Early voting opens Saturday; parish, state amendments on the ballot

Early voting begins Saturday for the Dec. 10 election. Unlike the Nov. 8 primary ballot, the Dec. 10 ballot for St. Mary voters will be a short one.

Early voting will be 8:30 p.m.-6 p.m. each day through Dec. 3, except for Sunday, when there will be no voting.

Registered St. Mary voters, regardless of address, may vote at either Registrar of Voters Office. They're located in the courthouse in Franklin and at 301 Third St., Morgan City. Bring a photo ID to your polling place.

One proposed parish charter amendment and three proposed amendments to the state constitution await voters. Baldwin voters will decide two races.

The parish charter amendment would open the St. Mary Parish Council chairmanship and vice chairmanship to any council member.

The council is composed of eight members elected by voters within eight geographic districts. Three larger districts, which together cover the entire parish, are represented by council members who are each elected by voters parishwide. The three big districts are known as at-large districts.

Currently, the charter limits the two leadership positions to members elected from the three at-large districts.

If the amendment passes, any of the 11 council members would be eligible for the chairmanship and vice chairmanship.

The state constitutional amendments on the Dec. 10 ballot:

--Amendment 1 would ban people who aren't U.S. citizens from registering to vote or voting in state elections. The constitution currently requires Louisiana citizenship.

--Amendment 2 would require Senate confirmation of the governor's appointments to the State Civil Service Commission.

--Amendment 3 would require Senate confirmation of the governor's appointments to the State Police Commission.

Currently, the governor appoints members to those commissions without the need for confirmation.

Baldwin's town government has two runoffs on the Dec. 10 ballot.

Ronnie Fuselier and Anthony "Gip" Gibson are running for police chief.

Carolyn Bowser and Marion J. Newton are running for a seat on the Baldwin Board of Aldermen.