Voters across Louisiana will head to the polls Saturday, May 16, for an election that includes party races for Public Service Commission District 5, judicial seats, and five proposed constitutional amendments.
According to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office, all races on the ballot except U.S. House of Representatives contests will proceed as scheduled.
Louisiana U.S. House races have been suspended due to the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Louisiana’s current U.S. House District maps are an unconstitutional gerrymander and their use in the upcoming Congressional elections would violate law.
The ballot will include races for Public Service Commission District 5.
Democratic candidates for the seat are James Edward Green of Shreveport and Austin Lawson of Bossier City. Republican candidates are John E. Atkins of Shreveport and Aiden C. Joyner of West Monroe.
In the race for Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, 4th District, Republican Jay B. McCallum of Farmerville is unopposed. No Democratic candidate qualified for the race.
No candidates qualified for Justice of the Peace, District 1.
In addition to candidate races, voters will consider five proposed amendments to the Louisiana Constitution.
Constitutional Amendment No. 1 would change how positions are added to or removed from Louisiana’s unclassified state civil service. Currently, certain positions are listed in the constitution, and additional positions may be added or removed through civil service commission rules.
A vote of “yes” would allow the Legislature to add or remove officers, positions, and employees from the unclassified state civil service through state law.
A vote of “no” would keep the current process in place, in which changes are handled through civil service commission rules and constitutional provisions.
Constitutional Amendment No. 2 would grant the St. George community school system in East Baton Rouge Parish the same authority currently given to certain other community school systems and parishes.
A vote of “yes” would allow the St. George community school system to operate as a parish-level school system, including receiving Minimum Foundation Program funding and raising local revenues for schools.
A vote of “no” would prevent St. George from receiving those parish-equivalent authorities.
Constitutional Amendment No. 3 would restructure several education-related state funds and use savings tied to reducing debt in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana to fund pay raises for school employees.
The proposal would eliminate several constitutional education funds, including the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund, Louisiana Quality Education Support Fund, and Education Excellence Fund, and direct the money toward reducing retirement debt. Savings generated from the reduced debt payments would then fund permanent salary increases of $2,250 for certificated personnel and $1,125 for support staff.
A vote of “yes” would approve the restructuring of those funds and authorize the pay raises.
A vote of “no” would leave the current funding structure and retirement payment system unchanged.
Constitutional Amendment No. 4 would make several changes involving property taxes, business inventory taxes, and classifications for public service property.
The amendment would create separate classifications for public service property owned by railroad companies and for business inventory. It would also allow parishes to fully or partially exempt business inventory from ad valorem taxes if local governing authorities, sheriffs, and school boards agree.
The proposal would also provide for one-time payments from the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund to parishes that permanently exempt business inventory from property taxes.
A vote of “yes” would allow parishes to reduce or exempt certain inventory taxes and establish the new property classifications.
A vote of “no” would keep current statewide property classifications and business inventory tax rules in place.
Constitutional Amendment No. 5 would change the mandatory retirement age for judges.
Under the current constitution, judges must leave office at age 70, though they may finish a term if they turn 70 while serving.
A vote of “yes” would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges to 75 while still allowing judges to complete their current term.
A vote of “no” would keep the mandatory retirement age at 70.
Polls will be open from 7 AM until 8 PM Saturday. Voters are encouraged to bring a valid photo identification card to the polls.