Deadline to register for party primaries is Feb. 3

The deadline to change your party affiliation to vote in Louisiana’s presidential preference primary March 5 is today, Wednesday, Feb. 3.
Only Democrats may vote in the Democrat primary and only Republicans may vote in the Republican primary. If you’re registered as “No Party,” “None,” “Other Party,” “GreenParty,” “Reform Party,” “Libertarian Party,” or “Independent” you may not vote until Nov. 8, an “open” election.
You can find out how you are currently registered by going to www.geauxvote.com or calling the St. Martin Parish Registrar of Voters at (337) 394-2204.
If you want to change your registration to Democrat or Republican, go to the St. Martin Parish Registrar of Voters’ offices, 415 St. Martin St., St. Martinville. It’s not permanent; you can change it back after the primary.
Early voting will be Saturday, Feb. 20, through Saturday, Feb. 27, Sunday excluded.
The last day to request absentee mail ballots is Tuesday, March 1. Ballots must be received by the registrar by Friday, March 4.
In addition to voting for a presidential nominee, voters will be selecting their party’s state and parish committee members.
And in the town of Henderson, voters will also be asked to pick the next police chief.
Qualifying for the office were incumbent chief Leroy Guidry, Joey J. “Hook” Huval, who ran against Guidry and others for chief in 2004 and 2008, and Oliver “Mack” Lloyd, a retired Henderson police officer who once served as Guidry’s assistant chief.
Henderson Mayor Sherbin Collette is unopposed, as are candidates for council Nita Latiolais Berard,
Judy Broussard, Bill LeGrand, Jody Meche, and William White. White and Berard are newcomers. Incumbents Samantha LeBlanc and Michael Theriot did not qualify for reelection.
The Henderson Town Council is elected at large, with the top five vote-getters taking the five seats.