Early voting runs through Oct. 27: Where to vote in Caddo, Bossier, Webster and Natchitoches parishes

Early voting for the Nov. 3 election started Tuesday and runs through Tue., Oct. 27. Sites are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day except Sun., Oct. 25, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State. Any registered voter can vote early. You don’t need a reason.

Where to vote early

These are the sites listed on the Secretary of State’s early voting page. You can use any early voting site in the parish where you’re registered.

The state’s page notes that some sites marked as extra locations may be open on limited dates, so call your registrar if you plan to use one of the second sites listed above. In Bossier Parish, the Bossier Press-Tribune reported that both sites are open for the full early voting period.

Key dates

• Through Tue., Oct. 27: Early voting, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sunday, Oct. 25.
• Fri., Oct. 30, 4:30 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot, online through the Voter Portal or in writing through your registrar. (Military and overseas voters have different deadlines.)
• Mon., Nov. 2, 4:30 p.m.: Deadline for your registrar to receive a voted absentee ballot.
• Tue., Nov. 3: Election Day. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Election Day you vote at your own precinct’s polling place.
• Sat., Dec. 12: Runoff date for races, including U.S. House, where no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote.

Bring a photo ID, such as a Louisiana driver’s license or state ID card. If you don’t have one, you can still vote by signing a voter affidavit, according to The Advocate and the Bossier Press-Tribune.

What’s on the ballot

Every voter in Louisiana will see the U.S. Senate general election and 10 proposed amendments to the state constitution. U.S. House seats are on the ballot as an open primary. The rest depends on where you live:

• Caddo Parish: Shreveport mayor and all seven Shreveport City Council seats, district judge, district attorney, eight Caddo School Board seats, a parishwide sports complex funding proposition and a downtown Shreveport development district tax, among others, per The Advocate’s ballot list.
• Bossier Parish: Bossier City marshal, constables in wards 4 and 5, a Haughton alderman, and, for Shreveport voters who live in Bossier Parish, Shreveport mayor and City Council districts A, B and C, and the downtown Shreveport development district tax, among others (The Advocate).
• Minden: Police chief, with four candidates, and contested Minden City Council races in districts B, C and D. Several Webster Parish School Board seats are also contested. This is from the Minden Press-Herald’s report when qualifying closed in August.

The state’s election quick facts sheet also lists local propositions on ballots in Bossier, Webster and Natchitoches parishes, and both parishwide and local propositions in Caddo Parish.

Your sample ballot is the best way to see exactly what you’ll vote on. Look it up, along with your precinct and registration, on the Secretary of State’s Voter Portal. The state elections hotline is 1-800-883-2805.