La. Rev. Stat. § 18:564 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 564
Assistance in voting on election day
Status: in_force

A. Voters entitled to assistance. A voter shall not receive assistance in voting unless he is unable to read, or is unable to vote without assistance because of a physical disability, including being visually impaired. If a voter who is entitled to receive assistance in voting chooses to vote using the audio ballot instead of receiving assistance, and the audio ballot equipment fails, the voter shall be entitled to assistance in voting as provided in this Section.

B. Persons prohibited from assisting voters. (1) No candidate in any election shall assist any voter in casting his ballot in that election.

(2) No commissioner-in-charge can assist a voter.

(3) No employer or employer's agent can assist an employee in voting.

(4) No union agent can assist a union member in voting.

(5)(a) Except as provided in Paragraphs (1) through (4) of this Subsection, a voter entitled to assistance in voting may receive the assistance of any person of his choice, including a commissioner.

(b) The voter, along with the person assisting the voter, shall complete a voter assistance form and provide the name, address, and relationship to the voter of the person, including a commissioner, assisting the voter and attest whether the person, other than a commissioner, assisting the voter was paid to provide assistance. If the voter is not marked for assistance in voting in the precinct register, the voter shall attest on the voter assistance form that the voter has a physical disability or is unable to read and requires assistance in voting.

C. Procedure when voter receives assistance. The person or commissioners assisting the voter shall enter the voting machine with the voter and assist him in voting. No other person shall enter the voting machine or assist the voter in voting. No person selected by the voter to assist him shall reveal the name of any person for whom the voter has voted, any proposition upon which he voted, or anything that took place while the voter was being assisted. When a precinct is equipped with a voting machine which provides an audio ballot, the commissioner shall offer the option of voting using the audio ballot to a visually impaired voter or a voter who is unable to read. If the voter elects to vote using such method, the commissioner shall assist the visually impaired voter or the voter who is unable to read with the headset and instruct the voter and the person selected to assist the voter on the use of the audio ballot.

D.(1)(a) Prior to receiving assistance pursuant to this Section due to a disability, including visual impairment, the voter shall file with the registrar in person or by mail a statement setting forth the necessity and reasons for this assistance and shall furnish the registrar one of the following:

(i) A certificate of a medical doctor, optometrist, physician assistant as defined in R.S. 37:1360.22, or nurse practitioner as defined in R.S. 37:913 certifying to the irremediable nature of the physical disability as proof of disability.

(ii) A copy of a current mobility impairment identification card bearing a photograph of the voter and the international symbol of accessibility issued by the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections as authorized by the provisions of R.S. 47:463.4.

(iii) A copy of current documentation showing eligibility for social security disability benefits, veteran's disability benefits, paratransit services, benefits from the office for citizens with developmental disabilities, or benefits from Louisiana Rehabilitation Services.

(iv) A completed and signed voter registration application attesting that the voter has a physical disability and requires assistance in voting.

(v) A completed and signed voter assistance form provided by the secretary of state wherein the voter attests that he has a physical disability and requires assistance in voting.

(b) If the voter is submitting the information required by this Paragraph by mail, he shall also submit to the registrar a copy of his Louisiana driver's license, his Louisiana special identification card issued pursuant to R.S. 40:1321, or other generally recognized picture identification card that contains the name and signature of the voter.

(c) If such statement with such documentation, if applicable, is filed with the registrar as provided in this Paragraph or if a statement with such documentation, if applicable, is presented to the commissioner-in-charge on election day pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the registrar shall indicate such facts in the registrant's information on the state voter registration computer system and, if the original application is available in hard copy in the registrar's office, on the original application for registration. The registrar shall retain the statement and documentation, if applicable. Thereafter, the voter shall not be required to present evidence of any kind at the polls or during early voting.

(2)(a) A voter shall also be entitled to assistance without having filed with the registrar a statement setting forth the necessity and reasons for this assistance if, on election day, the voter presents to the commissioner-in-charge one of the following as proof of disability:

(i) A certificate of a physician, optometrist, physician's assistant as defined in R.S. 37:1360.22, or nurse practitioner as defined in R.S. 37:913 indicating the voter's inability to vote without assistance because of a physical disability.

(ii) A current mobility impairment identification card bearing a photograph of the voter and the international symbol of accessibility issued by the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections as authorized by the provisions of R.S. 47:463.4.

(iii) A copy of current documentation showing eligibility for social security disability benefits, veteran's disability benefits, paratransit services, benefits from the office for citizens with developmental disabilities, or benefits from Louisiana Rehabilitation Services.

(iv) A completed and signed voter assistance form provided by the secretary of state wherein the voter attests that he has a physical disability and requires assistance in voting.

(b) The commissioner-in-charge shall place any certificate, statement setting forth the necessity and reasons for assistance, copy of proof of disability, or completed and signed voter assistance form presented by a voter in the envelope marked "Registrar of Voters" and attach the envelope to the precinct register.

E. A voter who has a visible physical disability or who presents a current mobility impairment identification card bearing a photograph of the voter and the international symbol of accessibility issued by the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections as authorized by the provisions of R.S. 47:463.4, and the person who will be assisting him in voting, shall be allowed to go to the front of the line to cast a ballot at the polls.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 201, §1, eff. July 2, 1991; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1997, No. 752, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §2, eff. July 3, 2003; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 602, §1; Acts 2009, No. 186, §2, eff. June 29, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 436, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 590, §1, eff. June 25, 2010; Acts 2014, No. 811, §9, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2017, No. 201, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2018; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020; Acts 2024, No. 317, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:601 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 601
Vacancy in state legislative office; legislative service
Status: in_force

A.(1) If a vacancy in the office of a state legislator occurs and if six months or more of the term remains unexpired, then within ten days of the vacancy occurring, the presiding officer of the house in which the vacancy occurs shall issue a proclamation advising of the vacancy and ordering a special election to fill the vacancy and shall specify in the proclamation, in accordance with R.S. 18:402, the dates on which the primary and general elections shall be held and, in accordance with R.S. 18:467 and 468, the dates of the qualifying period for candidates in the special election. However, if the deadline for issuing the proclamation falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for issuing such proclamation. The speaker of the House of Representatives or the president of the Senate shall immediately forward such information to the secretary of state, who shall within twenty-four hours after receipt of the information notify all election officials having any duty to perform in connection with a special election to fill such vacancy, including the parish boards of election supervisors for the parish or parishes in which the vacancy occurred. The secretary of state shall also publish the proclamation in the official journal of each parish in which the election is to be held.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection or R.S. 18:402, if a vacancy in the office of state legislator occurs and if six months or more of the term remains unexpired and in the discretion of the presiding officer of the house of the legislature in which the vacancy occurs a person may be elected and serve during a session of the legislature which occurs prior to the next regularly scheduled election dates provided in R.S. 18:402, then within ten days of the vacancy occurring, the presiding officer of the house in which the vacancy occurs shall determine the dates of the primary and general elections and the dates of the qualifying period for the election and shall issue a proclamation advising of the vacancy and setting forth the election dates and dates of the qualifying period for candidates. However, if the deadline for issuing the proclamation falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for issuing such proclamation. The speaker of the House of Representatives or the president of the Senate shall immediately forward such information to the secretary of state, who shall within twenty-four hours after receipt of the information notify all election officials having any duty to perform in connection with a special election to fill such vacancy, including the parish boards of election supervisors for the parish or parishes in which the vacancy occurred. The secretary of state shall also publish the proclamation in the official journal of each parish in which the election is to be held.

B. For purposes of Article III, Section 4(E) of the Constitution of Louisiana only, the service of a person who is elected to fill an unexpired term in the office of state legislator shall begin at the time such person takes the oath of office before his house of the legislature.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 545, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 792, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 76, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1992, No. 730, §1, eff. July 6, 1992; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2011, No. 201, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2012; Acts 2024, No. 640, §4, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1505.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1505.4
Civil penalties; failure to file; timely and accurate filing; forfeiture
Status: in_force

A.(1) Any candidate, the treasurer or chairman of a committee, or any other person required to file any reports under this Chapter, who knowingly fails to file or who knowingly fails to timely file any such reports as are required by this Chapter may be assessed a civil penalty as provided in R.S. 18:1511.4.1 for each day until such report is filed.

(2)(a) The amount of such penalty may be:

(i) One hundred dollars per day, not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars, for each candidate for major office and any treasurer or chairman of any committee designated as a principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee of such a candidate.

(ii) Sixty dollars per day, not to exceed one thousand dollars, for any candidate for district office and any treasurer or chairman of any committee designated as a principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee of such a candidate.

(iii) Forty dollars per day, not to exceed five hundred dollars, for any candidate for all other offices and any treasurer or chairman of any committee designated as a principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee of such a candidate.

(iv) Forty dollars per day, not to exceed one thousand dollars, for any person or the treasurer or chairman of any political committee or independent expenditure-only committee, not supporting or opposing a candidate, but only supporting or opposing any proposition or question submitted to the voters or any the recall of a public officer.

(v) Two hundred dollars per day, not to exceed three thousand dollars, for the treasurer or chairman of any political committee or independent expenditure-only committee supporting or opposing a candidate, other than a candidate's principal or subsidiary campaign committee.

(b) The late filing fees for any report required by R.S. 18:1491.6(C) or R.S. 18:1495.4(C) may not exceed twice those otherwise applicable as provided in this Section.

(3)(a) If a person, other than a political committee or independent expenditure-only committee, required to file is supporting or opposing a candidate or candidates, the penalty applicable to such candidate or candidates as provided in Item (2)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this Subsection shall apply.

(b) If a person, other than a political committee or independent expenditure-only committee, required to file is supporting or opposing candidates with different penalty levels, the penalty shall be the highest penalty for any such candidate.

(4)(a) For reports required by this Chapter which are required to be filed between the time a candidate qualifies and election day, in addition to any penalties which may be imposed under this Section or any other law, the supervisory committee may impose on any person required to file such a report who has not filed such report by the sixth day after the report is due, after an adjudicatory hearing by an adjudicatory panel of the Ethics Adjudicatory Board conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Governmental Ethics, with notice to the party who is the subject of the hearing, an additional civil penalty not to exceed ten thousand dollars.

(b) For all other reports required by this Chapter, in addition to any penalties which may be imposed by this Section or any other law, the supervisory committee may impose on any person required to file such a report who has not filed such report by the eleventh day after the report is due, after an adjudicatory hearing by an adjudicatory panel of the Ethics Adjudicatory Board conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Governmental Ethics, with notice to the party who is the subject of the hearing, an additional civil penalty not to exceed ten thousand dollars.

B. Any candidate, the treasurer or chairman of any committee, or any other person required to file reports under this Chapter who knowingly and willfully fails to disclose, or knowingly and willfully fails to accurately disclose, any information required by this Chapter to be disclosed in the reports required by this Chapter, may be assessed a civil penalty for each day until such information is disclosed by amendment to the appropriate report of such candidate, committee, or other person. "Knowingly and willfully", for purposes of this Subsection, means conduct which could have been avoided through the exercise of due diligence. Such penalties shall be as provided in Subsection A of this Section.

