Don’t sleep on the 2021 election season. Sure, it doesn’t have the heavyweight hype of 2020, but there are consequential matters at hand.
Lafayette voters have a slate of constitutional amendments and ballot propositions to vote on. This is direct democracy in action. No more complaining about not having a voice in your government.
Check out Election Guide 2021 here
Among the big decisions ahead on the Nov. 13 ballot are an overhaul of Louisiana’s tax system, a high stakes renewal for Lafayette Parish libraries and a rededication of parish public health funds for rural fire protection.
Historically, elections without high profile races are decided with low turnout. That means voters who show up can make waves in public policy. Consider these results from recent elections and compare that to 71% turnout for the 2020 presidential election:
| Result | Item | Turnout | Margin | Ballot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ | Charter Amendments | 23% | 2,414 | Dec. 2018 |
| ❌ | Rural Fire Tax | 21% | 363 | Dec. 2018 |
| ❌ | Library Tax Renewal | 8% | 646 | April 2018 |
| ✅ | CREATE Tax | 13% | 3,140 | Nov. 2017 |
No one cheers for apathy. But the upshot is your vote has even more weight in low turnout elections.
With the 2021 Election Guide, we’re here to help you make an informed decision. We’ve got easy-to-follow coverage of all the items before Lafayette Parish voters — except the city council race in Youngsville (womp) — plus those appearing on city of Lafayette ballots.
This year, we’re introducing the Election TextLine. Subscribe with your number below, and we’ll keep you updated on upcoming voting deadlines and take your questions about items on the ballot.
Enter your number below to join the Election TextLine:
It’s never too early to get started. Head over to Election Guide 2021 and find the info you’re looking for faster and easier. Do us proud. Get out there and vote!