By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Early voting for the Dec. 6 general election starts today and will continue on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Nov. 29.

“Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, early voting is shortened by two days (Thursday and Friday) for this election,” Secretary of State Tom Schedler said. “This is always a busy time of year with families traveling and time off of work, but it’s important not to forget about the … election, especially with the congressional runoffs, as well as many important local races. By casting your ballot early, you can vote on your own schedule when it’s most convenient.”

All early voting takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the above-mentioned days at a voter’s respective Registrar of Voters office.

All River Region residents will have the option to cast a ballot for either incumbent Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, or challenger Bill Cassidy, a Republican, in the Louisiana U.S. Senator runoff.

In St. James Parish, a runoff will decide the District 1 School Board seat, where incumbent Diana Cantillo faces challenger Paul D. Taylor.

St. James Parish Registrar of Voters Lisa Granier Medine has office locations in the parish’s courthouses on each side of the river. The Convent Courthouse is located at 800 River Road in Convent and can be reached at 225-562-2330. The Vacherie Courthouse Annex is located at 2631 LA 20 West and can be reached at 225-562-2403.

Some St. John Parish and St. Charles Parish voters will choose between Democrat Edwin Edwards and Republican Garret Graves for the U.S. Representative position in the sixth congressional district.

St. John Parish Registrar of Voters Rita E. Jarrow has two office locations. The east bank office is located in the Percy Hebert Building, 1801 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace, and can be contacted by calling 985-652-9797. The west bank office is located in the Edgard Courthouse, 2393 River Road in Edgard, and can be contacted by calling 985-331-4559.

In St. Charles Parish, some residents will decide between Forest Bradley Wright and Eric Skrmetta for District 1 public service commissioner, while voters in three districts will have the opportunity to cast ballots for their justice of the peace.

In District 1, voters will choose between Richard Whitney Jr. and Henry Wolfe for their justice of the peace, while voters in District 2 will decide on either Randall “Randy” Muller Jr. or Earl “Pie” Tastet for the position.

Voters in District 5 will choose between April Black and Tika L. Riley for their justice of the peace.

The office for St. Charles Parish Registrar of Voters Brian J. Champagne is located in the St. Charles Parish Courthouse at 15045 River Road in Hahnville. The office can be reached at 985-783-5120. Another voting location on the east bank of the parish is set up at the Arterbury Building, located at 14564 River Road in New Sarpy.