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Last week was voter registration week in Louisiana, according to Secretary of State Nancy Landry. 

Her office counts 12,578 registrations from last week, though those don’t all necessarily represent brand-new registered voters who signed up during the designated week. 

Some may be Louisiana voters who moved to a different parish, while others may have done the paperwork with their local registrar at the end of the week before last but the Secretary of State’s office didn’t find out until the following Monday, notes Joel Watson with the office. 

Still, almost 13,000 new registrations in roughly a week’s time is a significant jump. But looking at the trend over the past several months, the number of new registrations in Louisiana is lagging behind what happened in 2020, said Baton Rouge-based pollster John Couvillon. 

“People just aren’t into this election,” Couvillon said. 

Typically, more people register to vote during presidential election years, which is why 2020 is the relevant comparison. The decline in new registrations isn’t the only data point Couvillon said indicates softer interest in this year’s election, nor is he only looking at Louisiana.

Mail-in voting is down substantially compared to 2020 in every state Couvillon has checked. That was a pandemic year, of course, so many of those mail-in voters likely will be in-person early voters this year, but he doubts that all of them will. 

Furthermore, primary turnout in most states also is down this year, he added. 

“All those data points, to me, point to lessened enthusiasm,” Couvillon said. 

However, Watson isn’t ready to go that far. About 90 percent of eligible citizens in Louisiana already are registered to vote, and 2020 saw an increase in registrations compared to 2016, so there may not be that much room for more growth, he said. 

This is a transitional year for Louisiana elections, following approval of a host of new regulations. Watson said the office has been fielding calls from folks with specific questions about the changes, particularly about the new law dealing with voter registration drives. 

Landry also has been on a statewide tour, talking about the changes wherever she goes with local registrars and clerks and in the media. Stops so far include Lake Charles, Monroe, Alexandria and Shreveport. 

“She’s going to go to every market across the state before the election,” Watson said. 

Important dates for the upcoming election: 

—The deadline to register to vote in person, by mail or at the Office of Motor Vehicles is October 7.    

—The deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is Oct. 15.

—Early voting is Oct. 18-29 (excluding Sundays) from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

—The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Nov. 1 by 4:30 p.m (other than military and overseas voters). 

—The deadline for a registrar of voters to receive a voted absentee ballot is November 4 by 4:30 p.m. (other than military and overseas voters).

—Election Day is Nov. 5.

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