C.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section and the provisions of R.S. 18:1511.4.1, for a committee that is supporting, opposing, or otherwise influencing the nomination or election of a person to public office, the maximum amount of the penalty that shall be imposed for knowingly failing to file or knowingly failing to timely file any report required by this Chapter for a special election shall be the total of the expenditures made for the purpose of supporting, opposing, or otherwise influencing the nomination or election of a person or persons to public office in such special election or the maximum penalty under the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, whichever is less.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section and the provisions of R.S. 18:1511.4.1, for a committee that is supporting, opposing, or otherwise influencing the nomination or election of a person to public office that has made an expenditure in the form of a direct contribution to a candidate who was an elected official at the time of the contribution and who determines, after the contribution was made, to seek an office other than the office the candidate held at the time the contribution was made, no penalty for knowingly failing to timely file shall be assessed provided the contribution was disclosed on a report filed by the political committee prior to the election in which the candidate participates.

(3) This Subsection shall not apply to a candidate's principal campaign committee or any designated subsidiary committee of a candidate.

D.(1) Any elected official who fails to comply with a final order of a court or the supervisory committee or a final decision of an adjudicatory panel of the Ethics Adjudicatory Board which imposes a fine, fee, or penalty pursuant to this Chapter and against which all appeal delays have lapsed shall be subject to forfeiture of the nonexempt portion of his public salary, as provided in this Subsection, until such time as he has complied with such order or final decision. The forfeiture shall take effect no less than twenty days after notice is sent to the elected official pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.

(2) The supervisory committee shall notify the elected official in writing when he is subject to the forfeiture provided for in this Subsection. The notice shall provide the name of the elected official, the office he holds, the amount of the outstanding fines, fees, or penalties which are subject to forfeiture, and the date on which the forfeiture is to take effect. The supervisory committee shall send two copies of the notice by certified mail, one to the campaign address of the elected official on file with the supervisory committee and the other to the official address of the office which he holds. Additionally, the supervisory committee shall send a copy of the notice by certified mail to the entity which is responsible for disbursing the elected official's salary, along with instructions as to the proper method for forwarding the forfeited funds.

(3)(a) "Forfeiture" pursuant to this Subsection shall be an alternative means of collecting an outstanding fine, fee, or penalty imposed by a final order of a court or the supervisory committee pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter and against which all appeal delays have lapsed.

(b) On the next payroll date following the effective date of the forfeiture, and each payroll date thereafter so long as the forfeiture remains in effect, the entity which is responsible for disbursing the elected official's salary shall withhold that portion of the elected official's salary which is not exempt from seizure, as provided in R.S. 13:3881. This portion of the elected official's salary shall be forwarded to the supervisory committee, as directed in the notice. The forfeiture shall remain in effect until such time as the supervisory committee notifies the entity which is responsible for disbursing the elected official's salary that the elected official has complied with the order.

(c) The entity which is responsible for disbursing the elected official's salary may withhold three dollars from the nonexempt portion of the elected official's salary for each pay period during which the forfeiture is in effect to cover the administrative costs of the forfeiture.

(4) The supervisory committee shall treat all sums forwarded to it under this Subsection as payments by the elected official of the outstanding fines, fees, or penalties and shall immediately notify the entity which is responsible for disbursing the elected official's salary when the elected official has complied with the order or when the fines, fees, and penalties have been paid in full from the forfeited funds.

(5) For the purposes of this Subsection, an elected official shall be deemed to have complied with a final order upon paying the fine, fee, or penalty in full or upon entering into and remaining current on an agreement with the supervisory committee providing for a payment schedule. The failure to remain current on a payment schedule shall subject the elected official to forfeiture.

E. The computation of days provided for in Subsections A and B of this Section shall not include Saturdays, Sundays, or other legal holidays.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 266, §1, eff. July 18, 1982; Acts 1988, No. 994, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 180, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1995, No. 1046, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 66, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 352, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1349, §1, eff. July 12, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 1208, §1; Acts 2012, No. 609, §1, eff. June 7, 2012; Acts 2014, No. 792, §1; Acts 2024, No. 447, §1; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1313.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1313.1
Preparation, verification, tabulation, and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a) Parishes may conduct the preparation and verification process for the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots for a primary or general election the day before the election.

(b) However, with the written approval of the secretary of state, parishes may conduct the preparation and verification process for the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballot for a primary or general election beginning three days before the election.

(2) The tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be conducted on election day.

B.(1) The parish board of election supervisors shall be responsible for the preparation, verification, counting, and tabulation of all absentee by mail and early voting ballots in the parish. The board may utilize parish board commissioners to count the absentee by mail and early voting ballots in the parish. If the board determines that parish board commissioners are necessary for the preparation and verification process to count and tabulate the absentee by mail and early voting ballots before the election and to count and tabulate the absentee by mail and early voting ballots on election day, it shall select parish board commissioners in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 18:1314.

(2) If less than a majority but at least two of the members of the board are present for the preparation and verification process to count the absentee by mail and early voting ballots and the board cannot locate an alternate designee or appointee, the board shall, through the registrar of voters, so inform the commissioner of elections and request approval from the commissioner of elections for the appointment of a parish board commissioner to serve as a board member. The board shall receive approval of the commissioner of elections before proceeding with the preparation and verification process without a majority present.

(3) If an insufficient number of parish board commissioners was previously selected for the preparation and verification process or to count the absentee by mail and early voting ballots, the board, through the registrar of voters, may request approval from the commissioner of elections to select a sufficient number of parish board commissioners three days before the election or on election day, as applicable, to assist in the preparation and verification process for the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots and the tabulation and counting of the ballots.

C.(1) The preparation and verification process for the counting of the absentee by mail and early voting ballots may be conducted before the election at a public facility within the parish designated by the registrar of voters at a time fixed by the parish board of election supervisors.

(2) Absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be counted at a public facility within the parish designated by the registrar of voters at a time fixed by the parish board of election supervisors, which time shall be on election day no later than 8:00 p.m.

(3) Prior to the counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots on election day, any person authorized by the secretary of state may assist the registrar of voters in the challenge removal process on the early voting machines, in the reading of the early voting machine results cartridges on the secretary of state's equipment, and in producing the early voting machine results report. All early voting machine results reports shall be placed in the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting container.

D.(1) If the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots begins on election day prior to the closing of the polls, such counting and tabulation shall be conducted in a location and manner to prevent disclosure of the results prior to the closing of the polls. Each person except a person providing security to the parish board of election supervisors; a representative of the attorney general, with written approval of the secretary of state; the clerk of court; the registrar of voters; or a person providing technical assistance pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection who enters the location in which the absentee by mail and early voting ballots are being counted and tabulated on election day shall remain in that location and shall not be allowed to leave except temporarily, and then only when accompanied by a law enforcement officer, and shall not communicate with any person outside until the polls are closed. The parish board of election supervisors may take any action necessary to ensure that no information with respect to the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots is transmitted from the location where the absentee by mail and early voting ballots are being counted and tabulated on election day prior to the close of the polls on election day.

(2) Any person authorized by the secretary of state may provide security or technical assistance including advice, analysis, diagnosis, or repair for voting machines at the location where absentee by mail and early voting votes are being counted and tabulated. Such security or technical assistance shall be provided only upon the request of the parish board of election supervisors or a team of parish board commissioners, and may be made in person at the location where absentee by mail and early voting votes are being counted and tabulated, or by telephone, or both. Any authorized person providing such security or technical assistance may enter and leave the location where absentee by mail and early voting votes are being counted and tabulated on election day before the closing of the polls and during the process of counting and tabulation. No such person shall disclose any information with respect to the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots prior to the close of the polls on election day.

E.(1) Candidates, their representatives, and qualified electors may be present during the preparation and verification process for the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots before the election and the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots on election day. If the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots begins prior to the closing of the polls on election day, the board shall give notice reasonably calculated to inform any person who wants to be present during the counting and tabulation that no person will be allowed to leave or to communicate with any other person outside, until such time as the polls are closed, nor shall any person who is present during the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots on election day possess a cellular telephone or electronic communication or recording device.

(2) The preparation, verification, counting, and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall not be video, audio, or tape recorded, filmed, or broadcast live.

F. The board shall count the absentee by mail and early voting ballots and post the results after the closing of the polls on election day as the total number of absentee by mail and early voting votes cast in the election for each candidate and the total number cast for and against each proposition.

G. The procedure for the preparation and verification process for the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail ballots and early voting paper ballots before the election shall be as follows:

(1)(a) A member of the board shall remove the certificates, early voting verification forms, early voting machine public counter logs, early voting confirmation sheets, absentee by mail ballots, early voting paper ballots, and envelopes containing the absentee by mail ballots and early voting paper ballots from the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container.

(b) The board shall review the early voting verification forms and early voting machine public counter logs and, if found to be acceptable to the board, sign each early voting verification form. If the board does not find an early voting verification form to be acceptable, it may review any early voting confirmation sheet and shall document its correction to the early voting verification form and then sign it.

(2) The board shall announce the name of each absentee by mail voter, each voter who voted a paper ballot during early voting, and the ward and precinct where the voter is registered to vote and shall compare the name on the certificate with the names on the absentee by mail voter report or early voter report, as applicable.

(3) The board shall separate any ballots that are challenged in accordance with R.S. 18:1315(A), (B), or (C) from the ballots that are not challenged.

(4)(a) If an absentee by mail ballot has not been challenged and is determined by the board to be valid, a member of the board shall make a check mark on the absentee by mail voter report beside the name of the voter as it appears on the report and write his initials on each page of the report. If applicable, a member of the board shall remove the certificate from the envelope containing the absentee by mail ballot and leave the envelope sealed.

(b) If an early voting paper ballot has not been challenged and is determined by the board to be valid, a member of the board shall write the words "voted early" and his initials on the early voter report beside the name of the voter as it appears on the report. A member of the board shall remove the certificate and leave the envelope sealed.

(5) If an absentee by mail ballot or early voting paper ballot has been challenged, the members shall not remove the certificate and leave the envelope sealed.

(6) A member of the board shall place the absentee by mail ballots and early voting paper ballots that have been challenged and the ballots that have not been challenged in the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container provided for that purpose and seal the container. Two members of the board shall execute the first certificate on the container and date the certificate with the date on which it was executed before the election.

(7) The members of the board shall place the certificates of the absentee by mail ballots and early voting paper ballots that have not been challenged in the container provided for that purpose and seal the container. Two of the members shall execute the first certificate on the container and date the certificate with the date on which it was executed before the election.

(8) Absentee by mail ballots that are received by the registrar of voters after the preparation and verification process is completed but before the deadline to return absentee by mail ballots shall be prepared, verified, counted, and tabulated on election day.

H. The procedure for counting absentee by mail ballots and early voting paper ballots on election day shall be as follows:

(1) A member of the board shall break the seal on the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container and remove the certificates, absentee by mail ballots, and early voting paper ballots that have been challenged and the absentee by mail ballots and early voting paper ballots that have not been challenged.

(2) The board shall determine the validity of challenges filed in accordance with R.S. 18:1315(A), (B), and (C).

(3)(a) If the board determines that an absentee by mail ballot is valid, a member of the board shall make a check mark on the absentee by mail voter report beside the name of the voter as it appears on the report and write his initials on each page of the report. If applicable, a member of the board shall remove the certificate and leave the envelope sealed.

