Welcome to fall and the biggest election in the next four years

Tomorrow is the first day of fall and we have already felt some relief from the summer heat. But there is much more on the agenda for this coming season. Besides the Alligator Festival next week, we also have elections coming up in St. Charles Parish during October and November. It is too late to register for the primary on October 5 but local residents have until October 17 to register for the November 17 general election.

State officials from the governor on down will be elected as well as local officials from parish president on down. These are indeed the most important elections to be held for our state and parish in the four years ahead. Eligible voters should not miss the opportunity to vote in them.

Now is the time to start making plans, when to vote absentee if you will not be here on election day and who to vote for. Absentee voting for the October 20 election will be allowed October 6 and 8 through 13 from 8:30 to 4:30 at the Parish Courthouse in Hahnville and the Arterbury Building in New Sarpy. For the November 17 election, it will be held November 3 and 5 through 10 at the same time and places.

On election days, polls will be open from 6 a. m. to 8 p. m. at the voting precincts in St. Charles. New voting machines this year should make the job easier and quicker.

St. Charles Herald-Guide and the St. Charles Bar Association will hold a debate at 6:30 p. m. on October 3 among the three parish president candidates at Hahnville High School auditorium. Time of the event will be announced later. On the same night, Norco Civic Association will hold a Meet with the Candidates Night at 7 p. m.at La Maison Magnolia Reception Hall in Norco. Attendees may have one-on-one dialogue with the candidates.

There will be, of course, many other political meetings going on during October and November at which you can hear the candidates views on the issues to help you make your decisions. But make sure you do that in advance so you don’t have to mull over which buttons to press in the voting machine while others are waiting in line.

They say that bad public officials are elected by good people who don’t vote. Be sure you don’t help make that happen.