Winn voters will face a large ballot his fall, with both local and state races to be decided. To add to any confusion is the fact that new district lines, also local and state, will be in place by the time elections arrive.
Fortunately, there will be plenty of time for voters to determine the districts in which they’ll vote since the primary election isn’t until Saturday, Oct. 14, with the general election Saturday, Nov. 18. Political candidates, however, are on a tighter schedule since the three-day qualifying period is just a month away, Aug. 8-10, and district lines have not yet been finalized.
The Winn Parish Police Jury is expected to take action to finalize and approve their new district lines during its Monday, July 17, session. That paperwork then goes to the Secretary of State’s Office. When that phase is completed, the plan will be returned to the Winn Parish Registrar of Voters Office where it will be implemented. All should be in place by the Aug. 1 deadline. Redistricting is required by federal law following each 10-year census to ensure a balance of voters in each district.
On the state level, redistricting may affect the senate and representative districts for voters. Currently, all of Winn is encompassed by Representative District 27 while it is split among the three Senate districts 29, 31 and 35.
Local races on the fall ballot will include Sheriff, Clerk of Court, Assessor, Coroner and the seven Police Jury posts. District races will be those for State Senator, State Representative and Member of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. At the top of the state races will be that of Governor, followed by Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commissioner of Insurance.
The Journal will work with the Winn Parish Registrar of Voters Office for election updates.
