Vote Tuesday

All constitutional amendment descriptions are from Public Affairs Research Council.
View the entire detailed descriptions of these amendments at www.parlouisiana.org.
    Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8.  To see your voting location and your full sample voter ballot, including all candidates, visit www.GeauxVote.com.  Included on the ballot will be U.S. President (pick one candidate), U.S. Representative 6th Congressional District (pick one candidate), EBR Mayor-President (pick one candidate), Council Member for EBR Metro Council (pick one candidate), Louisiana Constitutional Amendments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (listed below – vote yes or no on each one), PW Council on Aging (see below – vote yes or no), and PW Recreation and Park Commission (see below – vote yes or no).
    CA No. 1 (Act 677 – HB 459) – Establishes New Requirements for Local Registrars of Voters: A VOTE FOR WOULD require standards of professional and educational experience for local registrars of voters and more public disclosure in their hiring process. A VOTE AGAINST WOULD leave the existing job requirements in place and allow local governing authorities greater discretion when filling registrar vacancies.
    CA No. 2 (Act 680 – SB 80) – Tuition and Fee Autonomy to College Management Boards: A VOTE FOR WOULD let higher education management boards set annual tuition rates and fee amounts for colleges and universities without legislative approval. A VOTE AGAINST WOULD preserve the state Legislature’s authority over tuition and fee levels. 
    CA No. 3 (Act 31 – HB 31) – Eliminates Federal Income Tax Deduction for Corporations on State Tax Returns ans Sets a Flat Rate: A VOTE FOR WOULD eliminate the deduction for federal income taxes paid by corporations when calculating state income taxes while triggering a flat corporate tax rate of 6.5%. A VOTE AGAINST WOULD allow corporations to continue receiving a state income tax deduction for federal income taxes paid and allow the existing corporate tax rates and brackets to remain. 
    CA No. 4 (Act 678 – HB 505) – Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Persons Killed in the Line of Duty: A VOTE FOR WOULD give surviving spouses of military, fire protection officers and law enforcement personnel who died while on duty a full property tax exemption on their home. A VOTE AGAINST WOULD leave existing ad valorem property tax exemption levels and eligibility requirements in place. 
    CA No. 5 (Act 679 – HB 603) – Creates a Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund: A VOTE FOR WOULD create the Revenue Stabilization Trust
Fund to receive a portion of revenues from corporate and mineral taxes and to spend the money on infrastructure and pension liabilities. A VOTE AGAINST WOULD continue to allow corporate tax and mineral revenue above a certain threshold to flow into the state general fund for appropriation by the legislature. 
    CA No. 6 (Act 681 – SB 201) – Adjusts Threshold for Tapping Protected Funds: A VOTE FOR WOULD provide legislators a new way to tap into constitutionally protected funds during revenue downturns and also extends protection to five existing funds. A VOTE AGAINST WOULD keep in place the existing trigger which allows the Legislature to tap into otherwise protected funds.
    PW Council on Aging – 2.25 Mills – MC – 10 Years: This is a proposal for a new 2.25 mill tax to support the EBR Council on Aging, close to doubling its current budget. 
    PW Recreation & Park Commission – 3.96 Mills – BOC (BREC) – 10 Years: This is a renewal of an existing 3.96 mill tax that supports BREC, representing about half of BREC’s operating and maintenance budget.  For BREC’s explanation of what the funds will support, visit http://www.brec.org/index.cfm/subhome/BREContheBallot