Now is good time to register to vote for Oct. 24 election

The signs are everywhere.
Fall elections are on the horizon. Primaries are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24.
There will be plenty of big decisions for Vermilion Parish voters to make in both local and state-wide races on that day. Anyone who wants to be a part of that process needs to make sure he or she is registered to vote.
Officials are using this week to spread the word. Secretary of State Tom Schedler announced this week as Voter Registration Week.
“We’re trying to educate people on what they need,” Vermilion Parish Registrar of Voters Mike Bertrand said.
A major step for those interested is to make sure deadlines are met. The last day to register to vote for the Oct. 24 election is Wednesday, Sept. 23. That can be done at Bertrand’s office, located on the first floor of the Vermilion Parish Courthouse in downtown Abbeville.
To register here, the individual must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 17 years old and 18 years old prior to the election and be a resident of Vermilion Parish. Identification with a parish address is required.
Once that is done, voters can move on to the election, which does not require waiting until Oct. 24. As always, early voting will be offered for the election. That will take place beginning Saturday, Oct. 10 through Saturday, Oct. 17. Early votes can be cast from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Bertrand’s office. The office will be closed on Sunday, Oct. 11 and no early voting will take place that day.
There is a runoff date set for Saturday, Nov. 21. There will also be early voting for the runoff. That will take place Saturday, Nov. 7 through Saturday, Nov. 14. Bertrand’s office will be closed on Sunday, Nov. 8.
“I think we will have some runoffs,” Bertrand said, “especially in the state elections.”
While many have already announced intentions to run, potential candidates still have the opportunity to jump in the races. However, the deadline to do so is next week. Qualifying for the fall elections is Tuesday, Sept. 8 through Thursday, Sept. 10.
Candidates will need to qualify at Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court Diane Meaux Broussard’s office. That is located across from Bertrand’s office in the courthouse. Broussard’s office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“Any candidate who wants to qualify will have to come by our office first,” Bertrand said. “They will need to get their most current voter registration information before going across to the clerk’s office.
“They have to show proof that they are registered in the area where they want to run.”
As for the ballot on Oct. 24, it should be full. At the top will be state-wide races that include governor, Lt. governor, attorney general, secretary of state and secretary of agriculture.
Locally, offices that are up include sheriff, clerk of court, tax assessor and police jury seats. There could also be regional races for state senate, representative and Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). There will also be a spot for Vermilion Parish School Board District to fill the remainder of the late Charles Campbell’s term.
“Depending on how qualifying goes,” Bertrand said, “this could be one of the biggest elections we have had in a while.”