VIDALIA — Wednesday is the deadline for parish residents to register to vote in the 5th Congressional District’s special primary election if they are not currently registered voters.

The election will be to fill the seat being vacated by Congressman Rodney Alexander, who resigned effective Sept. 29 in order to take the position of Louisiana’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Fourteen candidates have qualified for the race.

The primary will be Oct. 19. Early voting will be Oct. 5-12.

“Louisiana’s registration statistics are quite strong with approximately 84 percent of eligible citizens registered,” Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler said. “However, you can’t vote if you’re not registered, so it’s important for everyone to check their status right now and take care of any updates that need to be made. By all means, if you’re not registered, get registered.”

Voter registration can be completed at the registrar or voters’ office in the Concordia Parish courthouse, at the parish Office of Motor Vehicles,  at the Department of Social Services  or WIC, food stamps or Medicaid offices.

Registration in person requires that one be able to prove age, residency and identity. State-issued IDs, birth certificates, government-issued documents with a name and address on it and utility bills or payroll check may be used to establish identity and residence.

Voter registration can also be completed online at www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/OnlineVoterRegistration.aspx.

Those who do not register for the primary but wish to vote in the run-off, should one be needed, must register by Oct. 19. The run-off will be Nov. 16.