Early voting off to good start in Vermilion Parish

Early voting for the Oct. 24 elections is now three days old.
Vermilion Parish voters are taking advantage.
“We have had some good days,” Vermilion Parish Registrar of Voters Mike Bertrand said Tuesday afternoon.
The early voting period began Saturday, with 138 people taking advantage.
“That was even with Cattle Festival going on around the courthouse,” Bertand said.
Things picked up on Monday, with 277 casting ballots. As of 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 275 voted.
“We are going to hit above the 300 mark because people are still coming in,” Bertrand said.
The early voting period will take place through this Saturday, Oct. 17. Voters can cast ballots a Bertrand’s office from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Bertrand’s office is located on the first floor of the Vermilion Parish Courthouse in downtown Abbeville.
Any person wanting to vote must be a registered voter in Vermilion Parish as of Sept. 23, 2015, and must provide a State of Louisiana identification card, such as a driver’s license.
Early voters have made decisions on several parishwide and statewide races. Absentee ballots are also being received this week.
“We continue getting those in every day by mail,” Bertrand said.
The programs are working effectively.
“Absentee by mail and early voting are really doing well,” Betrand said. “They are doing what they are intended to do, which is to get people in early. That way if they have something to do, are going to be out of town or the weather is bad, they’ll have had an opportunity to vote.
“That’s why it’s there.”