Early voting in Louisiana starts today
Published 1:08 am Saturday, November 26, 2016
VIDALIA — Concordia Parish residents can begin early voting for the Dec. 10 general election today.
From 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Concordia Parish Courthouse, early voting will continue daily until Saturday, Dec. 3, excluding Sunday, Nov. 27.
Parish-wide voters will elect a new U.S. senator, with David Vitter not seeking reelection. Local voters will elect a justice of the peace in Ferriday and a city marshal in Vidalia.
Incumbent Vidalia City Marshal Jim Boren, a major with the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, will seek reelection against Vidalia Police Officer Frank Duson for the post. Duson had a slight edge in the race with 940 votes, or 44 percent, while Boren received 882 votes or 41 percent in the Nov. 8 primary.
Ferriday Police Department Assistant Police Chief Bruce Wiley, who formerly served in the same role for VPD, received 314 votes or 15 percent.
For District 1 Justice of the Peace, former Ferriday Alderman Elijah “Stepper” Banks will vie for the position against former justice of the peace Benja Fussell.
Banks carried a lead with 659 votes on Nov. 8, which was good enough for 41 percent, while Fussell tallied 622 votes or 39 percent.
Justin Conner garnered 320 votes or 20 percent.
For the U.S. Senate seat, State Treasurer John Kennedy will battle Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell for votes.
Statewide, Kennedy, a Republican, earned 25 percent of the vote on Nov. 8, while Democratic candidate Campbell received 17 percent.
Early voting occurs at the Registrar of Voters office at 4001 Carter St. Suite K.