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Spring elections postponed

Presidential primary, municipal to be held this summer
Sunday, March 15, 2020
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In another precautionary measure related to COVID-19, or coronavirus, Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced Friday that Louisiana’s April 4 presidential primary had been postponed to June 20, and the May 9 municipal election to July 25.

Early voting for the presidential primary will be conducted June 6-13, excluding June 7. Early voting for the municipal election will be held July 11-13, except July 12.

Ardoin held a conference call Friday morning with all local clerks of court and registrars of voters before making the announcement. Newly appointed Lincoln Parish Registrar of Voters Sharon Parnell said on mid-day Friday her office had not yet been notified if the voter registration deadline for those elections will be extended.

Ardoin said in a press conference that the decision was made primarily out of concern for the poll commissioners who will be running elections across the state, saying more than half of them are more than 60 years old, and therefore more susceptible to severe cases of coronavirus.

Parnell said that’s true for Lincoln Parish, as well.

“I think it’s a wise, precautionary move,” she said. “A lot of our workers fall into that age category”

While the Republican presidential primary is all but a lock for President Donald Trump, former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are still in a tight race for the Democratic nomination.

Meanwhile, the municipal election formerly scheduled for May 9 features a referendum on a new halfcent sales tax for the Lincoln Parish School Board, which would primarily be used for teacher pay raises and school security measures.

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