Voter Registrarion Week highlights coming elections

The Iberville Parish Registrar of Voters Office is joining the Louisiana Department of State in conducting Voter Registration Week this week (August29-September 2) to encourage participation in the upcoming elections.

Voters have until September 21 to register to vote or to make changes in their voter registration in time to participate in the October 22 primary elections, Iberville Registrar Melissa S. Bourgoyne said.

“Please don't wait till the last minute to do it,” Bourgoyne urged.

Voters can register or change their voter registration online, in person or by mail.

Qualifying for the fall elections is set for September 6-8 for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of insurance, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), state Senate, state House of Representatives, sheriff, clerk of court, assessor, coroner, parish president and Parish Council.

Next week, the registrar's staff will travel throughout the parish delivering voter registration forms and information booklets to local town halls, libraries, schools and banks. 

Bourgoyne said candidates also are handing out registration forms as they campaign door to door. She said residents are submitting 10 to 15 registration forms a day to her office, plus a few more on line.

The registrar's office is awaiting word by next week from the U. S. Department of Justice on the approval (or disapproval) of the redistricting plan for the Iberville Parish Council, Bourgoyne said.

The Justice Department already has cleared the new districting plans for BESE.

Once the department rules on the Parish Council plan, will send out new voter ID cards listing the new districts for each voter.

“We've worked the plan as if it would be approved,” Bourgoyne said of the Parish Council plan. “Within a day, we can have it entered in the computer and the cards mailed out.”

Residents can register online at the Secretary of State’s website at: www.geauxvote.com. This website provides information about voter registration and the election process, as well as statistics and educational materials.

Registration forms and other important information are available from the Iberville Registrar of Voters Office at (225) 687-5201 or   the office on the second floor of the Courthouse.   

Anyone interested in becoming a poll worker on Election Day, should contact the Clerk of Court’s office at (225) 687-5160.