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Voting and Elections Information for Louisiana

Voter Registration in Louisiana

Eligibility requirements

  • Age: At least 18 before Election Day (You may pre-register to vote if you are 17 years old, 16 years old if registering in person at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles)
  • Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Residence: Must be a resident of the State of Louisiana and of the parish in which you seek to register
  • Formerly incarcerated individuals: May vote if they are not under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony or, if under such an order not have been incarcerated pursuant to the order within the last five years and not be under an order of imprisonment related to a felony conviction for election fraud or any other election offense pursuant to La. R.S 18:1461.2: http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=81430
  • Must not be under a judgment of full interdiction for mental incompetence or partial interdiction with suspension of voting rights
  • Check to see if you are already registered or check the status of your voter registration: https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/

More information: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/RegisterToVote/Pages/default.aspx

Voter Registration FAQ: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/RegisterToVote/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/Pages/default.aspx?OwnershipName=RegisterToVote&faqid=0

Deadline

  • Eligible individuals can register to vote at any time.
  • The deadline to register to vote in an upcoming election is
    • at least 20 days prior to the election in which you seek to vote if registering through the GeauxVote Online Registration System with a Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana special ID card
    • at least 30 days prior to an election in which you seek to vote if registering in person or by mail. If mailing an application, the application or envelope must be postmarked 30 days prior to the first election in which you seek to vote.
  • Registration deadlines for 2020 are
    • Presidential Preference Primary: In person/by mail - March 4; Geaux Vote Online - March 14
    • Open Primary/Presidential: In person/by mail - October 5; Geaux Vote Online - October 13
    • General Election: In person/by mail - November 4; Geaux Vote Online - November 14

More information on voter registration: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/RegisterToVote/Pages/default.aspx

Online registration

If you are a Louisiana resident and have a valid Louisiana driver's license number or Louisiana special ID card, visit Geaux Vote Online to submit a new registration or to update or change your existing record.

Mail-in registration

Apply by mail by downloading the Louisiana Voter Registration Application, completing it and mailing it to your local Registrar of Voters Office.

Refer to the box below for information about ID requirements.

Updating registration      

If you are already registered to vote in Louisiana but you need to update information on your voter registration record, you can submit a change by completing a voter registration application and by checking "update voter registration." If you have moved inside of your parish, notify your parish registrar of voters of any changes to your registration. Inactive voters must verify their residential address prior to voting which may be done on election day at the precinct, in person at the registrar's office, online or by mail through a voter registration application.

More information on updating or changing your voter registration: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/RegisterToVote/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/Pages/default.aspx?OwnershipName=RegisterToVote&faqid=0

Cancelling registration

To cancel your voter registration, complete a Cancel Voter Registration Form and submit it to the registrar of voters in your parish.

ID Requirements for Louisiana Voters

ID Requirements for Registration

Online Registration

For online voter registration at GeauxVote, you will need your Louisiana driver's license or a Louisiana special ID card in hand when you begin the process. There is an audit code on the card that you must enter. The audit code is a four digit number labeled AUDIT on the front of the card.

Register by Mail

Apply by mail by downloading the Louisiana Voter Registration Application, completing it and mailing it to your local Registrar of Voters Office. If mailing in an application, the application or envelope must be postmarked 30 days prior to the first election in which you seek to vote.

The registrar of voters mails a verification mailing card to verify the address you have provided when registering by mail. If you do not receive a mailing from the registrar of voters within two week of registering, please contact their office.

Register in Person

If registering in person at a parish Registrar of Voters Office, you are required to prove age, residency and identity. You must submit your current Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana special identification card, if you have one, or your social security card, birth certificate or other documentation which reasonably and sufficiently establishes your identity, age and residency.

If you do not have any of these, you may bring a copy of a current and valid photo identification, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or government document that includes your name and address.

Louisiana voter registration FAQ: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/RegisterToVote/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/Pages/default.aspx?OwnershipName=RegisterToVote&faqid=0

ID Requirements for Voting

Be prepared to show a photo identification card with your photo and signature or a United States military identification card that contains your name and photo when voting. If you do not have a photo ID, you may obtain a free Louisiana special identification card by presenting your voter registration information card to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles or you may vote by affidavit after correctly answering identifying information before voting.

Louisiana Voting FAQ: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Vote/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/Pages/default.aspx

More information on voting in Louisiana: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Vote/Pages/default.aspx

Where to get an ID

If you do not have a photo ID, you may obtain a free Louisiana special identification card by presenting your voter registration information card to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles or you may vote by affidavit after correctly answering identifying information before voting.

