Campaign signs have lined yards and roadways for several weeks now, and finally the official qualifying period for the upcoming Oct. 12 gubernatorial primary is here, taking place Aug. 6-8.
A number of candidates are expected to vie for statewide offices as well as state legislative district races.
In addition to statewide contests for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasures and the commissioners of agriculture and insurance, voters in Orleans and Jefferson parishes will also elect a state supreme court justice for the 1st District, as well as representatives for the District 1 and 2 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) seats. Some Jefferson Parish voters will also weigh in on the race for the District 3 BESE seat.
For Orleans Parish voters will also decide on six state senate seats (Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9) and ten state house seats (Districts 91, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, 100, 103 and 105).
In Jefferson Parish, voters will also cast ballots for state senate representatives in for Districts 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 19 and state house Districts 78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 7, 92, 94, and 105.
Jefferson Parish voters will also decide on a slate of local offices including parish president, sheriff, assessor, clerk of court, coroner, two at-large and five district parish council seats, as well as the 2nd Justice Court Justice of the Peace.
The last day to register to vote in person or by mail in order to vote in the Oct. 12 primary is Sept. 11. Registration continues online through the Secretary of State’s website (geauxvote.com) through Sept. 21.
The deadline to request a mail ballot is Oct. 8; and the registrar of voters must received completed ballots from voters no later than Oct.11.
Early voting for the Oct. 12 primary is Sept. 28 – Oct. 5 (except Sundays).
Elections for races that require runoffs will take place Nov. 16.