(b) If the board determines that a paper ballot voted during early voting is valid, a member of the board shall write the words "voted early" and his initials on the early voter report beside the name of the voter as it appears on the report. A member of the board shall remove the certificate and leave the envelope sealed.

(4) If a majority of the members of the board determine that an absentee by mail ballot or early voting paper ballot is invalid, the members shall not remove the certificate, leave the envelope sealed, and a member of the board shall write the word "rejected", together with the reasons for rejecting the ballot, across the envelope. The member shall also write the word "rejected" and his initials on the absentee by mail voter report or early voter report, as applicable, beside the name of the voter as it appears in the report. The rejected absentee by mail ballots and early voting paper ballots and certificates shall be replaced in the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container. No rejected absentee by mail ballot or early voting paper ballot shall be counted.

(5) After the validity of all absentee by mail ballots and early voting paper ballots have been determined, the members of the board shall break the seal on the container and place the valid certificates in the container provided for that purpose and seal the container. Two of the members shall execute the second certificate on the envelope and date the certificate the day of the election.

(6) The members shall open the envelopes containing the valid absentee by mail ballots and early voting paper ballots and remove the ballots.

(7) The board shall, in accordance with the requirements of R.S. 18:1316, reject any ballot which contains a distinguishing mark or feature making the ballot susceptible of identification. However, a ballot shall not be rejected as containing a distinguishing mark if the ballot was transmitted electronically to a member of the United States Service, as defined in R.S. 18:1302, or a person residing outside the United States.

(8) If a ballot is physically damaged or cannot properly be counted by the counting equipment and the vote cast by the voter is clearly discernible from a physical inspection of the defective ballot, the ballot may be counted by hand or a true duplicate may be made of the defective ballot in the presence of witnesses and substituted for the ballot. Any duplicate ballot shall be clearly labeled "duplicate", bear a ballot number which shall be recorded on the defective ballot, and be counted in lieu of the defective ballot. After a ballot has been duplicated, the defective ballot shall be placed in the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container, and the duplicate ballot shall be counted with the other valid ballots.

(9) The special absentee ballots cast by members of the United States Service or persons who reside outside of the United States may be counted by hand or counted as a true duplicate.

I. The procedure for counting early voting machine ballots on election day shall be as follows:

(1) A member of the board shall remove the early voting machine results reports from the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container.

(2) The board shall post the results from each early voting machine results report for the early voting ballots, unless an early voting ballot has been challenged pursuant to R.S. 18:1309(E)(6) or 1315.

(3) The board shall determine the validity of challenges made in accordance with R.S. 18:1315(A) and (B).

(4)(a) Prior to utilizing any absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment, the parish board of election supervisors shall generate a zero tally to ensure that the equipment's candidate and question counters are set at zero and that no votes have been cast for any candidate or for or against any proposition.

(b) The board shall sign and certify to the correctness of each zero proof sheet and place all zero proof sheets in the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting container.

(5) The absentee by mail and early voting votes cast for a candidate and those cast for and against a proposition shall be counted and the total number of absentee by mail and early voting votes cast for a candidate and those cast for and against a proposition shall be entered by the members of the board as the total number of votes on the final absentee by mail and early voting vote report, and the members of the board shall certify the results. A copy of the final absentee by mail and early voting vote report shall be posted by a member of the board after the polls close at the location where the tabulation and counting was conducted and the office of the registrar of voters.

J. The final absentee by mail and early voting vote report prepared by the parish board of election supervisors shall be transmitted to the clerk of court immediately upon completion of the tabulation of the absentee by mail and early voting ballots on election night. A copy of the record shall be transmitted immediately to the secretary of state, and a copy of the record shall be placed in the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting container.

K. When the absentee by mail and early voter reports have been returned to the registrar of voters, the registrar, based on the information contained in the reports, shall confirm that the words "voted by mail" or "voted early" are written in the proper space on the precinct register for each voter who voted early or absentee by mail.

L.(1) Upon completion of the tabulation and counting of the absentee by mail and early voting ballots on election day, the parish board of election supervisors shall return the absentee by mail and early voting ballots and electronic results report to the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container; shall seal the container; and shall deliver the container to the registrar of voters. The registrar shall preserve the container and its contents inviolate and, except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or at the direction of the secretary of state for the purpose of conducting post-election tabulation audits, shall not allow the absentee by mail and early voting documents to be inspected by anyone until the delay for filing an action contesting the election has lapsed. If an action contesting the election is commenced timely, the registrar shall continue to preserve the container and its contents inviolate, subject to the orders of the court, until the final judgment in the action has become definitive.

(2)(a)(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, if the number of absentee by mail and early voting ballots cast for all candidates for an office could make a difference in the outcome of the election for the office, upon the written request of a candidate for the office, the board shall recount the absentee by mail ballots by hand or scanning equipment and early voting ballots electronically, unless paper ballots were used for early voting and in such case, the ballots shall be recounted by hand for the office. The registrar shall preserve the container and its contents inviolate and, except upon the board recounting the absentee by mail ballots, shall not allow the absentee by mail and early voting ballots to be inspected by anyone until the recounting of the absentee by mail and early voting ballots by the board.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, if the number of absentee by mail and early voting ballots cast for and against a proposition could make a difference in the outcome of the election, upon the written request of a person who voted in the proposition election, the board shall recount the absentee by mail ballots by hand or scanning equipment and early voting ballots electronically, unless paper ballots were used for early voting and in such case, the ballots shall be recounted by hand for the election. The registrar shall preserve the container and its contents inviolate and, except upon the board recounting the absentee by mail ballots, shall not allow the absentee by mail and early voting ballots to be inspected by anyone until the recounting of the absentee by mail and early voting ballots by the board.

(b) All recounts of absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be held at a time set by the secretary of state, in conjunction with the registrar of voters and the clerk of court, or following the reinspection of voting machines on the fifth day after the election and at any time ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. If the fifth day after the election falls on a holiday or weekend, such recount shall be held on the next working day at a time set by the secretary of state, in conjunction with the registrar of voters and the clerk of court, or following the reinspection of voting machines. Any written request for recount of absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be filed with the clerk of court. The deadline for filing a request for recount of absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be 4:30 p.m. on the third calendar day after the election. Immediately upon receiving any request, the clerk of court shall prominently post in his office a notice of the time and place where the absentee by mail and early voting ballots will be recounted and the name of the candidate or the voter in the proposition election requesting the recount.

(c) Upon completion of the recount of the absentee by mail and early voting ballots, the board shall return the absentee by mail and early voting documents to the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container; shall reseal the container; and shall deliver the container and its contents to the registrar of voters, who shall preserve the container and its contents in the manner provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

(d)(i) The candidate or the voter in the proposition election requesting the recount shall be responsible for all reasonable costs associated with such recount, which shall be payable to the clerk of court. The costs shall be paid at the time the written request for the recount is filed with the clerk of court and shall be paid in cash or by certified or cashier's check on a state or national bank or credit union, United States postal money order, or money order issued by a state or national bank or credit union.

(ii) If the recount changes the outcome of the election, the costs paid by the candidate or voter in the proposition election shall be refunded by the clerk of court, and the costs of the recount shall be a reimbursable election expense as provided in Chapter 8-A of this Title.

(3) A candidate or his representative, in the presence of a majority of the parish board of election supervisors, shall be allowed to inspect the certificates removed from the valid absentee by mail ballots and from the valid early voting ballots. All such inspections shall be held at a time set by the secretary of state, in conjunction with the registrar of voters and the clerk of court, or following the recount of absentee by mail and early voting ballots on the fifth day after the election and at any time ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. If the fifth day after the election falls on a holiday or weekend, the inspection shall be held on the next working day at a time set by the secretary of state, in conjunction with the registrar of voters and the clerk of court, or following the recount of absentee by mail and early voting ballots. Any written request for inspection shall be filed with the clerk of court. The deadline for filing a request for inspection shall be 4:30 p.m. on the third calendar day after the election. Immediately upon receiving any request, the clerk of court shall prominently post in his office a notice of the time and place where the inspection will occur and the name of the candidate requesting the inspection. The candidate requesting the inspection shall be responsible for all reasonable costs associated with the inspection, which shall be payable to the clerk of court. The costs shall be paid at the time the written request for the inspection is filed with the clerk of court and shall be paid in cash or by certified or cashier's check on a state or national bank or credit union, United States postal money order, or money order issued by a state or national bank or credit union.

(4) The parish board of election supervisors shall be entitled to reimbursement at the rate established in R.S. 18:423(E) for attending the recount of absentee by mail and early voting ballots and inspection, but not both if they are conducted on the same day. However, such reimbursement shall not be counted toward the limitation provided in R.S. 18:423(J). No member of the parish board of election supervisors shall be reimbursed for attending a recount of absentee by mail an early voting ballots or inspection if such member received reimbursement for attending the reinspection of voting machines which was conducted on the same day as the recount of the absentee by mail and early voting ballots or inspection.

Acts 2020, No. 354, §1, eff. June 12, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 381, §1, eff. June 17, 2021; Acts 2021, No. 423, §1; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 321, §1; Acts 2024, No. 754, §1; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:52 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 52
Qualifications of registrars
Status: in_force

A. Each applicant to fill the office of registrar of voters shall be a registered voter. If appointed to fill the office of registrar of voters, the applicant shall become a resident and registered voter of the parish in which he is to perform his duties prior to taking the oath of office. The registrar shall remain a resident and qualified voter of the parish in which he is to perform his duties.

B.(1) The registrar shall possess at least one of the following at the time of appointment:

(a) A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and two years of full-time, professional work experience.

(b) An associate degree from an accredited institution and four years of full-time, professional work experience.

(c) Seven years of full-time, professional work experience.

(d) Five years of full-time employment in a registrar's office in Louisiana.

(2) For purposes of this Subsection, "professional work experience" means experience in an occupation which requires specialized and theoretical knowledge usually acquired through college training or through work experience and other training which provides comparable knowledge.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2016, No. 414, §1, special eff. date.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1311 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1311
List of absentee by mail and early voters; posting; delivery of alphabetized list to precincts; supplements; absentee by mail voter report
Status: in_force

A.(1) The registrar shall keep a list containing the names of all persons who vote by early voting ballot during early voting and of those whose absentee ballots by mail he has received. He shall ensure that the list is available for inspection by members of the public at the principal office of the registrar when the office is open. After the last day for early voting, the registrar shall prepare a list, arranged alphabetically by precinct, of the names of all persons who have voted during early voting or from whom absentee ballots by mail were received on or before the last day for early voting. The registrar shall ensure that the list is available for inspection by members of the public at the principal office of the registrar when the office is open and retain a copy of the list for use by the parish board of election supervisors on election night.

(2) The registrar shall prepare a supplemental list, arranged alphabetically by precinct, of the names of all persons from whom absentee ballots by mail have been received after the last day for early voting and before election day. The registrar shall deliver the supplemental list for each precinct to the parish custodian. The parish custodian shall then deliver the supplemental list for each precinct to the deputy parish custodian appointed for that precinct when the key envelopes are delivered as provided in R.S. 18:553(A). The registrar shall ensure that the list is available for inspection by members of the public at the principal office of the registrar when the office is open and retain a copy of the supplemental list for use by the parish board of election supervisors on election night.