Obtaining a Driver’s License or ID card

Casting a Ballot in Louisiana

Important Dates

 

Review types of elections: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/ReviewTypesOfElections/Pages/default.aspx

More election information: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/Pages/default.aspx

Louisiana election FAQ: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/Pages/default.aspx

Early Voting

Mandatory early voting periods for 2020 in Louisiana are:

  • Presidential Preference Primary/Municipal Primary Election: March 21-28 (except Sunday, March 22) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Municipal General Election: April 25 - May 2 (except Sunday, April 26) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Presidential General Election/Open Congressional Primary Election: October 20-27 (except Sunday, Oct. 25) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  • Congressional and Open General Election: November 20-28 (except Sunday, Nov. 22, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving), and Nov. 27 (Acadian Day); early voting is advanced one day because of the holidays.

 

More information: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Vote/VoteEarly/Pages/default.aspx

Absentee Voting: Electronic Request

Registered voters may submit a request for an absentee ballot electronically by logging in to the Louisiana Voter Portal and:

  • selecting 'By Voter'
  • clicking on the 'Voting Information' tab; and
  • clicking the 'Online Absentee Request' link found in the menu at page-left.

You must be logged in to the voter portal as the voter for whom the absentee ballot request is intended to electronically submit a request for an absentee ballot.

Mail, Fax, or Email Your Absentee Ballot

You can also print an application for absentee ballot for military and overseas citizens, complete it and mail, fax or email it to your parish registrar of voters.

Military and overseas citizen's requests for absentee ballots must be received by the parish registrar of voters no later than 4:30 p.m. CST one day prior to the scheduled election date.    

If you elect to receive your ballot electronically, you will be required to submit your email address. Louisiana's law provides for the protection from disclosure of your electronic mail address, along with your social security number, driver's license number, day and month of date of birth and mother's maiden name.

More information: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Vote/VoteByMail/Pages/MilitaryAndOverseasVoters.aspx

Polling places and hours

  • Use the Louisiana Voter Portal to find where you vote on election day, or call your parish Registrar of Voters Office. Your voter information card received by mail lists your polling place.
  • Election day voting hours are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all Saturday elections and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all Tuesday elections. Don't forget to bring your picture ID to the polls!

Should any problems or questions arise, the principal office of the registrar of voters in each parish will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday elections and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday elections.

More information on voting on election day: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Vote/VoteOnElectionDay/Pages/default.aspx

Rides to the polls

Political parties sometimes arrange rides for voters. Contact your local office:

More information will be added as discovered.

Accessible Voting for Persons with Disabilities

Visibly disabled voters and persons assisting them shall go to the front of the line at their polling place.

A voter is entitled to receive assistance while voting if they are unable to read or unable to vote without assistance due to physical disability, including being visually impaired. A voter may choose to use the audio ballot instead of receiving assistance. Information on audio voting keypad: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetFormsAndFeeSchedule/ReviewVotingBrochures/Pages/default.aspx

A voter must either file a statement with the registrar in person or by mail if they need assistance in voting or provide certain documentation to the poll worker on election day. Documentation may include:

  • a physician's certificate identifying and confirming the disability
  • a copy of a current mobility impaired ID card issued by the Office of Motor Vehicles
  • a copy of current documentation showing eligibility for disability benefits from either social security, veterans affairs, paratransit services, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities or benefits from Louisiana Rehabilitation Services.

Persons prohibited from assisting voters are as follows:

  • candidates in the election
  • employer/agent for employer cannot assist an employee
  • union agent cannot assist a union member
  • commissioner-in-charge
  • staff for a state residential facility cannot assist residents of their facility

More information on the Disability Program: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/DisabledElderlyCitizens.aspx

More information on polling place accessibility and systems: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Vote/VoteOnElectionDay/Pages/default.aspx

Elections

Open Primary and General Elections

  • Primary elections are conducted to select each party’s candidates in the general election.
  • Louisiana conducts local and state elections on Saturdays using what is referred to as an open primary system, where all eligible voters may cast a vote in the election regardless of party affiliation.
  • If there is no majority vote winner in the primary election then the top two candidates go to a run-off election called a general election.

This system is used in Louisiana for all offices - state, parish, municipal and congressional - but is not used for the presidential preference primary.

