Low turnout expected for Saturday’s elections

Political contenders are hoping they can persuade their core supporters to vote Saturday in runoff elections around Louisiana, notwithstanding such diversions as holiday shopping, hunting schedules and football watching. Forty-six of Louisiana’s 64 parishes have races on the ballot, according to Meg Casper, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office. “Where there are contentious races … we expect maybe as high as 25%, but statewide we’re definitely expecting low turnout,” she says, adding that statewide turnout is expected to range from 15% to 20%. More than 100 issues, from police chief and mayor jobs to local tax issues, are up for final decisions. Among the most high-profile competitions on the ballot is a runoff for the open District 5 seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court representing the eight-parish Baton Rouge region. Saturday’s runoff for the position is between two appeals court judges: John Michael Guidry, a Democrat and former lawmaker from Baton Rouge; and Jeff Hughes, a Republican and former district court judge from Livingston Parish. The Supreme Court seat is vacant because Chief Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball is retiring at the end of January. Complete election details, including sample ballots and polling locations, can be found at the secretary of state’s website here.