(3)(a) The lists produced pursuant to Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection shall be posted on the website of the secretary of state at least until the election returns have been promulgated.

(b) The registrar shall post notice at the entrance to his office informing the public of the availability of the lists produced pursuant to Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection.

B. The registrar shall include the first absentee ballot received from a person voting by mail, if timely received, with those to be counted by the board. Any second or subsequent ballot received from such person shall be considered not timely received.

C. The registrar shall print an absentee by mail voter report from the state voter registration computer system listing all voters from whom he has received absentee by mail ballots before election day; he shall certify to the correctness of the report and deliver the report to the parish board of election supervisors on election day for use in the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail ballots.

D.(1)(a) Any absentee ballot submitted by a member of the United States Service or person who resides outside of the United States who has made application to vote absentee by mail timely and which ballot is received by the registrar on election day shall be endorsed with the day and hour of receipt and shall be segregated from and kept separately from any other absentee by mail ballot received on or after election day.

(b) For any voter hospitalized who has made timely application to vote absentee in accordance with R.S. 18:1303(D)(1) and whose absentee ballot is received by the registrar on election day, either by hand delivery or facsimile transmission, such absentee ballot shall be endorsed with the day and hour of receipt and shall be segregated from and kept separately from any other absentee mail ballot received on or after election day.

(2) Upon receipt of any such absentee by mail ballot, the registrar shall include, on a separate list prepared for this purpose, in alphabetical order and by precinct, the name of any such voter in each precinct.

(3) The registrar shall immediately notify the commissioner-in-charge at each precinct for which a name appears on the list.

(4)(a) If the voter has not voted in person at the precinct, the registrar shall instruct the commissioner-in-charge to mark "voted by mail" in the place where the voter would ordinarily sign the precinct register and to initial the precinct register opposite the words "voted by mail". The registrar shall then include the first absentee by mail ballot received, if received timely, with those to be counted by the board, or, if the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots has commenced, shall transmit such ballot to the board to be counted. Any second or subsequent ballot received from such person shall be considered as not timely received. Accompanying any such absentee by mail ballot shall be a statement certified by the registrar that he has verified that such voter has not voted in person at the precinct where he is registered to vote.

(b) If the voter has voted in person at the precinct, the registrar shall write across the ballot the words "rejected, voted at precinct" and shall include such ballot with all other mail ballots received on or after election day, to be kept unopened for six months, and destroyed.

(5)(a) Upon receipt of the special ballot for members of the United States Service and persons residing outside of the United States, the registrar shall endorse the day and hour of receipt on said ballots and place those received on the day of the election for which the ballot is cast, in an envelope separate from any other mail ballot. The registrar shall include, on a separate list for this purpose, in alphabetical order and by precinct, the name of each voter submitting such special absentee by mail ballot.

(b) Each envelope containing such ballot shall remain sealed until the registrar, after the close of polls on election day, has verified with the commissioner-in-charge at each precinct for which a name appears on the list whether or not such voter has voted in person at that precinct.

(c) If the voter has not voted in person at the precinct, the first special ballot received from the voter by the registrar, if timely received, shall be counted and tabulated in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter relative to absentee mail ballots.

E. The commissioners at the polling place shall use the supplemental list provided for in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section to ensure that persons who have voted absentee by mail do not vote in person at the polls on election day.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978, Amended by Acts 1977, No. 513, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 76, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1985, No. 755, §1; Acts 1986, No. 425, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1992, No. 438, §1, eff. June 20, 1992; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 220, §§1, 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2012, No. 213, §1, eff. May 22, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 395, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2018, No. 425, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1407 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1407
Appointment of agent for service of process
Status: in_force

By filing notice of candidacy, a candidate appoints the clerk of court for each parish in which the candidate is to be voted on as his agent for service of process in any action objecting to his candidacy, contesting his qualification as a candidate in a second party primary or general election, or contesting his election to office.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2024, No. 640, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §4, eff. June 20, 2025 .
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1461.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1461.2
Election offenses affecting registration and election fraud or forgery; penalties
Status: in_force

A. No person shall knowingly, willfully, or intentionally:

(1) Vote or attempt to vote more than once at an election.

(2) Vote or attempt to vote, knowing that he is not qualified, or influence or attempt to influence another to vote, knowing such voter to be unqualified or the vote to be fraudulent.

(3) Register, vote, or attempt to register or vote in the name of another or in an assumed or fictitious name, or in any manner other than as provided in this Title.

(4) Forge the name of another or use a fictitious name on an affidavit or document required under this Title.

(5) Procure or submit voter registration applications that are known by the person to be materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent.

(6) Forge, alter, add to, deface, take, destroy, or remove from proper custodial care any book, card, record, voter registration application, election return, nomination papers, withdrawals of candidacy, election supplies, election paraphernalia, or any affidavit or other document required or provided for under the provisions of this Title, unless required to be removed by a court of competent jurisdiction for inspection and photostatic copying for the court record.

(7) Have in his possession an official ballot in violation of any provision of this Title.

(8) Have in his possession the registration certificate of another with intent to violate any provision of this Title.

(9) For purposes other than fulfilling the person's duties relative to registration of voters as provided by law, copy or reproduce a voter registration application that has been submitted by an applicant.

(10) Fill out information on another person's voter registration application, except when providing assistance to an applicant in the manner authorized by this Title.

B. Whoever violates any provision of this Section shall be subject to the penalty provisions of R.S. 14:133.1.1.

Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2024, No. 350, §2; Acts 2024, No. 701, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1353 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1353
Secretary of state; powers and duties; voting systems and system components; voter registration
Status: in_force

A. The secretary of state shall administer the laws relating to the custody of voting machines and relating to voter registration.

B.(1) The secretary of state shall promulgate uniform rules and regulations with respect to matters pertaining to the certification standards and requirements, the procurement, the preparation, and use of voting systems in the conduct of elections and the duties of each category of persons charged with responsibility for any matter relating to the voting systems in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and subject to the oversight of the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs. Prior to final promulgation, the proposed rules and regulations shall be approved by the attorney general for uniformity and compliance with the provisions of this Title. The final rules and regulations shall be distributed by the secretary of state to the election officials having responsibilities relating to elections and applied uniformly throughout the state.

(2) The rules and regulations for voting systems promulgated pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall at a minimum provide for each of the voting system requirements set forth in R.S. 18:1366 and the following:

(a) Standards and procedures for usability, accessibility, durability, accuracy, efficiency, and capacity.

(b) Standards and procedures for the control and auditability of voter-verified paper records.

C. In addition to any other duties and functions provided by law, the secretary of state shall:

(1) Determine general policy and supervise the administration and execution of the laws relating to voting systems.

(2) Be responsible for coordinating with the office of state procurement with regard to all procurement, sales, and transfers of voting systems and system components and for all matters pertaining to the issuance of competitive bids or requests for proposals.

(3)(a) Maintain, repair, and store, as provided by law, all voting machines and have custody of them, except when, in accordance with law, the machines are placed in the direct charge and supervision of the parish custodian or of the election commissioners, except as otherwise provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph.

(b) Maintain and repair all voting machines used for early voting and absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment and designate the registrar of voters in each parish to store all such voting machines and absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment, except when, in accordance with law, such voting machines and absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment are placed in the direct charge and supervision of the parish custodian.

(4) Prepare all machines necessary for each election and deliver the machines and other election supplies, in addition to those supplies he is required to supply to the parish custodian under R.S. 18:552, to the custody of the parish custodian in complete readiness for use at the polls.

(5) Adopt and implement uniform policies and procedures for the conduct of a post-election tabulation audit of paper ballots and records related thereto.

D. The secretary of state shall appoint or employ mechanics, experts, and other assistants when necessary in order to assume the maintenance, upkeep, and proper functioning and operation of the machines, or when necessary in order to explain and demonstrate to the election officials or to the public the proper method of operation of the machines.

E. On the day of each election the secretary of state shall have mechanics and experts available at suitable and convenient places for the purpose of repairing or adjusting any machine which needs repair or adjustment during election day. During this time each of them shall be under the supervision and control of the parish custodian of voting machines.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 873, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §1, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002, and §2, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 220, §§1, 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §§2, 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2021, No. 480, §1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 741, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2023.

NOTE: See Acts 2022, No. 741, §2, regarding delayed implementation of R.S. 18:1353(C)(5).
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1400.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1400.2
Election costs paid by secretary of state; governing authorities; reimbursement
Status: in_force

A. The costs of publication of the location of polling places; of renting polling places; of drayage; of setting up voting machines; of compensating commissioners and deputy parish custodians; and of transmitting election returns for gubernatorial and congressional elections, whether or not a gubernatorial or congressional candidate appears on the ballot, shall be paid by the state from funds appropriated to the secretary of state for that purpose, except that when a local or municipal candidate or a local bond, debt, tax, proposition, or question also appears on the ballot, the state shall be required to pay one-half of such costs. The remaining one-half shall be prorated between the state and all local or municipal entities participating in such election. In the case of the offices of justice of the peace and constable of a justice of the peace court, the costs shall be prorated to the parish governing authority. The pro rata share of a local or municipal entity shall be determined by dividing the number of that entity's offices, propositions, or questions on the ballot by the total number of all offices, propositions, or questions on the ballot within that local jurisdiction.

B.(1) The cost of publication of the location of polling places; of renting polling places; of drayage; of setting up voting machines; of compensating commissioners and deputy parish custodians; and of transmitting election returns for any special election when any of the following appear on the ballot shall be paid by the state from funds appropriated to the secretary of state for that purpose:

(a) A state candidate, as defined in R.S. 18:452(1).

(b) A candidate for the state legislature.

(c) A candidate for judge of a judicial district court or juvenile court or a candidate for judge of the criminal district or civil district court for Orleans Parish.

(d) A candidate for the office of district attorney.

(e) A proposed constitutional amendment.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1), when a local or municipal candidate or a local bond, debt, tax, proposition, or question also appears on the ballot, the state shall be required to pay one-half of such costs. The remaining one-half shall be prorated between the state and all local or municipal entities participating in such election. In the case of the offices of justice of the peace and constable of a justice of the peace court, the costs shall be prorated to the parish governing authority. The pro rata share of a local or municipal entity shall be determined by dividing the number of that entity's offices, propositions, or questions on the ballot by the total number of all offices, propositions, or questions on the ballot within that local jurisdiction.

C.(1) The cost of publication of the location of polling places; of renting polling places; of drayage; of setting up voting machines, which cost shall be ten dollars per machine; of compensating commissioners and deputy parish custodians; and of transmitting election returns for any election not provided for in Subsections A and B of this Section shall be paid by the appropriate governing authority that relates to the character of office or issue involved in such election. In the case of the offices of justice of the peace and constable of a justice of the peace court, the costs shall be prorated to the parish governing authority. Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, if more than one governing authority is involved in an election, a statement of such expenses shall be transmitted to each governing authority involved in the election and payment thereof shall be prorated among the governing authorities as equitably as possible.

