The Presidential Preference Primary is scheduled in Louisiana on Saturday March 23, 2024. Among election followers, the Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) is known to be confusing and unfortunately maddening to many. All Natchitoches Parish polling places will be open on this day from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM.

This election serves the Democratic and Republican Parties as the mechanism to help choose their Presidential candidates for November’s national election. The PPP election can be misunderstood because it is one of the few elections that currently allow Democrats to only vote for Democrats and Republicans to only vote for Republicans. Voters that are not registered Democrat or Republican cannot vote in this part of the election because it is for their party members only. This means citizens registered No Party, Independent, or any other political party will not vote in this portion of the election.

If you are unsure how you are registered, there are a couple of easy ways to find out. You can go to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s voter portal, geauxvote.com, enter your name and requested information and you will confirm how you are registered. Voters can also call the Natchitoches Parish Registrar of Voters office at 318-357-2211 to confirm that information.

For Voters that would like to become a member of one of the political parties or change their political party registration, they can do that on-line via the Geauxvote.com app by March 2. If you would prefer to make that change in person, you can do that at the Registrar’s office at the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse Monday through Friday 8:30 to 4:30. If you make the change in person, it must be done by February 21.

In parts of the parish, there will be other important races on the same ballot. You do not have to be in a particular party to vote on those races. On the same ballot citizens of the City of Natchitoches will have a Mayoral election, a Council Person at large election and three of the four City Council district races will be contested. The village of Clarence will have Mayoral, Alderman and Chief of Police races. The other issue on the ballot is a Natchitoches School Board Proposition for Consolidated School District 11 that includes all or part of 13 precincts.

The Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court’s office will have more information on the March 23 election as we get closer to Election Day. You can always call the office at 318-352-8152 if questions.

• PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY SATURDAY MARCH 23
• TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY PORTION OF THE ELECTION YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN
• CURRENT VOTERS CAN REGISTER FOR A POLITICAL PARTY IN PERSON BY FEBRUARY 21 or ON LINE BY MARCH 2