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VIDALIA, La. — Early voting in the March 29 primary election for the State of Louisiana began on Saturday, March 15, and continues through this Saturday, March 22.

Concordia Parish is one of 23 parishes in the State of Louisiana with only constitutional amendments on the ballot without having any local propositions or elections. The parish will have the opportunity to vote “yes” or “no” on four proposed amendments to the State Constitution.

The last day to request an absentee ballot is March 25. All absentee ballots must be received no later than Friday, March 28, the day before the election. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on election day.

Proposed Amendment No. 1 grants the legislature the authority to create special courts that focus on specific types of cases, such as courts that try complex business cases. For this to happen, two-thirds of lawmakers have to agree in both the House and Senate.

Proposed Amendment No. 2 focuses on tax reform, revenue collection and budgetary processes.

The amendment, which is 115 pages long, proposes major changes to the way taxes in the state are collected and budgeted. Parts of the amendment pertain to individual income tax rates, the way inventory taxes are assessed, as well as with education and teacher’s pay. Rep. Julie Emerson, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means who drafted the amendment, has said its purpose is to “declutter and strengthen” the state’s constitution, making Louisiana’s tax structure more competitive with other states while granting “the largest personal income tax reduction Louisiana has seen.”

However, a lawsuit has been filed against Louisiana over the changes proposed, which state that the “ballot language proposed by the Legislature is unlawful” because it confuses voters.

On the education front, the amendment proposes deleting certain educational trust funds as a means to pay down teacher retirement debt and make the teacher stipends currently renewed on an annual basis a permanent salary increase. Secretary of Revenue Richard Nelson has said other state savings would be used to backfill these trust funds.

“I have more questions about it than answers,” said Tom O’Neal, who is the director of business affairs for Concordia Parish schools. “I have opinions but I can’t tell you if it’s the right or wrong one.”

While the amendment proposes multiple different changes, a yes or no vote to this amendment either supports or rejects the proposed amendment in totality. There is no means to accept one section of the amendment and reject another.

Proposed Amendment No. 3 would allow lawmakers to expand the list of felony offenses for which juveniles between the ages of 14 and 17 may be charged as adults. Any changes would require a two-thirds vote of the House and the Senate.

Proposed Amendment No. 4 would allow a special election to fill any newly-created judgeship or vacancy on the first available election day, except when the vacancy occurs in the last 12 months of an existing term. In that instance, the special election “shall be held at the next gubernatorial or congressional election if the special election can be held on that date in accordance with applicable law,” according to the amendment.