(2) To administratively facilitate the payment of costs with respect to elections as provided in this Subsection, the secretary of state may initially pay such costs; however, the appropriate governing authority shall reimburse all such costs to the secretary of state, who shall remit all such funds to the state treasurer. If more than one governing authority is involved in an election, the secretary of state shall prorate its reimbursable costs among the governing authorities as equitably as possible.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 681, §1, eff. July 21, 1983. Acts 1986, No. 426, §1; Acts 1986, No. 783, §1, eff. July 10, 1986; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 963, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2015, No. 269, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2016, and §2, eff. Dec. 31, 2017.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1921 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1921
Applicability
Status: in_force

This Chapter applies to any local governing body, including but not limited to any police jury, city or parish council, or school board, which is required under the constitution or laws of this state or of the United States to reapportion its voting districts following each decennial census.

Acts 1984, No. 672, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1307.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1307.2
Procedure for absentee voting by member of sequestered jury
Status: in_force

Upon the request of a person selected to serve as a member of a jury which is sequestered on the day of an election and who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the provisions of R.S. 18:1303(C), the court shall so inform the registrar of voters in writing and shall order that the officer of the court in charge of the jury:

(1) Permit the jurors to make application to vote by absentee ballot as set forth in R.S. 18:1307.1 and provide the jurors with the materials needed to make application.

(2) Deliver all of the applications to the registrar of voters no later than noon on the day of the election.

(3) Obtain from the registrar of voters and deliver to the applicants necessary instructions, certificates, ballots, and envelopes as provided in R.S. 18:1308.1(A).

(4) Deliver to the registrar of voters the envelopes containing absentee ballots as set forth in R.S. 18:1308.1, prior to the closing of the polls.

Added by Acts 1981, No. 475, §1; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:572 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 572
Transmission of election returns; voting machine keys; machine certificates
Status: in_force

A.(1) After the results are printed from the voting machines and all election paperwork is complete, the commissioner-in-charge shall immediately deliver to the clerk of court in a clear plastic zipper bag the following:

(a) The envelope marked "Secretary of State's Envelope".

(b) The completed and signed key envelope for the voting machines.

(c) The original of the machine certificates.

(d) The original affidavit of payroll and nondisclosure for the commissioners.

(e) One copy of the official election results report from the voting machines.

(f) A copy of each completed notation of irregularities form.

(g) All election result cartridges, if applicable.

(h) For a federal election, the return provisional ballot envelope containing all voted provisional ballots and unused provisional ballots and envelopes.

(i) A duplicate record of each challenge.

(2)(a) Upon receipt of the items listed in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the clerk of court shall affix the time of receipt upon the election documents which contain election results. The clerk of court shall make a copy of the election results available to the press and public.

(b) For a federal election, the clerk of court shall deliver to the registrar of voters the return provisional ballot envelope containing all voted provisional ballots not later than 8:30 a.m. on the first business day following the election.

B. The commissioner-in-charge shall complete the procedures prescribed by this Section not later than midnight on the day of the election. Failure to comply with this time limit shall not void the election.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981. Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1985, No. 754, §2; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 1381, §1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2006, No. 403, §2, eff. Jan 1, 2007; Acts 2007, No. 240, §2; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2018, No. 584, §2; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2024, No. 390, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1511.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1511.2
Supervisory committee; rulemaking authority; advisory opinions; inquiries; duties
Status: in_force

A. The supervisory committee may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act necessary to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Chapter. Such rules shall be in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter and may include but shall not be limited to any rule to:

(1) Provide for operations of the committee and for committee investigations and proceedings pursuant to this Chapter.

(2) Clarify a provision of this Chapter.

(3) Define a term used in this Chapter.

(4) Apply a general provision of this Chapter or of a committee rule or regulation to specific circumstances.

(5) Repealed by Acts 2014, No. 857, §3.

B. The supervisory committee may render an advisory opinion concerning the application of a general provision of this Chapter, or a general provision prescribed as a rule or regulation by the committee. The supervisory committee shall publish its advisory opinions on the Board of Ethics website in an easily searchable format. The supervisory committee may render an opinion in response to a request by any public official, any candidate for public office, any committee, or the supervisory committee may render an advisory opinion on its own initiative. Such an opinion shall not constitute a rule under the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act and the supervisory committee shall not be subject to that Act in carrying out the provisions of this Subsection.

C. The supervisory committee or the staff of the supervisory committee may request clarification or additional information from a candidate, political committee, or other person required to file reports pursuant to this Chapter, regarding any information disclosed on a report or that is required to be disclosed on a report.

D. The supervisory committee shall submit an annual report to the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs including a detailed statement regarding the activities of the supervisory committee in carrying out its duties, recommendations for legislative or other action as the supervisory committee considers appropriate, and all of the following information:

(1) Aggregated data regarding investigations, including:

(a) Aggregated data regarding the number of complaints received.

(b) Aggregated data regarding the number and length of investigations.

(c) Aggregated data regarding the number and amount of fines and fine waivers.

(d) Aggregated data regarding the number and nature of court and supervisory committee proceedings regarding investigations.

(e) Aggregated data regarding categories of alleged violations yielding investigations.

(2) Aggregated data regarding charges issued, including:

(a) Aggregated data regarding the number of charges.

(b) Aggregated data regarding the length of proceedings resulting from charges issued.

(c) Aggregated data regarding categories of alleged violations yielding charges.

(3) Judgments and opinions issued by the supervisory committee and state and federal courts interpreting this Chapter.

(4) Federal Election Commission rulemakings regarding provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.

(5) Federal appellate court and state supreme court constitutional jurisprudence regarding the regulation of campaign finance.

E. The supervisory committee shall prepare and distribute to the general public through the offices of the clerks of court and in Orleans Parish the office of the clerk of the criminal district court and on its website, booklets of explanation and instruction concerning the provisions of this Chapter in such a manner as to inform the public of the procedures and requirements of this Chapter. The supervisory committee may publish and distribute additional material to assist persons in complying with the provisions of this Chapter.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 2014, No. 657, §1; Acts 2014, No. 857, §3; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:201 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 201
Change of address caused by action of a parish or municipal governing authority; use of information furnished by U.S. Postal Service
Status: in_force

A. When the governing authority of a parish or municipality renames a street or road, or assigns a name to a previously unnamed street or road, or reassigns numbers of buildings or lots on a street or road, or assigns numbers to previously unnumbered buildings or lots on a street or road, the governing authority shall transmit a certified report of such action to the registrar of voters of the parish in accordance with the provisions of Subsection B of this Section.

B.(1) The report shall include but not be limited to:

(a) The prior name and new name of the street or road which was renamed.

(b) The prior official designation and new name of the road or street to which a name has been assigned.

(c) The prior numbers and new numbers of dwellings on roads or streets on which the dwellings have been renumbered.

(d) The prior designation, if any, and new numbers of previously unnumbered dwellings on a street or road assigned numbers.

(2) The information required by this Section shall be arranged in a format which will allow the registrar to correlate the name of each occupant with the previous address of such person prior to the action of the governing authority and the new address assigned by the governing authority.

(3) The information required by this Section shall be complete through the date of transmittal to the registrar, which shall be not later than the tenth day after the changes in names of streets or roads or numbers of dwellings become effective.

C.(1) When the registrar determines from the reports required by this Section that the address of a voter has been changed by action of the governing authority of a parish or municipality and that the change was not caused by a change in the place of residence of the voter, the registrar may change the registration records of each voter affected by such action of the governing authority for the sole purpose of correcting the address of the voter on those records.

(2) The registrar may make the changes authorized by this Subsection without authorization of the voter, but notice of such change shall be mailed to the voter not later than ten days after the change is made.

D.(1) The registrar may solicit and receive information relative to rural route changes, number changes, and other address changes imposed by action of local authorities of the United States Postal Service. When the information received from the United States Postal Service indicates that the address of a voter has been changed by action of the postal authority or for any reason except by a change in the place of residence of the voter, the registrar shall change the registration records of the voter affected for the sole purpose of correcting the address of the voter on those records.

(2) The registrar may make the change authorized by this Subsection without authorization of the voter, but notice of the change shall be mailed to the voter not later than ten days after the change is made.

E. The registrar may solicit and receive information from the United States Postal Service relative to address changes caused by a change in the place of residence of the voter. Upon receipt of any address change furnished by the United States Postal Service under the provisions of this Subsection, the registrar shall follow the procedure set forth in R.S. 18:198.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:401.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 401.4
Emergency actions by the secretary of state
Status: in_force

A. After the issuance of an initial proclamation or executive order by the governor declaring a state of emergency within forty-five days prior to an election and if the secretary of state determines that such emergency impairs an election that may otherwise be held except for problems with respect to the relocation or consolidation of polling places within the parish, potential shortages of commissioners, or shortages of voting machines, the secretary of state shall submit notice of such problems and proposed solutions to both the House and Senate committees on governmental affairs as well as the governor's office. Following such notice, the secretary of state shall take necessary actions to ensure the successful execution of the election such as making reasonable adjustments to deadlines and provisions of equipment, staffing, and other resources to ensure a safe, secure, and accessible election.

B. Within fifteen days following the election, the Department of State shall provide a report to the legislature of actions taken pursuant to this Section.

Acts 2022, No. 528, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1484 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1484
Disclosure reports; persons required to file
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise specifically provided, the following persons or their treasurers, if any, shall file reports of contributions and expenditures as more specifically provided in this Chapter:

(1) Each candidate for major office or district office.

(2) Each candidate for any other public office who does either of the following:

(a) Makes expenditures in excess of five thousand dollars.

(b) Receives contributions in excess of five thousand dollars in the aggregate during the aggregating period. For purposes of this Paragraph only, a contribution by a candidate for his own campaign for a public office other than a major office or district office shall not be considered in determining whether the candidate has received a contribution in excess of five thousand dollars in the aggregate.

(3) Each committee.

(4) Any person other than a candidate or political committee required to file reports under the provisions of Part IV of this Chapter.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Acts 1988, No. 994, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 2007, No. 144, §1, eff. June 25, 2007; Acts 2012, No. 411, §1; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1901 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1901
Purpose
Status: in_force

It is the purpose of this Chapter to provide for participation by the state of Louisiana in programs of the Bureau of the Census of the United States Department of Commerce which provide for furnishing census information to the states for purposes of reapportionment, pursuant to federal laws for that purpose.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 626, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1976. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 559, §1, eff. July 22, 1982.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:503.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 503.1
Notice of cancellation of proposition
Status: in_force

A. If the early voting election ballot was prepared with a proposition that has been canceled, the registrar of voters of any parish where such ballot will be used shall, to the extent possible and upon direction of the secretary of state, cause notice to be posted of the cancellation of the proposition at any location for early voting where the proposition appears on the ballot.

B. If the election ballot was printed with a proposition that has been canceled, the clerk of court of any parish where such ballot will be used shall, to the extent possible and upon direction of the secretary of state, cause notice to be posted of the cancellation of the proposition at any polling place where the proposition appears on the ballot. Such notice shall be posted or placed adjacent to the precinct register so that it is clearly visible. The notice shall be capitalized and in bold typed print of not less than fourteen-point font.

