Election day is fast approaching.  Hard to believe after months of campaign commercials, forums, and debates, election day is this Tuesday.  Caddo Parish Clerk of Court Mike Spence tells KEEL News early voting in the parish has been steady, but there have not been any lines. He says about 8,000 votes have been cast so far during early voting and that number is expected to top 10,000 before early voting closes on Tuesday, November 1.

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Caddo Parish now has 2 locations for early voting and each location has 8-9 voting machines which helps speed up the process. He also says it helps if the voters are prepared ahead of time when they go to the polls.

On election day, November 8, be sure to check your voting precinct ahead of time at the Secretary of State's Office website. The polls will be open from 6am-8pm. Spence is predicting a turnout in Shreveport and Caddo Parish of about 25%.

Here're the 2022 Constitutional Amendments on the ballot with a brief description from PAR.

Amendment 1- Larger Stock Investments for Trust Funds

“Do you support an amendment to increase to 65% the cap on the amount of monies in certain state funds that may be invested in stocks?”

A FOR vote would let the state increase the maximum amount of money in seven different trust funds that can be invested in equities on the stock market to 65%

A vote AGAINST would keep tighter limits in place on the percentage of the trust funds' money that can be invested in the market, with some unable to be invested in equities at all.

 

Amendment 2-  Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans With Disablities

“Do you support an amendment to expand certain property tax exemptions for property on which the homestead exemption is claimed for certain veterans with disabilities?”

A vote FOR would increase the property tax exemption available to veterans with service-related disabilities, and their surviving spouses after the veteran's death.

A vote AGAINST would maintain the current level of property tax exemption

 

Amendment 3- Political Activity for Civil Service Workers

“Do you support an amendment to allow classified civil service employees to support the election to public office of members of their own families?”

A FOR vote would allow most of Louisiana's civil service employees to support certain campaign activities of a candidate for public office when that candidate is an immediate family member

A vote AGAINST would continue the current prohibition on Louisiana's civil service employees from participating in campaign activities or supporting political candidates.

 

Amendment 4- Waiving Charges for Water Usage if Infrastructure is Damaged

“Do you support an amendment to allow local governments to waive water charges that are the result of damage to the water system not caused by the customer?”

A FOR vote would allow water districts, municipalities, or other political subdivisions reduce customer bills for water use if the charges stem from water lost due to damage outside a customer's control

A vote AGAINST would keep local water districts, municipalities, or other political subdivisions from lowering bills or waiving customer charges for water use in almost all circumstances

Amendment 5- Local Authority over Property Taxes

“Do you support an amendment to allow the levying of a lower millage rate by a local taxing authority while maintaining the authority’s ability to adjust to the current authorized millage rate?”

A vote FOR would give local taxing bodies more time to decide if they want to 'roll forward' millages that increase property taxes paid by businesses and homeowners.

A vote AGAINST would keep the current rules governing millages 'roll forwards,' allowing local taxing bodies until the next property reappraisals to make the decision.

Amendment 6- Property Tax Assessment Increases in Orleans Parish

“Do you support an amendment to limit the amount of an increase in the assessed value of residential property subject to the homestead exemption in Orleans Parish following reappraisal at ten percent of the property’s assessed value in the previous year?”

A vote FOR would limit increases in the property tax liability of homes subject to homestead exemption in Orleans Parish, capping at 10% of the residential property's assessed value

A vote AGAINST would continue the current system, requiring a four year phase-in of tax liability for homes subject to the homestead exemption when a reappraisal increases assessments by more than 50%

 

Amendment 7- Limits on Involuntary Servitude

“Do you support an amendment to prohibit the use of involuntary servitude except as it applies to the otherwise lawful administration of criminal justice?”

A vote FOR would rework the state constitutional ban on slavery and involuntary servitude, allowing their use only for the 'lawful administration of criminal justice.'

A vote AGAINST would keep the states current constitutional language banning slavery and involuntary servitude, but allowing involuntary servitude as a 'punishment for crime.'

 

Amendment 8- Property Tax Assessments for Certain People With Disabilities

“Do you support an amendment to remove the requirement that homeowners who are permanently totally disabled must annually re-certify their income to keep their special assessment level on their residences for property tax purposes?”

A vote FOR would remove the requirements that certain property owners with disabilities annually certify their income to receive a property tax rate freeze

A vote AGAINST would continue the annual income certification required for certain property owners with disabilities to receive a property tax rate freeze.

If you would like even more depth on the amendments, The Council for a Better Louisiana, or CABL, breaks down each amendment, and makes their recommendation on each.  You can read their recommendations at CABL.org

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