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BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding everyone that Saturday, March 20, 2021 is Election Day. There are 20 parishes in which there will be both multi-parish races (such as United States Representative) and local races/propositions: Ascension, Avoyelles, Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, Grant, Jefferson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Charles, St. Landry, Washington, Webster, and Winn. 23 parishes will vote only on multi-parish races (such as U.S. Representative): Assumption, Bienville, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Franklin, Iberville, Jackson, Madison, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, and West Feliciana. There are 10 parishes in which there will only be local races and/or propositions: Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Livingston, St. Mary, St. Tammany, and Vermilion. 11 parishes will have no elections: Acadia, Allen, Claiborne, Iberia, Lafayette, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Martin, Terrebonne, and Union.

In preparation for Saturday’s election, Secretary Ardoin encourages voters to remember:

• Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
• Voters can find their polling location and sample ballot by downloading the GeauxVote Mobile app for smartphones or by visiting www.GeauxVote.com.
• Voters may also utilize the virtual voter assistant, GeauxBot, to access pertinent election information. GeauxBot is accessible by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.
• Voters can sign up for text alerts via GeauxVote Mobile.
• Voters should bring an ID with them to vote (Louisiana driver’s license, Louisiana Special ID card, a generally recognized picture identification card with name and signature such as a passport or a digital license via LA Wallet). Voters without an ID will be required to fill out an affidavit but will be allowed to vote.
• Election results can be viewed in real-time via GeauxVote Mobile or at www.sos.la.gov.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required.

For more information, contact our Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

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Who’s on the ballot?

LAPLACE — Voters in St. John the Baptist, St. James and parts of St. Charles Parish will elect a new United States Representative for the Second Congressional District in the Saturday, March 20 election.

Congressman Cedric Richmond has resigned to work at the White House, and voters must select a candidate to fill his set. The candidates on the ballot include the following: Chelsea Ardoin (Republican), Belden “Noonie Man” Batiste (Independent), Claston Bernard (Republican), Troy A. Carter (Democrat), Karen Carter Peterson (Democrat), Gary Chambers Jr. (Democrat), Harold John (Democrat), J. Christopher Johnson (Democrat), Brandon Jolicoeur (No Party), Lloyd M. Kelly (Democrat), “Greg” Lirette (Republican), Mindy McConnell (Libertarian), Desiree Ontiveros (Democrat), Jenette M. Porter (Democrat) and Sheldon C. Vincent Sr. (Republican).

St. Charles Parish voters are also tasked with electing a new Councilperson at-large Division A following the resignation of Councilwoman Wendy Benedetto. There are candidates on the ballot: Beth Billings (Republican), “Dick” Gibbs (Republican) and “Joe” Larre (Republican).

If none of the candidates attain more than 50 percent of the vote, there will be a run-off on April 24, 2021.

The deadline to register to vote in the April 24 election in person or by mail will be March 24. The deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is April 3.

Those requesting an absentee by mail ballot must do so by 4:30 p.m. April 20, and the deadline for the Registrar of Voters to receive a voted mail ballot is 4:30 p.m. April 23.