Early voting hits 13% for Nov. 3 election

About 13% of St. Mary’s registered voters had cast ballots as the early voting period approached its final day.
As of Monday, 3,949 people had cast early ballots, either in person or by mail, the Registrar of Voters Office reported. As of Oct. 1, 30,405 people were registered to vote in St. Mary, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Early voting closes Tuesday.
On election day Nov. 3, polling places will be open 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Bring a photo ID to the polls.
On a ballot that includes federal legislative races, three mayor and three council races, three School Board campaigns and 10 state constitutional amendments, the most controversial item could be proposed changes to St. Mary’s home rule charter.
A Charter Review Commission submitted a list of proposed changes, which must be voted up or down together.
The major changes in the proposal would eliminate the three at-large Parish Council districts; eliminate the current chief administrative officer post while making the parish presidency a full-time position; and effectively limit council members to two four-year terms.
Advocates say the changes will make decision-making more effective and restore accountability by putting more power in the hands of the president whom people elect.
The current charter has been in place for more than four decades.
Anti-amendment signs have begun springing up around the parish. Incumbent Councilman Patrick Hebert of Berwick made a Facebook post in which he says he’ll vote no.
“There are so many things that need to be corrected. If this fails I will work to get some of the changes back on the ballot and allow the voters to pick and choose what changes they want!!” Hebert posted.
Others have criticized the all-or-nothing nature of the proposition. Just as voters face the all up or all down decision, the council was required to put the amendments on the ballot all together or not at all.
The mayoral and council races are in Berwick, Patterson and Baldwin.
The School Board election will pick replacements for Marilyn LaSalle and Ginger Griffin, both of Patterson and both of whom have decades of service on the board.
The School Board races are:
—In District 5, now represented by Griffin, Sandra K. Turner is running against Calyn Swords Welch. Both are from Patterson.
—In District 6, now represented by LaSalle, the candidates are Jeffrey “Jeff” Hufstetler, Noel Pisani and
Jameson “Budd” Sennette, all of Patterson.
—In District 8, Scott Babin is challenging Chad Paradee, the only incumbent on the ballot. Both men are from Berwick.