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Edwards, Vitter kick of early voting with rallies

ghilburn@gannett.com
Published 9:08 p.m. CT Nov. 8, 2015

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Saturday. Voters should bring a photo ID with them.(Photo: Courtesy)

Democrat state Rep. John Bel Edwards and Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter each plan rallies Saturday to kick off early voting and begin the stretch run to decide who will be Louisiana's next governor.

Early voting for the Nov. 21 governor's runoff election, as well as other statewide and local races and referendums, begins Saturday and concludes Nov. 14. Voters can cast ballots from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m each day except for Sunday and Wednesday, which is Veterans Day, at their registrar of voters office.

Edwards plans two northern Louisiana rallies Saturday. The first will be at 9 a.m. in downtown Shreveport at 601 Texas St. followed by a 2 p.m. rally in downtown Monroe at 100 Grand St. that will be hosted by legislators Sen. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi, and Reps. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe, and Marcus Hunter, D-Monroe.

Vitter also will begin Saturday in Shreveport before heading to Lafayette.

Among those expected at Vitter's 11 a.m. rally at the Wyndham Garden at 1419 E. 70th St. in Shreveport are U.S. Rep. John Fleming, R-Shreveport, and Republican state Reps. Mike Johnson and Alan Seabaugh.

Vitter will be joined at 3 p.m. in Lafayette at Pamplona at 631 Johnson St. by outgoing Lafayette Mayor Joey Durel and Republican legislators Sen. Elbert Guillory and Rep. Nancy Landry, among others.

The candidates hope the rallies can boost what was a meager 39 percent voter turnout for the primary.

During the primary about 222,000 early votes were cast, about 20 percent of the eventual total.

Michael Henderson, research director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, said he believes turnout could improve in the runoff election.

"Overall I believe runoff voting could be stronger because it was particularly low in urban areas that tend to favor Democrats," Henderson said. "I would be shocked if the Democrats don't invest in an aggressive get-out-the-vote initiative since it looks like they have a competitive candidate at the top of the ticket. Some (Jay) Dardenne and (Scott) Angelle voters may stay home, but the real movement will be with the Democrats."

Republicans Dardenne and Angelle finished third and fourth, respectively, in the primary.

Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler said early voting can forecast overall turnout, although Henderson said he isn't sure that's the case.

"With the dismal participation in the primary I am strongly urging voters to get engaged," Schedler said. "This is a critical election for our state at a critical time. Choosing not to vote is, in fact, a vote to do nothing, and that's unacceptable. My hope is that voters will make a choice after getting educated on the candidates and follow their heart.

"Early voting is a great way for folks to conveniently cast their ballot. Once early voting is complete I'll have a better idea of overall turnout projections."