies, maintenance, operation, construction, improvement, renovation and support of the Allen Parish Library and its branches?)
December 11,
deadlines set
Deadlines for the December 11, election, formerly set for November, will be:
•Books will close for in person and mail on Wednesday, November 10. Online deadline is Saturday, November 20.
•Early voting will be observed Saturday, November 27, to Saturday, December 4, excluding Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, depending on your question, you can learn more from Registrar of Voters’ Monica F. Warren’s office at 337-639-4966 or from Clerk of Court’s Stacey Hurst’s office at 337-639-4351. You can also visit these offices at the Allen Parish Courthouse or visit geauxvote.com to request absentee ballots, find sample ballots and polling locations or learn more about election dates and deadlines.
Voting Commission
to meet November 17
Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced the rescheduled first meeting of the Voting System Commission will occur at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 17. The meeting will take place at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge.
“After being delayed by Hurricane Ida, I’m pleased that we are beginning this important work with a diverse group of dedicated citizens from around the state,” Ardoin said. “I look forward to hearing from experts and members of the public on how to best advance Louisiana’s voting system.”
The November 17, meeting is open to the public and will be held in the John Hainkel Senate Committee Room.