Acts 2020, No. 35, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:110 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 110
Removal from precinct; removal from parish
Status: in_force

A.(1) At any time prior to closing of registration for any election a registrant who changes his residence within the parish may change his registration without reregistering by making application by mail or electronically to the registrar or by appearing in person at the office of the registrar.

(2) Upon receipt of an application for a change of registration, the registrar shall compare the signature on the application with the signature on the original application card, any subsequent signature in the records of the registrar, or the signature on any microfilm, microfiche, or scanned or electronically captured computerized images of documents in the records of the registrar. If the signatures are sufficiently alike to identify the applicant as the registered voter, the change shall be made and the date of the change of residence and the new ward and precinct shall be recorded in the registrant's information on the state voter registration computer system and, if the original application is available in hard copy in the registrar's office, on the original application form. If the application is signed by a mark witnessed by the signatures of two witnesses, the registrar shall make the change on the basis of the application.

(3) Repealed by Acts 2023, No. 91, §2, eff. June 6, 2023.

B.(1) A change of registration based upon a change of residence within a parish received after the closing of registration for a primary election shall become effective the day after the general election or special general election when a special primary election is held in conjunction with a general election except as follows:

(a) A person whose registration has been canceled pursuant to R.S. 18:193(G).

(b) A person whose registration has been canceled or whose address has been corrected pursuant to R.S. 18:196(C).

(2) The change of residence of a registrant from one precinct to another in the same parish does not deprive him of the right to remain as a legal registrant, as to all issues upon which he was entitled to vote prior to his change of residence, in the precinct from which he has removed until he changes his registration as provided in Subsection A of this Section and has the right to vote in the precinct to which he has moved.

(3) However, in a regularly scheduled general election where the only candidate's election appearing on any ballot in the parish is a special primary election, then in such instance, the change shall become effective prior to the special primary election. In a regularly scheduled or special general election, where the change of registration does not change any issues or candidate offices upon which the voter was entitled to vote prior to the change, the change shall become effective prior to the regularly scheduled or special general election.

C. The removal from one parish to another parish does not deprive any registrant of the right to remain a legal registrant in the parish from which he has removed, as to all issues upon which he was entitled to vote prior to his change of residence, until he registers and has the right to vote in the parish to which he has moved or until three months after he moved, whichever is sooner.

D. Any registrant may have his name cancelled from the file of eligible voters by filing a signed written statement of such request with the registrar of voters for the parish in which the registrant is registered.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1993, No. 157, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2007, No. 448, §1; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 186, §2, eff. June 29, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2023, No. 91, §2, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 390, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1905 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1905
Cooperation of local governments and officials
Status: in_force

All parish and municipal governing authorities and officials shall cooperate with the secretary of the Senate and clerk of the House of Representatives in carrying out the purposes of this Chapter and shall furnish to the secretary and clerk upon request such information as may be required by the census bureau, including but not limited to precinct maps.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 626, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1976. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 559, §1, eff. July 22, 1982.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:173 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 173
Deaths
Status: in_force

A. Within thirty days after receipt of a certified copy of a death certificate, the registrar of voters shall remove from the voter registration rolls the name of the deceased.

B. Repealed by Acts 2024, No. 390, §3.

C.(1) By the tenth day of each month, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health shall send to the Department of State a report, certified as correct over his signature or the signature of his authorized representative, containing the name, address, date of birth, sex, social security number, place of birth, mother's maiden name, and alias name, as such information exists in the database of the Louisiana Department of Health, of any person sixteen years of age or older who died in each parish of the state within the preceding calendar month.

(2) Within thirty days after receipt of the report described in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the Department of State shall cancel the registration of any deceased person when the information provided by the Louisiana Department of Health corresponds exactly to the criteria for cancellation of voter registration as established by the secretary of state. The Department of State shall promptly notify the registrar of the parish in which the voter was registered of such cancellation.

(3) The information received from the Louisiana Department of Health regarding deceased persons whose registrations were not canceled pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection shall be sent monthly to the registrar of voters for each parish by the Department of State. Within thirty days after receipt of the report from the Department of State, the registrar of voters shall review the information received from the Louisiana Department of Health to determine if the matches of information are sufficient to cancel or challenge the registration of deceased persons.

D. The registrar of voters shall search obituaries for deceased persons whose registrations were not canceled. The registrar of voters shall use information from an obituary notice to cancel a deceased voter's registration if the notice provides sufficient information to properly identify the voter.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 544, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1032, §7; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2014, No. 173, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2015; Acts 2015, No. 307, §3, eff. June 29, 2015; Acts 2021, No. 364, §1, eff. June 1, 2022; Acts 2024, No. 390, §§1, 3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:62 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 62
Political activities prohibited
Status: in_force

A. No registrar of voters, deputy registrar, or other employee of a registrar who is in the unclassified state service shall participate or engage in: political activity, including his own or any other candidacy for election to public office; membership on any national, state, or local committee of a political party or faction; making or soliciting contributions for any political party, faction, or candidate; taking active part in the management of the affairs of a political party, faction, candidate, or any political campaign, except to exercise his right as a citizen to express his opinion privately and to cast his vote as he desires. As used in this Section, the term "political activity" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Article X, Section 9(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana.

B. All deputy registrars and other employees of a registrar who are in the classified state service shall be subject to the constitution and laws, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, affecting political activities by persons in the classified state service.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1989, No. 574, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:113.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 113.1
Denial or cancellation of registration; correction of errors
Status: in_force

If a person's registration was denied or cancelled and the registrar of voters determines that the registration was not processed correctly or was cancelled through an error of the registrar of voters, the registrar of voters shall process and approve the registration or correct the error and reinstate the registration.

Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:435 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 435
Watchers; appointment and commission
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a) Each candidate is entitled to have one watcher at every precinct on election day where the office he seeks is voted on in a primary or general election. The candidate or his authorized representative shall file one list of watchers on a form provided by the secretary of state or on a form which contains the same information as required by the form provided by the secretary of state. When a candidate's list of watchers is filed by the candidate's authorized representative, a letter of authorization from the candidate shall accompany the list of watchers; however, the list of watchers shall be signed by the candidate.

(b) In the case of a presidential election, each slate of candidates for presidential elector is entitled to have one watcher at every precinct. The state central committee of each recognized political party shall be responsible for filing the list of watchers for its slate of candidates for presidential elector, and the list of watchers shall be signed by the chairman of the state central committee. The list of watchers for a slate of candidates for presidential elector who are not affiliated with a recognized political party shall be signed and filed by any person so authorized by the presidential candidate supported by the slate of electors. A letter of authorization from the presidential candidate, or from an authorized agent of his campaign, shall accompany the list of watchers.

(2) In addition to the watchers provided for in Paragraph (1), each candidate may designate one watcher as a "super watcher" who shall have the qualifications, powers, and duties of watchers provided for by R.S. 18:427 and who shall be admitted as a watcher in every precinct in the designated parish where the office the candidate seeks is on the ballot in the primary and general election. The selection of the super watcher shall be made in the same manner as for watchers set forth in this Section.

(3) Any person who is supporting or opposing a proposition or question to be submitted to the voters or supporting or opposing the recall of a public officer and who has filed a report required by R.S. 18:1486 for such election is entitled to have one watcher at every precinct where the issue he seeks to influence is voted on in an election. For the purposes of this Subsection, "person" means any individual, partnership, association, labor union, political committee, corporation, or other legal entity, including its subsidiaries.

(4)(a) The parish executive committee of a recognized political party having at least twenty-five percent of the registered voters in the state registered as being affiliated with the political party is entitled to have political party super watchers in the parish if a candidate affiliated with the political party is on the ballot. The designation of political party super watchers shall be made in accordance with this Section and as provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph.

(b)(i) In a parish with fewer than fifty thousand registered voters, the parish executive committee of the recognized political party may designate one political party super watcher and one alternate political party super watcher.

(ii) In a parish with fifty thousand or more but fewer than one hundred thousand registered voters, the parish executive committee of the recognized political party may designate two political party super watchers and two alternate political party super watchers.

(iii) In a parish with one hundred thousand or more but fewer than one hundred fifty thousand registered voters, the parish executive committee of the recognized political party may designate three political party super watchers and three alternate political party super watchers.

(iv) In a parish with one hundred fifty thousand or more but fewer than two hundred thousand registered voters, the parish executive committee of the recognized political party may designate four political party super watchers and four alternate political party super watchers.

(v) In a parish with two hundred thousand or more registered voters, the parish executive committee of the recognized political party may designate five political party super watchers and five alternate political party super watchers.

(c) Each political party super watcher shall have the qualifications, powers, and duties of watchers provided for by R.S. 18:427 and shall be admitted as a watcher in every precinct in the designated parish where a candidate affiliated with his political party is on the ballot, except that not more than one political party super watcher may serve at a single precinct at the same time. Both a political party super watcher and an alternate political party super watcher may serve on election day, except that the political party super watcher and alternate political party super watcher may not serve at the same time and no more political party super watchers and alternate political party super watchers may serve at one time than the number of political party super watchers allowed in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph.

(d) The chairman of the parish executive committee of the political party shall sign and be responsible for filing the list of political party super watchers.

(e) The chairman of the state central committee of a recognized political party may designate super watchers for the parish, in accordance with this Section, in any parish without a parish executive committee of the recognized political party.

(5) The commissioners shall regulate the number of watchers inside the polling place as provided in R.S. 18:427.

B.(1)(a) A list of watchers shall be filed with the clerk of court by hand delivery, facsimile, mail, or commercial courier before 4:30 p.m. on the tenth business day before the party primary, primary, or general election; however, if the tenth business day before the party primary, primary, or general election falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, the list shall be filed on the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday. For purposes of this Paragraph, "commercial courier" shall have the same meaning as provided in R.S. 13:3204(D). If the office that the candidate seeks is voted on in more than one parish, a list of watchers shall be filed with the clerk of court in each parish where the candidate will have watchers.

(b) A list of watchers submitted by a candidate for the party primary or primary election may be used for the second party primary, primary, or general election only if the candidate notifies the clerk of court in writing by 4:30 p.m. on the tenth business day before the general election that he wants to use the same list of watchers.

(c) A list of political party super watchers submitted by a party for the party primary or primary election may be used for the second party primary, primary, or general election only if the chairman of the parish executive committee or the state central committee of the party notifies the clerk of court in writing by 4:30 p.m. on the tenth business day before the general election that the chairman wants to use the same list of political party super watchers.

(2) Except for a candidate, parish executive committee or state central committee of a recognized political party filing a list of political party super watchers, or recognized political party filing for a slate of candidates for presidential elector, any person filing a list of watchers shall attach a certified statement that the report required by R.S. 18:1486 has been filed with the supervisory committee in compliance with the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act.

(3) A list of watchers shall contain only one watcher and one alternate watcher for each precinct where the candidate or person submitting the list is entitled to have a watcher. The list shall be typed or legibly written, and it shall contain the name and mailing address of each watcher and alternate watcher, and a designation of the precinct where he is to serve.

