By David Stamey, Clerk of Court, Natchitoches Parish

Voters in Natchitoches Parish are preparing to cast ballots for the office of City Judge, City Court of the City of Natchitoches (Ward 1).

While City Court is located in the municipal seat, its judicial boundary encompasses all of Ward 1. Because ward boundaries differ from standard city limits, electors across 21 precincts are eligible to participate in this contest.

The candidates qualifying for the Ward 1 City Judge seat are:

• Cloyd Benjamin, Jr. (No Party)
• Robert Owsley (No Party)

Understanding the Ward 1 Boundary Map

To help clarify voter eligibility in the City Court race, the Natchitoches Parish Assessor’s Office map illustrates the distinction between municipal city limits and judicial ward boundaries:

• The Grey Area (Ward 1 Jurisdiction): The grey-shaded territory represents the boundaries of Ward 1. Any registered voter residing within this shaded zone falls under the jurisdiction of the City Court of Natchitoches and is eligible to vote in the City Judge race.
• The Purple Outline (City Limits): The interior purple boundary outlines the incorporated municipal limits of the City of Natchitoches. While many voters assume the City Judge contest is confined strictly within this urban border, the court’s legal authority extends outward across the entire surrounding ward.
• Key Landmarks and Outer Reach:
  • Sibley Lake and Waterways: The map highlights Sibley Lake nestled in the central-western portion of the ward, with the Red River carving the eastern border. Residents living along the lake’s western shores, bayous, and surrounding rural acreage fall inside the grey Ward 1 zone.
  • Northern and Southern Reach: The grey boundary reaches north toward the village line near Powhatan, while stretching south toward communities bordering Hagewood and Provencal.
  • Rural Subdivisions and Corridors: Residing inside the shaded field places a voter within Ward 1, regardless of whether their address is outside municipal limits.

Ward 1 Precincts

The following 21 precincts are included in the Ward 1 judicial contest:Precinct 01/01  (add names)
Precinct 01/01A
Precinct 01/02
Precinct 01/03
Precinct 01/03A
Precinct 01/04
Precinct 01/04A
Precinct 01/05
Precinct 01/05A
Precinct 01/06
Precinct 01/07
Precinct 01/08
Precinct 01/09
Precinct 01/09A
Precinct 01/10
Precinct 01/10A
Precinct 01/10B
Precinct 01/11
Precinct 01/12
Precinct 01/13
Precinct 01/14

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