Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Far too many people are walking around voicing strong opinions and are not even registered to vote. Now is not the time to “Fake” it. Several civic organizations are offering voter registration assistance. Louisiana offers online voter registration. You can register by mail to vote in Louisiana by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing or carrying it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer. There are some people who really want to vote, but they require assistance with the voting process. Perhaps, the following information can be shared with them or used in assisting them to get registered.

To register in Louisiana, you must:

· Be a U. S. citizen;

· Be 17 years old (16 years if registering in person at the Registrar of Voters Office or at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles), but must be 18 years old to vote;

· Not be under an order of imprisonment related to a felony conviction for election fraud or any other election offense pursuant to La. R.S. 18: 1461. 2;

· Reside in the state and parish in which you seek to register; and

· Must be registered at least 20 days prior to an election if registering through the GeauxVote Online Registration System with a Louisiana driver’s license or Louisiana special ID card or 30 days prior to an election if registering in person or by mail to be eligible to vote in that particular election. If mailing an application, the application or envelope must be postmarked 30 days prior to the first election in which you seek to vote.

You have Voters’ Rights which allows you to:

· Vote privately, confidentially, and independently in an area that is free from any campaign materials.

· Ask a commissioner to instruct you on how to operate the voting machine before voting.

· Have a campaign-free zone 600 feet from the entrance to the polling place that is free from solicitation, intimidation, harassment, confusion, obstruction, undue influence, use of violence, force or threats, or action that impedes your entrance or exit to the polling place.

· Vote in a polling place that meets accessibility standards for individuals with disabilities.

· Receive assistance in casting your ballot, or use the audio ballot if you are unable to read or unable to vote without assistance due to a physical disability, including visual impairment.

· Use a Braille booklet describing the use of an audio ballot or use a page magnifier that will magnify the face of the voting machine.

· Go to the front of the line with the person who will be assisting you in voting if you have a visible physical disability or have in your possession a current mobility impairment photo ID card issued by the Office of Motor Vehicles.