C. The parish board of election supervisors shall promptly issue a commission to each watcher named on a timely filed list of watchers. A person shall not be commissioned as a watcher if he has been appointed as a commissioner-in-charge or selected as a commissioner in the same election. A person selected as an alternate commissioner may be commissioned as a watcher. However, if the alternate commissioner must replace an absent or unqualified commissioner, he shall not serve as a watcher in the same election and his commission as a watcher shall be deemed void. Prior to the opening of the polls on election day, the parish board of election supervisors shall deliver to each precinct a list of the watchers and alternate watchers who are entitled to serve at the election. The list shall specify the precinct or precincts for which each watcher is eligible to serve. A watcher must present his commission to the commissioner-in-charge of the precinct for which he is eligible to serve prior to serving at the polling place.

D. A candidate, or person as defined in Subsection A of this Section, shall be entitled to have both a watcher and an alternate watcher serve at the same precinct on election day. However, the watcher and alternate watcher may not serve at the same time.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 471, §1; Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978; Acts 1985, No. 58, §1; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 201, §1, eff. July 2, 1991; Acts 1993, No. 317, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1999, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2007, No. 240, §1; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2010, No. 759, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 307, §1, eff. June 29, 2015; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 381, §3, eff. Feb. 1, 2022; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022; Acts 2024, No. 583, §1; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2025, §2, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1463.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1463.1
Telephone campaign communications; disclosure
Status: in_force

A. The Legislature of Louisiana finds that the state has a compelling interest in protecting the integrity of the electoral process and in assuring that the voters are able to know who is responsible for telephone campaign communications in order to more properly evaluate the statements contained in them and to cast a more informed vote. The legislature further finds that it is essential to the protection of the electoral process to prohibit misrepresentation that a person, committee, or organization speaks on behalf of a candidate, political committee, or an agent thereof.

B.(1) No person shall make or cause to be made any telephone call or automated call expressly advocating support or opposition of a candidate, or elected public official, or ballot proposition unless the call identifies the source of the call as provided in this Section.

(2) The source of a call shall be identified as follows:

(a) If the call is paid for and authorized by a candidate, a principal or subsidiary committee of a candidate, or an agent of a candidate or of such a committee, the call shall clearly state that the call has been paid for by the candidate or the committee, as applicable.

(b) If the call is authorized by a candidate, a principal or subsidiary committee of a candidate, or an agent of a candidate or of such a committee, but is paid for by any other person, the call shall clearly state that the call is authorized by such candidate or committee, or agent on behalf of such candidate or committee, as applicable.

(c) If the call is authorized by a political committee that is not a principal or subsidiary committee of a candidate, or by an agent of such a committee, and is paid for by such committee or agent or by any other person, the call shall clearly state that the call is authorized by such committee.

(d) If the call is not authorized by a candidate, a principal or subsidiary committee of a candidate, any other political committee, or an agent of a candidate or of a political committee, and is paid for by any other person, the call shall clearly state who authorized the call.

(3) This Subsection shall not apply to:

(a) Any telephone call in which the individual making the call is not being paid and the individuals participating in the call knew each other prior to the call.

(b) Any telephone call or automated call that is conducted to collect information, including message testing, or for the purpose of polling respondents concerning a candidate, elected public official, or ballot proposition, which is a part of a series of like telephone calls that consists of fewer than one thousand five hundred completed calls that average more than two minutes in duration. Such a call is presumed to be a scientific poll and not a campaign communication subject to the provisions of this Subsection.

C.(1) No person shall make or cause to be made any telephone call or automated call that states or implies that the caller represents any candidate, political committee, or any other person or organization unless the candidate, political committee, person, or organization so represented has given specific approval to the person paying for the call in writing to make such representation. The person who pays for any call subject to the provisions of this Section shall maintain records of all such calls. The person shall also maintain a copy of all such written approvals he has received as required by this Paragraph and shall file a copy of each with the secretary of state before the calls authorized by such approval commence. The filing may be accomplished by facsimile transmission as long as within two days, exclusive of legal holidays, the original approvals received are forwarded by United States mail to the secretary of state.

(2)(a) No person shall make or cause to be made any telephone call or automated call supporting or opposing a candidate, with the knowledge and cooperation of a candidate or a political committee of a candidate, unless the person has received the prior written approval of such candidate or committee.

(b) A copy of each written approval required by this Subsection shall be filed with the secretary of state by the candidate prior to the time the calls authorized by such approval commence. The filing may be accomplished by facsimile transmission as long as within two days, exclusive of legal holidays, the original approvals received are forwarded by United States mail to the secretary of state.

D. For purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Automated call" includes any call using a prerecorded or artificial voice as part of a calling campaign to deliver information.

(2) "Candidate", "person", "political committee" or "committee", "principal campaign committee", "subsidiary committee", and "public office" shall have the meanings provided in R.S. 18:1483.

(3) "Elected public official" means an individual who holds public office.

(4) "Message testing" means studying for research purposes how individuals react to positive or negative information on a candidate, elected public official, or ballot proposition.

E. Whoever violates any provision of this Section may be punished by a civil fine not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars. Upon a second or subsequent violation, the penalty shall be a civil fine not to exceed five thousand dollars.

Acts 2008, No. 810, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:58 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 58
Powers and duties of registrars
Status: in_force

A. Subject to the direction of the secretary of state and as provided by law, the registrar in each parish shall be responsible for the registration of voters in the parish he serves and for the administration and enforcement of the laws and the rules and regulations of the secretary of state relating to the registration of such voters. He shall participate in the state voter registration computer system established pursuant to R.S. 18:31 and shall provide all necessary assistance to the secretary of state to effectuate the inclusion of his parish in that system.

B.(1) The registrar shall be responsible for conducting absentee by mail and early voting in the parish he serves, as provided by Chapter 7 of this Code.

(2) The registrar shall assign voters in the state voter registration computer system according to each voting district in the parish from which an election is to be conducted. For a primary election, the assignment of voters shall be completed on or before the fifth business day prior to the opening of qualifying for the primary election. For a general election, the assignment of voters shall be completed on or before the fifty-eighth day prior to the general election.

C. The registrar may administer any oath required by Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 7 of this Code.

D.(1) The registrar shall notify the secretary of state, or his designee, by telephone, electronic mail, or facsimile within twenty-four hours following the discovery of a cyber incident that impacts the office of the registrar, including but not limited to a computer system maintained by the secretary of state.

(2) As used in this Subsection, "cyber incident" means an event that may jeopardize the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of digital information or information systems.

E. The registrar shall appear before the parish governing authority upon the request of the parish governing authority.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 1989, No. 574, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1992, No. 978, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 312, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan.1, 2006; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014; Acts 2020, No. 217, §2; Acts 2024, No. 640, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 371, §1, eff. June 20, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 386, §4, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:466 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 466
Time for qualifying in a primary election
Status: in_force

A notice of candidacy, accompanied either by the qualifying fee or by a nominating petition, is filed timely only if received by the secretary of state, for state candidates, or by the clerk of court, for local or municipal candidates, during the qualifying period for candidates in the primary election.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:482 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 482
Number of candidates who may qualify for a general election
Status: in_force

Except in the case of a tie vote, the number of candidates for an office who may qualify for the general election is twice the number of persons remaining to be elected to the office.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:566.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 566.1
Provisional voting for federal office; order for extension of poll hours during an election for federal office
Status: in_force

A. If the poll hours in an election for federal office are extended as a result of a federal or state court order or any other order extending the time established for closing the polls, an individual who votes during the extension shall vote by provisional ballot for federal offices as set forth in R.S. 18:566(B).

B. Any provisional ballot cast pursuant to Subsection A of this Section shall be kept separate and placed by the appropriate election official in the envelope marked "Provisional Ballot - Extended Poll Hours", and shall be counted and tabulated as provided in R.S. 18:566.2.

Acts 2003, No. 423, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1306 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1306
Preparation and distribution of absentee by mail and early voting ballots
Status: in_force

A.(1) The secretary of state shall prepare absentee by mail and early voting ballots. The size and weight of paper, size and type of print, and other matters pertaining to absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be determined by the secretary of state, subject to approval as to content by the attorney general. All ballots and paraphernalia of the same kind shall be identical as to size and weight of paper, size, type, and color of print, and other matters, except for ballots transmitted electronically to members of the United States Service, as defined in R.S. 18:1302, and to persons residing outside the United States.

(2)(a) Each ballot shall have printed on its face instructions informing the voter of the types of marks which may be used on that ballot to indicate his vote.

(b) The instructions shall inform the voter that a combination of marks may not be used on the same ballot and that the use of more than one type of mark on the same ballot will result in that ballot being voided.

(3) A ballot shall be marked by the voter with a pencil containing black lead or a pen containing black or blue ink, and the instructions printed on the face of the ballot shall inform the voter of this requirement. The instructions printed on the face of the ballot shall also inform the voter concerning how to change or correct his vote on the ballot before it is cast and counted, including through the issuance of a replacement ballot if the voter is otherwise unable to change or correct his vote on the ballot.

(4) The secretary of state shall prepare a special absentee ballot for candidates and constitutional amendments to be voted on in general elections, subject to approval as to content by the attorney general. This special ballot shall only be for use by a qualified voter who is either a member of the United States Service or who resides outside of the United States. Such special ballot shall contain a list of the titles of all offices being contested at the primary election and the candidates qualifying for the primary election for each office, and shall permit the elector to vote in the general election by indicating his order of preference for each candidate for each office. On the special ballot shall also be printed each constitutional amendment to be voted on in the general election. To indicate his order of preference for each candidate for each office to be voted on in the election, the voter shall put the number one next to the name of the candidate who is the voter's first choice, the number two for his second choice and so forth so that, in consecutive numerical order, a number indicating the voter's preference is written by the voter next to each candidate's name on the ballot. A space shall be provided for the voter to indicate his preference for or against each constitutional amendment contained on the ballot. The voter shall not be required to indicate his preference for more than one candidate on the ballot if the voter so chooses. The secretary of state shall also prepare instructions for use of the special ballot, including instructions for voting by mail using an electronically transmitted ballot.

B.(1) The secretary of state shall prepare absentee by mail ballot envelopes, absentee by mail instructions, certificates, and other absentee by mail balloting paraphernalia consistent with the provisions of this Chapter, subject to approval of the attorney general as to content. The specifications of the absentee by mail ballot envelopes shall be determined by the secretary of state. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:1316 relating to distinguishing marks on absentee by mail ballots, absentee by mail voting instructions on absentee by mail ballots to be transmitted by facsimile in accordance with R.S. 18:1308(A)(1)(b) shall inform the voter of the types of marks which may be used on the ballot to indicate his vote. When a court of competent jurisdiction, a registrar of voters, the secretary of state, or other competent authority determines that there exists a literate linguistic minority equal to more than five percent of the total population of any parish, the secretary of state, with approval of the attorney general as to content, shall prepare and furnish absentee by mail and early voting ballots, absentee by mail and early voting instructions, and certificates in the minority language in sufficient quantity to provide to each absentee by mail and early voter requesting voting material in that language.

(2) The secretary of state shall include with the election paraphernalia accompanying absentee by mail ballots instructions, approved by the secretary of state and the attorney general, generally describing the particular absentee by mail counting equipment utilized in the election to count absentee by mail ballots. The instructions shall inform the voter how to cast his vote, which shall include if applicable instructions for marking the absentee by mail ballot and examples of the correct and incorrect methods of marking the ballot.

