Guide to the October 14th Election
Where & When to Vote
If you haven’t already voted early, you have only ONE MORE DAY to vote: Saturday, October 14th. Polls are open from 7am-8pm on Election Day. Last week, the Secretary of State changed over 250 polling locations — so, even if you know your usual polling place, check to make sure yours hasn’t changed.
Positions we’re electing and what they do
The Governor is responsible for overseeing the state's executive branch and implementing policies for the state's economic and social welfare; a good candidate should have leadership skills, political experience, and knowledge of state issues.
The Lieutenant Governor acts as the governor's successor and performs duties assigned by the governor or legislature; a good candidate should have a strong background in public service and government operations.
The Secretary of State manages state records, elections, and business registrations; a good candidate should have experience in public administration, law, and management.
The Treasurer oversees the state's finances, manages state investments, and administers state debt; a good candidate should have a background in finance, accounting, and economics.
The Attorney General provides legal counsel to state government, prosecutes criminal cases, and defends the state in legal disputes; a good candidate should have a law degree, experience in criminal law, and a strong understanding of constitutional law.
BESE Dist 1 and BESE Dist 2 The Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) regulates and controls budget decisions for all Louisiana public elementary and secondary schools; and some of the state's non-public elementary and secondary schools. Good candidates should have experience in education policy and management.
State Senator 1st Senatorial Dist, State Senator 9th Senatorial Dist, and State Representative 23rd Dist, 91st Dist, 94th Dist, 99th Dist, and 105th Dist are responsible for introducing and passing legislation that affects their constituents; good candidates should have a background in law, public service, and knowledge of their districts' issues.
A Judge of Criminal District Court presides over criminal cases within their district; a good candidate should have a law degree, experience in criminal law, and a strong understanding of legal procedures.
*You may not see all of these positions on your ballot! That’s because in the lower races, only some districts are up for election, and many races are going uncontested.
How to research Candidates
Consider what issues are most important to you. Once you have a clear idea of what you're looking for, you can begin to research the candidates themselves.
Learn about the candidates through their own words by reading their campaign materials, or watching a candidate forum. Here are a few we’re aware of:
Justice and Beyond Louisiana (candidate forums for state legislature, governor and secretary of state, criminal court and constitutional amendments),
the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s Coastal Forum (with candidates for Governor).
You can find more by searching “candidate forum New Orleans 2023” and the name of the position you’re interested in.
Endorsements, Report Cards, & Voter Guides can help you learn about many candidates at once. Most will not be completely objective. When you read a guide or endorsement, consider how the values of the author(ing organization) align with your values. Read a few different sources before you make up your mind. Here are a few we are aware of:
The Put Housing First Candidate Scorecard evaluates candidates based on their level of support for affordable housing.
The Voters Organized to Educate survey evaluates candidates based on their support for VOTE’s criminal justice reform platform.
Most news sources publish endorsements or voter guides. Here’s a list of major candidates’ endorsements.
You can find more by searching “voter guide New Orleans 2023.”
Constitutional Amendments
There are 4 constitutional amendments on the October 14th Ballot. We recommend the Public Affairs Research Council’s guide to give a detailed look at the current situation, and what your vote would mean. Below is a summary! You can see the full guide here.
Local Propositions
Proposition 1: Operating and Capital Budgets.
A "yes" vote supports moving the deadline for the Mayor to submit the operating budget 30 days earlier to the Council, and for City Planning Commission to submit a capital program to the Mayor 30 days earlier. This gives the public more time to engage in the budget process and the Council more time to consider the budget.
Proposition 2: Create a Single Code Enforcement Department.
A "yes" vote supports the creation of a single Code Enforcement department. Right now, Code Enforcement is not its own department and is housed in five separate places. The changes allow for more consistency and predictability in fighting blight, cutting overgrown grass, and combating graffiti.
Final Proposition: Renew the School Facilities Millage
A “yes” vote would renew the tax of 4.97 mills for an additional 20 years to support school facilities maintenance. This includes structural needs like roofs and foundations, walls, windows and doors, and interior plumbing and other essential school needs. Renewing the millage would mean property owners would continue to pay $49.70 annually on each $100,000 of property value above the homestead exemption. For example, the owner of a homestead-exempt property valued at $440,000 would pay $181.41 per year.
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Get Involved!
Our partners at the Power Coalition are helping make sure all Louisiana voters can access the polls — and you can help! See below for more information.
