June 27 election brings key deadlines for Avoyelles voters

Avoyelles Parish voters will return to the polls Saturday, June 27, for Louisiana’s Second Party Primary and Municipal General Election, with several important deadlines approaching for registration, early voting and absentee ballots.

For voters who have not yet registered, the deadline to register in person, by mail or at the Office of Motor Vehicles has passed. However, eligible voters may still register online through the GeauxVote Online Registration System through Saturday, June 6.

Early voting will begin Friday, June 12, and continue through Saturday, June 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. There will be no early voting Sunday, June 14, or Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Early voting was moved up one day because the state-observed holiday falls during the early voting period.

In Avoyelles Parish, early voting will take place at the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse, 312 N. Main St., Suite E, in Marksville. Voters may contact the Avoyelles Parish Registrar of Voters Office at 318-253-7129 for local election information.

The June 27 ballot is part of Louisiana’s new election cycle under the state’s closed party primary system for certain offices. Louisiana lawmakers adopted closed party primaries through Act 1 of the 2024 First Extraordinary Session, changing the way some state and federal races appear on voters’ ballots.

Under the system, Democratic and Republican voters receive ballots for their party’s closed primary races. Voters registered with no party may choose a Democratic or Republican ballot in those races. Voters registered with another party may not vote in closed Democratic or Republican primary contests but may still vote on other races or propositions for which they are eligible.

The closed party primary system applies to certain offices, including U.S. Senate, Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Other municipal, local and proposition elections continue under Louisiana’s regular election rules.

Voters should also be aware that Louisiana’s U.S. House races have been removed from the June 27 election. State action canceled the May 16 and June 27 party primary elections for U.S. representatives, and any votes cast in those races will not be counted. U.S. House candidates are now set to appear on the fall ballot, with the open primary scheduled for Nov. 3 and a general election, if needed, on Dec. 12.

Some Avoyelles Parish voters may also see local items on the ballot, including school tax renewal propositions. Because ballots can vary by precinct, party registration and voting district, voters are encouraged to review their individual sample ballot before going to the polls.

Voters who plan to vote by mail should note that the deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, June 23, by 4:30 p.m., except for military and overseas voters. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the registrar of voters by Friday, June 26, at 4:30 p.m., except for military and overseas voters.

Polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters are encouraged to check their registration status, polling location and sample ballot before Election Day by visiting www.geauxvote.com or using the GeauxVote mobile app.

For more information, visit www.geauxvote.com or contact the Avoyelles Parish Registrar of Voters Office at 318-253-7129.