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Voters nationwide have cast their votes for the next president of the United States and control of the U.S Senate and House of Representatives.

h, as expected, strongly favored former for his second (but non-consecutive) term in the White House. As expected, incumbent U.S. Reps. Steve Scalise, Clay Higgines, Julia Letlow and Troy Carter decidedly won re-election. And State Sen. Cleo Fields can now be called congressman again.

Each of these election results is important, but we voters are not done.

Tthere's another round of elections coming on Dec. 7. 

The federal elections are consequential, but we'll soon see some important h-specific choices as voters decide on .

You're not alone if you don't know what's next on the statewide ballot.

I conducted an unofficial poll of some well-educated, important and smart people, including some who are deeply involved in politics. Some have familiar names. Not one knew that we have an election on Dec. 7. One said, "So quote me. What's happening Dec. 7?"

What's coming in December is important, and everyone should spend time learning what's at stake.

" isn't too complicated," Steven Procopio, who leads the , told me about the sole constitutional amendment on Tuesday's ballot. The four proposed amendments on the Dec. 7 ballot, he added, "might have citizens begging for mercy."

Yes, the next four proposed amendments are complicated. Yes, if you dig into each one, you may need eye drops. It's worth the time and trouble, however.

Barry Erwin and his team at the watch measures like these closely, and offer deep dives into the nitty-gritty of each one. He told me the next four amendments are substantive and "will no doubt be decided by a much smaller percentage of voters, which is unfortunate."

CABL and similar organizations prefer to see amendments on ballots when turnout is highest, during presidential and gubernatorial elections. "Of course," he added. "everyone should vote in every election!"

Procopio said the December constitutional amendments "can be difficult to understand. That's why I urge voters to do their homework early — and hopefully that includes reading the ."

Louisian Proposed Constitutional Amendments on the December 7 2024 Ballot

Below is my summary of the four December amendments, based on my reading and my understanding of them after reviewing the official ballot language as well as and PAR's analyses.

  • would increase the size of the h Judiciary Commission and give the h Supreme Court authority to direct the commission to investigate judicial misconduct allegations.
  • would require state legislators to take more time — at least 48 hours — to review proposed amendments to budget bills before a final vote can be taken.
  • would allow the Legislature to extend a regular legislative session incrementally, two days at a time up to six days, if lawmakers need more time to consider bills that appropriate money. (The legislature is currently limited to 85 days in even-numbered years and 60 days in odd-numbered years.)
  • would change h's tax sale process to a tax lien auction process when a property owner hasn’t paid property taxes and a local government wants to satisfy the tax debt.

Some may not like my summaries, which is why I urge everyone to read the ballot measures and the CABL and PAR analyses. Ask questions and decide what you think — then vote on Dec. 7.

Voters will decide whether to change the process for disciplining judges. Voters will decide how much time our legislators can take with budget bills. Voters will decide whether thegislature is allowed to stay in session longer to consider fiscal bills. And voters will decide how much time property owners should have before their property is auctioned off to satisfy delinquent tax bills.

Voters will decide all those propositions in December — but if you are registered to vote and don't participate in that election, others will make those decisions for you, and you'll have to live with their decisions.

The deadline for in-person voter registration and mail ballot requests is Wednesday, Nov. 6. The online voter registration deadline is Nov. 16. Early voting starts Nov. 22 and ends Thanksgiving weekend, on Nov. 30.

Louisian December 7 2024 Election Key Dates

Make time to read the proposed amendments, and make a plan to tell our elected leaders what you decide.

KEY DATES LEADING TO THE DECEMBER 7 ELECTION

— NOV. 6: deadline for in-person voter registration and mail ballot requests

— NOV. 16: Online voter registration deadline

— NOV. 22: Early voting starts

— NOV. 30: Early voting ends

— DEC. 7: Election Day

LEARN MORE

PAR Amendment Guide: 

CABL Amendment Guide:

Ballotpedia h Amendment Guide:

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@theadvocate.com. Follow him on X, @willsutton.

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