Registrar wants third early voting location

FRANKLIN – St Mary Parish Registrar of Voters Terry Foulcard wants to open a third early voting location in the parish, inside the West St Mary Civic Center.

And, she has the plans approved by La. Secretary of State Nancy Landry.

Now, she plans to present her plans to the St Mary Parish Council, for final approval.

Foulcard said the need is great, in order to serve residents in Baldwin, Charenton, Glencoe, Four Corners, Sorrel, and Choupique, “people who don’t have transportation, or limited access to a vehicle,” she said.

“If you live in these areas, catching a ride to Franklin in order to vote, could be tough. Opening a site in West St Mary, will solve that issue, along with many others,” she said.

Currently, St Mary Parish has operates two early voting sites, one on the Third Floor of the St Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin, and the other, in Morgan City, inside the parish annex building on Third Street.

“In recent years, our voting numbers have been incredibly low. On top of that, people are just crazy busy, especially on weekends when there are weddings, funerals, and football. And then, there is bad weather. A third early voting location will hopefully turn around this tidal wave of apathy.”

Foulcard said when she pitched the idea to La. Secretary of State Nancy Landry, she immediately approved. “Mrs. Landry is a big proponent of voter outreach.”

Now, Foulcard must pitch the St Mary Parish Council for their approval, which includes them paying for the cost, no more than $5,000, according to her calculations.

St Mary Councilman Rev. Craig Mathews, who represents the west end of the parish, said he commends Foulcard, “for having the fortitude and intuitiveness to pursue this goal, on behalf of the citizens in the rural communities in District 1.”

“Anytime you’re living in or serving a geographical landscape as rural and as spacious as the unincorporated portions of District 1, there will certainly be transportation challenges,” Mathews said.

“Especially where the poverty level is so grossly disproportionate to the rest of the parish.”

Mathews said a third location should have been implemented decades ago.

“Our constituents should be afforded the opportunity to cast their ballots, whether early or on Election Day, in the most economical and accessible manner possible.”

Mathews believes the lack of accessible polling places for early voting has indeed limited the turnout in past elections.

“As elected officials at every level, we owe a responsibility to our citizens to make the democratic process as transparent and easy as possible.”

“Terry Foulcard has created a way to make great strides in that regard,” Mathews said.

“If the parish council approves the idea, this will be the most progressive achievement in our parish, in a very long time.”

Mathews said he is already hearing feedback from registered voters across his district, expressing their gratitude and excitement for this opportunity, to cast their early votes in the upcoming primary election set for November 2024.