Nearly 3,500 vote early for Nov. 8 primary

The Registrar of Voters Office says 538 St. Mary voters cast ballots on the last day of early voting for the Nov. 8 primary.

That raises the total for the seven-day early voting period to 3,495, or 11.2% of St. Mary’s 31,122 registered voters. Among parish voters, 12,336 are registered as Democrats, 10,455 as Republicans, and the remainder as members of some other party or none.

Election day is Tuesday, a departure from the usual Saturday elections in Louisiana because federal offices are on the ballot. The polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Bring a photo ID to your polling place.

On the ballot in east St. Mary:

—A sales tax renewal in Morgan City. Voters are being asked to renew a 0.3% sales tax expected to raise $790,000 a year “for the purpose of paying the cost of constructing, improving, resurfacing, maintaining and providing street drainage for public streets, alleys, sidewalks and public wharves, and acquiring equipment therefor.” The renewal would take effect in January 2024 for 12 years.

—The U.S. Senate seat held by John Kennedy, a Baton Rouge Republican. Thirteen candidates have qualified in that race.

—The 3rd Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette.

—The 6th Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves, R-Baton Rouge. This will be the first time St. Mary residents have voted in the 6th District since the post 2020 reapportionment put southeastern and eastern portions of the parish in that district.

—Five contested races have taken shape for the St. Mary Parish School Board. Linsey Anslem is challenging incumbent Kenneth Alfred in District 3; incumbent Ginger Griffin is running against Jaclyn Fields Castillo in District 5; Murphy J. Pontiff Jr. and Glynn Pellerin are running for the open District 7 slot; Scott Babin, Shawn Canty and Chad Paradee are vying for the open District 8 seat; and incumbent Roland H. Verret is being challenged by Rhonda Dennis.

—In Berwick, incumbent Mayor Duval Arthur faces a challenge from Jessie Boudreaux.

—A contested race for the state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, 1st District, Division D. Current state Rep. Tanner Magee, who represents Terrebonne Parish, is running against District Judge Steven Miller of Raceland.

—A contested race for Public Service Commission District 4: Three have qualified: Keith C. Bodin of Ragland, Mike Francis of Crowley and Shalon Latour of Iowa.

Also on the statewide ballot are eight proposed state constitutional amendments:

—Amendment 1 would raise to 65% the amount in certain state funds that could be invested in stocks.

—Amendment 2 would expand Louisiana’s homestead exemption for disabled veterans.

—Amendment 3 would allow classified civil service employees “to support the election to public office of members of their own families.”

—Amendment 4 would allow local governments to waive water charges that are the result of damage to the water system not caused by the customer.

—Amendment 5 would allow local governments to decide, in the time between property reassessments, to collect the maximum constitutionally authorized property tax rate. Currently, the local governments must set their millages soon after property is reassessed, and amendment proponents say some may be tempted to collect the maximum even if they don’t need it because they might need it before the next reassessment.

—Amendment 6 limits valuation increases in residential Orleans Parish property to 10% per year in a four-year phase-in period.

—Amendment 7 prohibits slavery or other involuntary servitude except for prison labor.

—Amendment 8 removes the requirement that people with 100% disabilities recertify their income each year to receive their special property tax valuation level.