Ball, Louisiana Public Records

Voter registration deadlines in Louisiana require registration at least 30 days before any election, or 20 days before for online registration. Voters must provide their Louisiana driver's license number or special ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Louisiana requires photo ID to vote in person, accepting Louisiana driver's licenses, Louisiana Special ID cards, or other generally recognized picture IDs. The Town of Ball holds municipal elections for mayor and five aldermen representing different wards. Municipal elections follow Louisiana's open primary system, typically held along with other elections. The next scheduled elections will occur in 2026. Current town officials serve four-year terms. Candidates for municipal offices must qualify with the Rapides Parish Registrar of Voters during designated qualifying periods, typically held four to five months before election dates. Information about candidates and local ballot measures becomes available through the parish registrar's office once qualifying closes. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the GeauxVote Polling Place Locator at voterportal.sos.la.gov by entering their address. The system displays the specific precinct, polling location address, and hours. Voters cast ballots in precincts within the town limits at designated sites that have included Ball Recreation Center and other public facilities. Early voting for all Louisiana elections occurs at the Rapides Parish Registrar of Voters office during the two weeks preceding election day, excluding Sundays, with specific days and hours published for each election. Louisiana public records law makes certain election records accessible to the public. Voter registration lists are public records available for purchase from the parish registrar for political and governmental purposes. Campaign finance reports for candidates seeking municipal offices, parish offices, and state offices are filed with the Louisiana Board of Ethics and searchable online at ethics.la.gov/CampaignFinanceSearch. Candidate qualifying information, including names of all qualified candidates and their qualifying fees, is public record available through the Secretary of State and parish registrar. Precinct-level election results are published by the Secretary of State at sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/PublishedDocuments following each election. In the November 8, 2024 general election, Rapides Parish reported turnout of approximately 48-52% of registered voters, consistent with Louisiana's typical presidential election participation rates. Parish voters cast ballots for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives (5th Congressional District), state supreme court, and local propositions. Voters may consider constitutional amendments, local tax propositions, and parish-wide measures. Louisiana offers absentee voting by mail for voters who will be absent from the parish on election day, are hospitalized, are disabled, are 65 years or older, are members of the military or their spouses and dependents, or are incarcerated but not yet convicted. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Rapides Parish Registrar of Voters and can be downloaded from www.rapidesvotes.org or requested by phone at 318-767-3910. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the registrar by 4:30 PM on election day. Louisiana does not offer no-excuse mail voting; voters must qualify under specific categories to vote absentee.