LAPLACE — Early voting ahead of Election Day voting Oct. 14 has begun in St. John the Baptist Parish and across the state.

Early voting runs from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 7 (excluding Oct. 1) at the Registrar of Voters Office on the East Bank (Percy Hebert Building, 1801 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace) and West Bank (Courthouse, 2393 River Road in Edgard).

St. John the Baptist Parish voters are joining with their statewide counterparts in elections for Louisiana Treasurer and three Constitutional Amendments.

St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools is also asking local voters to renew an existing 8-mill property tax.

School leaders said one mill is used to fund retirees insurance.

Three mills are used to fund academic improvements, School District officials specifically pointing to universal pre-kindergarten and redirection programs. Funding for these programs comes completely from this portion of the tax, District officials said.

The final four mills fund employee salaries. School officials said the renewal allows the district to keep St. John Parish teacher pay in the top 10 in the state and competitive with neighboring school districts.

The St. John Business Association and River Region Chamber of Commerce recently came out in support of the millage renewal.

A sample ballot and list of polling locations can be found on the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website. Visit sos.la.gov for more information or call the Registrar at 985-652-9797.