Big turnout reported in early voting for Nov. 3

More than 1,500 St. Mary people cast votes in the first two days of early voting for the Nov. 3 primary, which features issues of interest from the federal level to town councils.
Through Wednesday, the second day of early voting, the St. Mary Parish Registrar of Voters Office reported that 1,545 ballots have been cast.
Of those, 1,084 were in-person votes cast either at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin or the Sales Tax Office at 301 Third St., Morgan City. The remaining 461 were mailed ballots.
“It’s been an overwhelming experience,” Registrar Terry Foulcard said Wednesday.
Early voting was especially heavy in the Morgan City area, she said.
St. Mary had 30,405 registered voters as of Oct. 1, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.
Early voting continues through Tuesday, Oct. 27, excluding Sunday.
St. Mary voters will help choose a new U.S. senator and, in the 3rd Congressional District, will play a role in deciding whether U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, will return to the House for a sixth two-year term.
Higgins faces five lesser-known challengers.
After the Legislature eliminated one of two Black-majority districts after the Supreme Court’s Callais decision, Republicans also appear likely to pick up a seat in the struggle for control of the House.
National polls show surprising Democratic strength in red states in the battle over control of the Senate. In Louisiana’s Senate race, U.S. Rep. Julie Letlow, R-Baton Rouge, has the endorsement of President Donald Trump and a red-state edge in her battle with Ferriday Democrat Jamie Davis.
One parishwide issue awaits voters. A Charter Review Commission, created by the St. Mary Parish Council, has proposed a series of amendments to the parish’s governing document.
Among the proposed changes: eliminating the three at-large council districts, reducing the council to eight members from 11; eliminating the chief administrative officer post and creating a full-time parish presidency with a $125,000 salary; tying the council and president salaries to the Consumer Price Index; and imposing a two-term limit on council members.
Three mayoral races have developed in the parish. In Patterson, Slade Sanders is challenging incumbent Rodney Grogan. In Berwick, where Mayor Duval Arthur will step down after this term, Councilman Lud Henry is running against Jason Romero.
Ajani Connor is running against incumbent Mayor Clarence Vappie in Baldwin.
Each of those municipalities also has a council race. In all three, voters will pick five candidates from a crowded field.
Ten amendments to the Louisiana constitution also appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Commissioners at early voting sites have information from the Public Affairs Research Council about the amendments for perusal before voters cast ballots.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana on Wednesday announced its election integrity strategy, which the office said was developed in coordination with the U.S. Justice Department.
The priorities, U.S. Attorney Zachary Keller said, are:
—Protecting voter rights by ensuring all eligible Louisiana voters may participate in absentee, mail-in or in-person voting “free from discrimination, harassment, coercion, or unlawful interference.”
— Monitoring compliance with federal laws governing voter registration and eligibility.
—Combating election fraud by addressing reports of credible allegations involving election day ballot tampering, voter impersonation, unlawful interference with polling locations, or fraudulent absentee ballot practices.

This story has been edited to correct the final day of early voting to Oct. 27.