Qualifying for the November election begins soon in Vermilion Parish

Those on the fence about running for any number of the political offices on the November ballot, the time to make that decision is drawing near.
Qualifying for the Nov. 4 elections will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 20 and wrap up on Friday, Aug. 22.
“This has a chance to be a big ballot,” Vermilion Parish Registrar of Voters Mike Bertrand said. “It all depends on how many people sign up.”
Potential candidates can do just that from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each of those three days at Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court Diane Meaux Broussard’s office. That office is located on the first floor of the Vermilion Parish Courthouse in downtown Abbeville.
Those signing up must bring cash or cashier’s check. The costs vary for the different offices. A candidate interested in a particular seat can contact the clerk’s office at 898-1992 to answer questions on the different costs.
Those signing up must pick up a copy if his or her voter registration information. That can be obtained at Bertrand’s office, located across from the clerk’s office on the first floor of the courthouse.
“They will get that information and just walk across the hall to sign up,” Bertrand said.
Those who do jump in will be on a ballot that includes not only local races, but national races as well. The U.S. Senate seat, currently held by Mary Landrieu, as well as U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany’s seat, will be included.
There be plenty of local seats open, too.
Erath, Gueydan and Maurice will feature elections for mayor, chief of police and aldermen.
Abbeville and Kaplan residents will decide races for their respective city court judges and city court marshals.
Elections will also take place for Vermilion Parish School Board members.
The parish will also see candidates for justices of the peace and constables.
Vermilion Parish is also part of the 15th Judicial District that will have elections for district attorney and district judges.
Election day for all of those spots will be Tuesday, Nov. 4. Runoff elections will take place on Dec. 6.
An early voting period is set for Tuesday, Oct. 21 through Oct. 28.
Anyone not registered to vote must sign up to do so 30 days prior to Nov. 4. That deadline is Monday, Oct. 6.
“It should be Oct. 4, but because that fall falls on a weekend,” Bertrand said, “they extended it to the next business day.”
Business for the various candidates will certainly pick up in the weeks leading up to a potentially packed ballot in November. How many candidates will be part of that all depends on what Aug. 20-22 produces.
“That period of qualifying is going to determine just how big of a ballot we are going to have,” Bertrand said.