Caddo Registrar of Voters Ernie Roberson Gives Video Update for March 24th, 2012 Caddo Election to “Talk of the Town’s” Tom Pace.

February 22nd is the last day to register to vote or make changes to your voter record in Caddo parish to be effective for the March 24th Presidential Preference primary.  You can check your current voter information on this website and submit changes through the “Online Voter Registration” button.
 
The March 24th election is a CLOSED PARTY PRIMARY when it comes to the Presidential Preference primary and parish- state party elections. Democrats can only vote on the candidates of the Democratic party and Republicans can only vote on the candidates of the Republican party. There is no open primary voting for the party elections and no crossover voting from other parties allowed. Voters who are registered as no party, other party or Libertarians, Green or Reform party will not be eligible to vote in the Presidential Preference primary at all. Some no party or so called independent voters are always confused in this type of election and think they can pick a party to cast a ballot. No party voters will not be eligible to vote in the Presidential Preference primary.
 
The only jurisdiction in Caddo parish with a local election is Greenwood with an alderman at large spot. That town election will be open primary on March 24th but the rest of the election in Greenwood will be a closed primary. Voters will be “locked out” on the electronic machines as necessary based on their party affiliation in Greenwood.
You can change your party, register to vote or change your address or name online at caddovoter.org. If you wish to make changes in person, you can come by the Caddo Registrar of Voters office at 525 Marshall, Suite # 103 across from the courthouse in downtown Shreveport at the corner of Milam and Marshall between 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday- Friday. You can call 226-6891 and forms can be mailed to you but no changes can be accepted over the phone. All applications must be postmarked by February 22nd in the case of mail in applications.

Qualifying will be held December 7th -9th at the Caddo Clerk of Court’s office in the Courthouse at 501 Texas Street downtown for the March 24th election. Local races include the Town of Greenwood and its newly-reapportioned districts with precinct changes, The Greenwood election is an open primary election.  The Democratic and Republican parties will also have elections for the State Party Central Committees and the Parish Executive Committees. For qualifying fees and times for qualifying, please call 226-6788.
 
The March 24th election will also have the Louisiana Presidential Preference Primary for the Democrats and Republicans. As to “who” can vote in these primaries, I’ll have more on that issue next week. Those choices are PARTY decisions and not made by the Registrar of Voters, Clerk of Court or Secretary of State’s office.
 
As always you can check your party  and voter registration info at caddovoter.org and click on “Where Do I Vote?” You still have time to register to vote or change your party and you can do it ONLINE. You will need your drivers license or special Louisiana identification card.

While in person voting ended last Saturday in Caddo with 969 voters, “by mail” voting continues for civilians through Friday and for the military until the close of polls on Saturday. Caddo had received 700 ballots by mail as of the end of business on Monday. This morning (Tuesday)  there were another 350 ballots waiting for us at the post office. That means over 1,000 ballots by mail to count on Saturday.

Last Saturday was the final day for in person early voting in Louisiana for the Nov. 19th election. Caddo recorded 246 in person voters on Saturday which was the biggest turnout day for early voting for the November election. Another 182 by mail ballots were received.
 
Here are the totals through Saturday for both in person and by mail voting:
1664 ballots…991 Democrats…552 Republicans…121 Other/ No Party…927 white…715 black…22 other…681 males…982 females…969 In Person voters and to date…695 by mail . The deadline for civilian by mail ballots is Friday, Nov. 18th while military ballots can be received until the polls close on Saturday. Over 2,000 ballots have been mailed by the Caddo Registrar’s staff.

Early voting for the November 19th election on a statewide constitutional amendment, the following district elections: State Senate district 39, State House district 3 and special election City Judge district C2 will be held at the Caddo Parish Registrar of Voters office, 525 Marshall, Suite 103 in downtown Shreveport across from the Courthouse during the following dates and times:

Sat. November 5th – Sat. November 12th 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. daily

Closed Sun., November 6th

NO VOTING on Fri. November 11th–Closed for Veterans Day
 Voters should bring proof of  identification such as a driver’s license, governmental i.d., etc. All voters will be eligible to vote on the constitutional amendment but all other elections are by district. For more information call 226-6891 or go to caddovoter.org.

In a November 1st interview with “Talk of the Town” host Tom Pace, Caddo Registrar of Voters Ernie Roberson outlined the dates and times for the next early voting period on the 2011 Nov. 19th General Election ballot. Click Here to listen to this interview with Ernie Roberson.