More information on elections: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/ReviewTypesOfElections/Pages/default.aspx

Information about candidates on the ballot

Learn how candidates are elected in Louisiana: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/HowAreCandidatesElected/Pages/default.aspx

Who conducts elections?

The Secretary of State's Elections Division is responsible for:

  • administering all laws governing voter registration and elections
  • maintaining the statewide voter registration system
  • scheduling elections and qualifying candidates for elections
  • purchasing and maintaining absentee, early voting and election day voting equipment
  • programming all equipment with election specific information and delivering and testing on all equipment statewide
  • printing and distributing absentee paper ballots
  • statewide support of administering elections during early voting and on election day
  • election night tally and transmission of results
  • paying for all election expenses
  • compiling, reporting and maintaining official elections returns and statistics

Additionally, the governor issues and the secretary of state countersigns the official commission that entitles elected or appointed officials to hold office. The secretary of state publishes the Louisiana Roster of Officials, the Louisiana Election Code with all of Louisiana's elections statutes, and the Election Returns Books that contain precinct-by-precinct returns for all presidential and gubernatorial elections.

More information on the specific duties of election officials: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/PublishedDocuments/ElectionOfficialsDuties.pdf

More information on the history of elections in Louisiana: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/ReviewAdministrationAndHistory/Pages/default.aspx

Voter Rights

Louisiana Voters' Bill of Rights and Voting Information: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/PublishedDocuments/BillOfRights.pdf

Fraud in a State or Local Election

To report fraud in an election, contact the Elections Compliance Unit (ECU) toll free at 800.722.5305, the Election's Division toll free at 800.883.2805, or contact the nearest office of the FBI or your local U.S. Attorney's office.

To file a written notarized complaint with the elections division of the Louisiana Department of State, contact:

Commissioner of Elections, Department of State, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125

Fraud in a Federal Election, or to Report a Federal Violation

To report fraud in a federal election, contact the nearest office of the FBI or your local U.S. Attorney's office. Additionally, you may contact the ECU toll free at 800.722.5305 or the Election's Division toll free at 800.883.2805.

To report a federal violation under The Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits racial or language minority discrimination in voting, contact: Chief, Voting Section, Civil Rights Division, Room 7754 - NWB, Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20530, toll free 800.253.3931 or 202.307.2767.

To make a complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, contact: Voting Rights Division, Department of Justice, toll free 800.514.0301 (option 7).

To file a notarized written complaint under the Help America Vote Act, contact: Election's Division toll free at 800.883.2805.

Campaign Finance

Campaign Finance Reports are held in the Louisiana State Archival Collection at the Erbon and Marie Wise Genealogical Library and require at least 24 hours notice to pull reports for review. Materials must be pulled before 3 p.m. on weekdays for use in the Research Library and cannot be viewed on weekends.

For information on requesting campaign finance reports refer to the How to Request Campaign Finance Reports form and the Campaign Finance Supplemental form.

More information on the Erbon and Marie Wise Genealogical Research Library: https://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/ResearchHistoricalRecords/VisitTheResearchLibrary/Pages/default.aspx

Contact information for the Louisiana State Archives and the Research Library: https://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/ContactUs/Pages/default.aspx

Contact Your Elected Officials

Contact the Governor's Office: https://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/form/home/4

Contact your U.S. Senators: Bill Cassidy - https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/contact/, John Kennedy - https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/public/email-me

Contact your U.S. Representative: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/LA#representatives

Contact a State Senator: http://senate.legis.state.la.us/senators/

Contact a State Representative: http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/H_Reps_FullInfo.aspx

More information on elected officials: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/FindPublicOfficials/Pages/default.aspx

General Resources on Voting and Elections

General Resources on Voting and Elections

(Adapted from The Librarian’s Reference Guide to Voter Registration, Voting & Elections by Rachel Dobkin)

Hotlines

1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español)

1-888-API-VOTE (Asian multilingual assistance)

Voter Registration & Election Day Resources

Find useful voter information including:

  • Local Election Office and Contact Information
  • Address, Telephone and Email for Local Election Offices
  • Upcoming Federal Election Dates and Deadlines
  • Upcoming State Election Dates and Deadlines
  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Identification Requirements
  • Voter Materials Transmission Options
  • State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered? Where’s my Ballot?

Population-Specific information and Resources

Voting Rights: Laws, Cases, Policy

Voter Engagement

Voter Education

Campaign Finance/Funding Information

Primary Sources, Lesson Plans & Exhibits