St. Charles Parish, LA
Home MenuGet Involved!
Introduction
'As citizens, we all have an obligation to intervene and become involved. It's the citizen who CHANGES things.' – Jose Saramago
President Abraham Lincoln in his ‘Gettysburg Address’ referred to the U.S. government as being “of the people, by the people, for the people.” That statement holds true for your local St. Charles Parish government.
Nine council members represent the people of the parish under the legislative branch, with the parish president handling day-to-day operations under the executive branch.
It’s also true that the media does not cover all newsworthy-to-you events within government. It’s up to you to become informed and engaged in the parish government process.
Vote
Qualifications
- Must be 17 years of age to register to vote, as well as a U.S. citizen. The voting age is 18.
- Must NOT be under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony, and must NOT be under a judgment of full or limited interdiction in which your right to vote has been suspended.
- Must reside in the parish in which you seek to register and vote.
Where to Register:
Complete an application at the Registrar of Voters Office, located within the St. Charles Parish Courthouse, 15045 River Road in Hahnville, by mail or online at www.geauxvote.com. Designated sites may offer voter registration, such as the Office of Motor Vehicles, Louisiana Department of Social Services and others.
- Needed Documents: Those registering in person are required to prove age, residency and identity via a current Louisiana drivers’ license, birth certificate or other documentation which sufficiently establishes this information.
- When to Register: Register 30 days prior to an election to be eligible to vote.
- More Information: Visit Registrar of Voters or call (985) 783-5120. The St. Charles Parish Registrar of Voters Office mailing address is P.O. Box 315, Hahnville, LA 70057.
Talk
A list of all local elected officials and their contact information to send letters, e-mails and faxes is available on the St. Charles Parish website downloading the Public Information Bulletin.
Attend
Attending public meetings is an effective way to stay informed about government happenings. Citizens can learn about scheduled meetings by:- Checking the legal section of the Herald-Guide newspaper.
- Visiting the parish’s web calendar.
- Watching the calendar and slides on SCP-TV.
- Checking the meeting announcement bulletin board on the first floor of the courthouse.
State law requires all public meetings be advertised at least 24 hours in advance. Many of the meetings are aired live on SCP-TV. All Parish Council, Council Committees and Planning Commission meetings are posted for viewing on the parish website. Council meeting agendas are available for viewing both online and at the West and East Regional Library branches. Other agendas can be obtained using contact information for the individual boards and commissions.
Notice of St. Charles Parish Reasonable Accommodations Process
Connect
It’s easy to stay up-to-date with local news via social media and the parish’s website. Find previews of council meetings, videos about upcoming and ongoing infrastructure projects, results of council meetings, press releases and more at the following sites:
In addition, the St. Charles Parish Public Information Office and other parish departments provide regular updates to local media outlets, including newspapers, radio stations and television stations.
Speak Out
Citizens and groups can address the parish council on any topic by filling out a petition to address the council, which can be found under ‘Right to Direct Participation’ at or picked up from the Parish Council Office in the St. Charles Parish Courthouse.
The written request must be received by the council secretary at least one week prior to the meeting, or earlier during the holiday season.
Speakers are granted five minutes, which can be extended to eight minutes upon approval of two-thirds of council members.
While the Home Rule Charter guarantees citizens the right to address the council, there is no provision for initiating debates, discussions or question and answer sessions with council members or administrators.
Get Records
Anyone 18 or older has the right to examine or obtain a copy of a public record (unless exempted) of any public body, including state and parish agencies or boards by submitting a public records request.
Generally anything having been used, in use or prepared for use in the conduct of public business is a public record. Public records include drafts of documents, statistics, maps, letters, memos, budgets, electronic data, payrolls and assessment rolls.
Processing time and a nominal administrative or copying fee may apply.