High turnout expected in La. for elections Tuesday

Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler says he’s expecting a strong turnout on Election Day, especially after a record number of voters cast their ballots ahead of time during the weeklong early voting period. More than 340,000 people voted early, nearly 12% of Louisiana’s 2.9 million registered voters. In the 2008 presidential election, Louisiana turnout was about 62%. Addressing the Baton Rouge Press Club today, Schedler predicted turnout this year could top 70%; he says voters should expect long lines at the polls. At the top of Tuesday’s ticket is, of course, the contest between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. A number of congressional races and judgeships are on the ballot across the state, as well as nine proposed constitutional amendments. A seat on the state’s utility regulatory agency, the Public Service Commission, is also up for grabs, along with an open Louisiana Supreme Court seat representing the Capital Region. In East Baton Rouge Parish, Democratic Mayor Kip Holden is vying for a third term against Republican Metro Councilman Mike Walker and a pair of lesser-known candidates without party affiliation, Steve Myers and Gordon Mese. All 12 Metro Council districts are also on the ballot. Check out the full list of candidates on the ballot here. See Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister’s candidate endorsements here; and for McCollister’s take on each of the nine proposed amendments to the constitution, click here.