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Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court, Carol Jones, announced there will be an annual Commissioner-In-Charge (CIC) Test Course for 2010 held at 10 a.m. Nov. 14 at the Agriculture Building in Bastrop. Commissioners-In-Charge are needed for several upcoming elections scheduled in 2010.
As a result of Act 705 of the 2006 Legislative Session and Act 134 of the 2008 Legislative Session, January and July election dates for propositions have been deleted from the Election Code. Only spring and fall elections will be held unless a special election is called such as the one by the Village of Bonita for March 27, 2010. This special election is to elect an alderman to fill the position currently held by Richard Polk, appointed by the governor upon the death of Alderman Thomas “Dugan” Adams.
Gubernatorial Primary and General Elections are held every other odd-numbered year in the fall; Congressional Primary and General Elections are held every even-numbered year in the fall; and Presidential Preference Primary and Party Offices Elections are every four even-numbered years in the spring.
There will be a 1st Party Primary Election Aug. 28, 2010 to elect a U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative with qualifying July 7-9, 2010. The Fall Open Primary Election and 2nd Party Primary Election, if a runoff is necessary, is scheduled for Oct. 2, 2010. It is also for the election of school board members and mayors and aldermen for the Villages of Bonita, Collinston and Mer Rouge. A Fall Open General and Congressional Election is scheduled for Nov. 2, 2010.
With these upcoming elections, commissioners and CIC’s for the 51 Morehouse Parish voting precincts will be needed. Normally, one CIC works each precinct, but there are several consolidated precincts in the parish that also require only one CIC.
The number of commissioners working each precinct varies depending upon the type of election and population of registered voters within each precinct.
To qualify as a CIC, besides successfully taking the annual test course, individuals must first be a certified commissioner, having served in at least two elections during the current four year term of the present Clerk of Court, Carol Jones. Her term began July 1, 2008 and ends June 30, 2012.
To become a commissioner and a CIC, individuals must be qualified registered voters not entitled to assistance in voting, and must successfully complete required training. They cannot be a candidate in the election, or a child, child’s spouse, brother, brother’s spouse, sister, sister’s spouse, parent, spouse, or parents of a spouse of a candidate in the precinct where they are serving. Other requirements include not having been convicted of an election offense and they cannot be law enforcement officers.
Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court, Carol Jones, announced there will be an annual Commissioner-In-Charge (CIC) Test Course for 2010 held at 10 a.m. Nov. 14 at the Agriculture Building in Bastrop. Commissioners-In-Charge are needed for several upcoming elections scheduled in 2010.
As a result of Act 705 of the 2006 Legislative Session and Act 134 of the 2008 Legislative Session, January and July election dates for propositions have been deleted from the Election Code. Only spring and fall elections will be held unless a special election is called such as the one by the Village of Bonita for March 27, 2010. This special election is to elect an alderman to fill the position currently held by Richard Polk, appointed by the governor upon the death of Alderman Thomas “Dugan” Adams.
Gubernatorial Primary and General Elections are held every other odd-numbered year in the fall; Congressional Primary and General Elections are held every even-numbered year in the fall; and Presidential Preference Primary and Party Offices Elections are every four even-numbered years in the spring.
There will be a 1st Party Primary Election Aug. 28, 2010 to elect a U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative with qualifying July 7-9, 2010. The Fall Open Primary Election and 2nd Party Primary Election, if a runoff is necessary, is scheduled for Oct. 2, 2010. It is also for the election of school board members and mayors and aldermen for the Villages of Bonita, Collinston and Mer Rouge. A Fall Open General and Congressional Election is scheduled for Nov. 2, 2010.
With these upcoming elections, commissioners and CIC’s for the 51 Morehouse Parish voting precincts will be needed. Normally, one CIC works each precinct, but there are several consolidated precincts in the parish that also require only one CIC.
The number of commissioners working each precinct varies depending upon the type of election and population of registered voters within each precinct.
To qualify as a CIC, besides successfully taking the annual test course, individuals must first be a certified commissioner, having served in at least two elections during the current four year term of the present Clerk of Court, Carol Jones. Her term began July 1, 2008 and ends June 30, 2012.
To become a commissioner and a CIC, individuals must be qualified registered voters not entitled to assistance in voting, and must successfully complete required training. They cannot be a candidate in the election, or a child, child’s spouse, brother, brother’s spouse, sister, sister’s spouse, parent, spouse, or parents of a spouse of a candidate in the precinct where they are serving. Other requirements include not having been convicted of an election offense and they cannot be law enforcement officers.
Duties the day of an election for commissioners and CIC’s require they must arrive at the polling place no later than 5:30 a.m. The CIC will administer the oath of office to the commissioners and together, after the CIC receives the sealed key envelope from the deputy custodian, they will prepare to open the polls at 6 a.m.
In a nutshell, the CIC presides over the election and tabulation of results and enforces the laws governing elections at the polling place. Neither commissioners nor CIC’s can be an electioneer, engage in political discussions, unnecessarily delay a voter, or prepare a list of persons voting at the polling place other than the official poll list.
After polls close at 8 p.m. and results have been tabulated, the CIC delivers keys, election results cartridges and all other paperwork to the Clerk of Court.
Currently, CIC’s receive $250, or $300 for a CIC who serves at more than one precinct; and commissioners receive $100, $200, or $35, depending on level of instruction.
The date and time for the next Commissioner School will be announced at a later date. For additional information, call the Clerk’s office at 318.281.3343.
