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Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding everyone that Saturday, March 20, is Election Day.

For most Washington Parish voters, the only race on the ballot will be a special election to fill the seat for the U.S. House of Representatives, 5th Congressional District. This seat was left vacant after the death of congressman-elect Luke Letlow in December.

Citizens in the town of Franklinton will also vote upon a 1-percent sales tax proposition.

The candidates on the ballot for the congressional race include the following: Sandra “Candy” Christophe (Democratic Party), Chad Conerly (Republican Party), “Jim” Davis (No Party), Allen Guillory Sr. (R), Robert Lansden (R), Julia Letlow (R), Jaycee Magnuson (R), Horace Melton (R), M.V. “Vinny” Mendoza (Independent), Richard H. Pannell (R), Sancha Smith (R) and Errol Victor Sr. (R).

All candidates are competing in the same primary election, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent, the top two vote recipients from the primary will advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliations. If necessary, the general election will be held on Saturday, April 24.

In preparation for Saturday’s election, Ardoin encourages voters to remember:

• Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
• Voters can find their polling location and sample ballot by downloading the GeauxVote Mobile app for smartphones or by visiting www.GeauxVote.com.
• Voters may also utilize the virtual voter assistant, GeauxBot, to access pertinent election information. GeauxBot is accessible by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.
• Voters can sign up for text alerts via GeauxVote Mobile.
• Voters should bring an ID with them to vote (Louisiana driver’s license, Louisiana Special ID card, a generally recognized picture identification card with name and signature such as a passport or a digital license via LA Wallet). Voters without an ID will be required to fill out an affidavit but will be allowed to vote.
• Election results can be viewed in real-time via GeauxVote Mobile or at www.sos.la.gov.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required.

For more information, contact the state’s Elections Division at 1-800-883-2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.