Recently the Louisiana Secretary of State sent every voter over 65-years old in the state an application for a mail-in ballot.  Kyle Ardoin said current law allows senior citizens to maintain their right to vote yet limit their potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus.  In the letter Ardoin said, “I write this letter to personally update you on the state of elections and provide information on Louisiana’s 65 and older vote by mail program.”

The letter included an application for the voter to participate in the program for the upcoming elections.  “I want to assure you that your enrollment and participation in the absentee-by-mail ballot program is protected by state election law.  By law, my office and your parish registrar of voters will never disclose that you are enrolled in the program.”

Ardoin urged voters to call his office at 225-922-0900 if they have problems from candidates.  He said, “If at any time you feel that you are being harassed, coerced or intimidated by a candidate, their campaign workers or a third party to cast your absentee ballot a certain way, please all my office.”

The form offers several options for receiving a ballot.  It was not clear if asking for and getting a mail in ballot would limit future voting options.  The Journal asked, “If a person has asked for a mail ballot does that prevent them from voting in person or voting early?”

Red River Registrar of Voters Debra Jones told The Journal “As long as they haven’t voted their mail ballot, they can still vote in person.  And if they vote in person and we receive their mail ballot later, it is not counted.”

Currently early voting is being conducted at the Registrar’s office for the July 11^th election.  Early voting runs through July 4^th except for Sundays.

The Red River Parish ballot has the presidential preference primary with 5 candidates running for President on the Republican ballot..  There are 13 Candidates on the Democratic ballot.  There are also some Democrat Central Committee candidates on the ballot in a small portion of the parish.  In reality, the Presidential candidates have all dropped out of the race except Joe Biden for the Democrats and Donald Trump for the Republicans.