(3) The secretary of state shall prepare early voting ballots and include with the election paraphernalia accompanying early voting ballots instructions approved by the secretary of state and the attorney general, which generally describe the particular early voting counting equipment used in the election to count early voting ballots or voting machines used to cast early voting ballots. The instructions shall inform the voter how to cast his vote, which shall include if applicable instructions for marking the early voting ballot and examples of the correct and incorrect methods of marking the ballot.

C.(1) At least twenty days before each primary election and at least thirteen days before each general election, the secretary of state shall deliver to the registrar in each parish in which the election is to be held the paper absentee by mail ballots, envelopes, certificates, instructions to be used in voting an absentee by mail ballot in that election, and a statement, approved by the attorney general, explaining the scope and nature of any proposed constitutional amendment. The number of paper absentee by mail ballots and other necessary paraphernalia to be delivered shall be up to ten percent of the registered voters within each parish.

(2) At least twenty days before each primary election the secretary of state shall deliver to the registrar in each parish in which the election is to be held the special absentee ballot for qualified voters who are either members of the United States Service or persons residing outside of the United States. The number of special ballots and other necessary paraphernalia, including instructions for the use of the special ballot, to be so delivered shall be up to one percent of the registered voters within each parish.

D. An absentee by mail ballot envelope shall have printed on its face in red bold face type:

FOR BALLOT ONLY

VIOLATION OF ABSENTEE BY MAIL OR EARLY

VOTING LAWS VOIDS BALLOT

AND MAY RESULT IN CRIMINAL PENALTIES

VOTING AT POLLS AFTER VOTING ABSENTEE BY MAIL

OR DURING EARLY VOTING IS PROHIBITED

AND MAY RESULT IN CRIMINAL PENALTIES

E.(1) The secretary of state shall prepare an absentee by mail certificate, the content of which is subject to approval of the attorney general. The certificate shall include but not necessarily be limited to:

(a) The full name and place of residence of the voter in Louisiana, including state, parish, ward, precinct, city, and street.

(b) The statement of the voter certifying that he applied for the ballot, marked the enclosed ballot(s) himself or that they were marked for him according to his instructions and in his presence.

(c) The statement of the voter that he is entitled to vote at the precinct he names.

(d) Authorization to the parish board of election supervisors to open the ballot envelope and count his ballot.

(e) His mother's maiden name.

(f) An attestation followed by a line for the handwritten signature or mark of the voter, certifying that the statements made by him are true and correct and that the voter is aware of the penalties for knowingly making a false statement therein, which penalties shall be stated on the certificate.

(g) Repealed by Acts 2015, No. 307, §3, eff. June 29, 2015.

(h) Repealed by Acts 2005, No. 220, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2006.

(2)(a) The certificate shall also contain a line for the handwritten signature of one witness and a line for the printed name of the witness. The voter shall sign the certificate in the presence of one witness, and his certificate shall be made under penalty of perjury for providing false or fraudulent information. The voter shall include the completed certificate when mailing the ballot. No person except the immediate family member of the voter, as defined in this Code, shall witness more than one certificate of a voter.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, a member of the United States Service or person residing outside of the United States who is registered to vote shall not be required to sign the certificate in the presence of one witness, but his certificate shall be made under penalty of perjury for providing false or fraudulent information.

F. Repealed by Acts 2013, No. 395, §2, eff. June 18, 2013.

G. Repealed by Acts 2007, No. 240, §2.

H. Repealed by Acts 2005, No. 220, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2006.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 513, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1983; Acts 1982, No. 166, §1, eff. July 14, 1982; Acts 1985, No. 755, §1; Acts 1986, No. 425, §1; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1992, No. 438, §1, eff. June 20, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 949, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1032, §7; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §2, eff. July 3, 2003; Acts 2005, No. 220, §§1, 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2007, No. 240, §§1, 2; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 304, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2009, No. 436, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2010, No. 624, §1, eff. June 25, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 195, §1, eff. June 24, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 395, §§1, 2, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2015, No. 307, §§1, 3, eff. June 29, 2015; Acts 2016, No. 281, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2017; Acts 2020, No. 210, §1, eff. June 11, 2020; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:419.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 419.1
Applicability of Part
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the provisions contained in this Part shall be applicable in 2026 to the spring elections for municipal and ward officers, for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office, and for other elections held at the same time. It is the intent of the Legislature of Louisiana that the spring primary election occur on May 16, 2026, instead of April 18, 2026, and that the spring general election occur on June 27, 2026, instead of May 30, 2026. All other dates and deadlines related to the spring elections as provided for in this Code and not otherwise specifically provided for in this Part shall be calculated based upon the dates provided for in this Part.

Acts 2025, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. Oct. 30, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1461.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1461.3
Election offenses affecting election officials or watchers; penalties
Status: in_force

A. No person shall knowingly, willfully, or intentionally:

(1) Being an election official, permit fraudulent votes to be cast, or knowingly count votes not entitled to be cast.

(2) Fail, refuse, or neglect to discharge any duty imposed upon him, either individually or in an official capacity, by any provision of this Title.

(3) Supply a false answer or statement to an election official or in any document required by this Title, or execute an affidavit knowing it to contain false or incorrect information.

B. Whoever violates any provision of Subsection A of this Section shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars or be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years, or both.

C. No person shall knowingly, willfully, or intentionally:

(1) Being a registrar, deputy registrar, commissioner-in-charge or commissioner fail to identify an applicant to vote as required by this Title.

(2) Sign another voter's name in the precinct register.

(3) Attempt to influence an election official or watcher in the performance of his duties on election day.

(4) Disobey any lawful instruction of a registrar, deputy registrar, commissioner-in-charge or commissioner or a law enforcement officer providing assistance to maintain order at a polling place.

D. Whoever violates any provision of Subsection C of this Section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned in the parish jail for not more than six months, or both.

Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1491.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1491.5
Maintenance of records; valuation of in-kind contributions and expenditures
Status: in_force

A. The chairman of each committee and the treasurer shall be responsible for providing and maintaining such records of the finances of the committee as are necessary to comply with the provisions of this Part, including but not limited to the records specifically required by this Section.

B.(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the treasurer of each committee shall keep such records of contributions received and accepted by him or a deputy treasurer as shall be necessary to comply with the provisions of this Part, including the names and addresses of all contributors, and the date of each contribution, the amount or value of the contribution of whatever value, and a description and valuation of all in-kind contributions.

(2) Payments made to purchase raffle tickets or paraphernalia, other than expenditures made by a committee for its own paraphernalia, and payments for tickets to testimonials and similar fundraising events are contributions, and records thereof shall be maintained, provided that:

(a) In the case of any single transaction involving the sale of raffle tickets or paraphernalia which is for an amount not in excess of fifty dollars and the proceeds of which are received and deposited by a political committee, no record need be kept by the treasurer for such recipient committee, except the total amount received and deposited from such sale and the fact that such amount was received from such sale.

(b) No person shall sell or buy raffle tickets or paraphernalia in successive single transactions for amounts below those for which specific records are required by this Paragraph as a subterfuge to avoid requirements of this Part that names and addresses of contributors and dates and amounts of contributions be recorded, aggregated, and reported. Such transactions shall be considered single transactions and shall be recorded and reported as provided in this Part. Any person who violates the provisions of this Section shall be subject to the penalties provided in R.S. 18:1505.4, 1505.5, and 1505.6.

(3) The treasurer of each committee shall also keep such records of campaign expenditures made or contracted as shall be necessary to comply with the provisions of this Part, including the name and address of the person or firm from whom goods or services were purchased or contracted, the date, the amount or value and the purpose of the expenditure, a description of the goods or services purchased or contracted, and a description and valuation of all in-kind expenditures.

(4) All transactions involving the sale of tickets to a testimonial or similar fundraising event shall be evidenced by a record of the names and addresses of the purchasers, the amount of tickets purchased, and the value of the tickets purchased.

C. The valuation of in-kind contributions or expenditures shall be the estimated fair market value thereof at the time received and expended.

D. A record shall be kept of all expenditures made from the petty cash fund for which provision is made in R.S. 18:1491.4, including the name and address of the person or firm from whom goods or services were purchased or contracted, the amount and the purpose of the expenditure, and a description of the goods or services purchased or contracted. In addition, a receipt shall be kept for each such expenditure in any case in which a receipt would normally be provided in the usual course of business.

E. A record shall be kept of each loan made by the committee to or from any person or committee, together with the full name and address of the lender, of the recipient of the proceeds of the loan, and of any person who makes any type of security agreement binding himself or his property, directly or indirectly, for the repayment of all or any part of the loan. In addition, a record shall be kept of the repayment of each such loan and of the source of funds expended for repayment.

F. Repealed by Acts 1993, No. 199, §2, eff. June 1, 1993.

G. A record shall also be kept of:

(1) Cash investments and income received therefrom.

(2) All transfers of funds to or from another committee, the name and address of the committee to or from which the transfer is made and the date and amount thereof.

(3) All debts and obligations.

(4) The amount and date of each anonymous contribution and the date each is transmitted to the state as required by this Chapter.

(5) All other receipts, the name and address of the source, and the date and amount thereof.

(6) All other disbursements, the name and address of the person to whom made and the date and amount thereof.

H. Expenditures made by a public relations firm, an advertising agency, or agent for a committee shall be considered expenditures of the committee and must be specifically reported as required by this Part. Each such firm, agency, or agent shall timely furnish to such committee such information relative thereto as may be required for compliance with this Part. Failure by any such firm, agency, or agent to timely furnish a committee such information required for compliance with this Part shall be grounds for a civil action for damages.

I. A treasurer shall preserve records required by this Part for six years. However, a treasurer for a committee which supports only one candidate shall preserve such records for two years after the final report which he is required by this Part to file for the election has been filed, including any supplemental reports required.

J. The accounts and records kept by a treasurer under the provisions of this Part shall be available for inspection or use by the supervisory committee in connection with any investigation pursuant to this Chapter, or by any grand jury or court in connection with any proceeding instituted under the provisions of this Chapter; however, such accounts and records shall be kept strictly confidential by the supervisory committee and any court, except to the extent any contents thereof may become a public record in any judicial proceeding to enforce the provisions of this Chapter.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Acts 1988, No. 994, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1993, No. 199, §2, eff. June 1, 1993; Acts 2020, No. 161, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2021; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:49.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 49.1
Division of election integrity; powers and duties
Status: in_force

A. The division of election integrity is created in the Department of State. The purposes of the division shall be to:

(1) Initiate independent inquiries and conduct independent investigations into allegations of election irregularities in any municipality or parish of the state.

(2) Respond to notifications or complaints alleging election irregularities generated by election officials or any other person.

(3) Review notices and reports of election irregularities and conduct investigations of any incidents that it determines require further investigation.

B. For purposes of investigation, the division shall have the authority to:

(1) Issue subpoenas to compel the production of records and other documents from any registrar of voters.

(2) Receive sworn statements.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, an employee of the division, upon the receipt of a complaint of any election irregularity, may enter a polling place during early voting or on election day for the purposes of checking the overall operations of the polling place or investigating any potential violation of this Code.

D. If, during the course of investigation, the division determines that there may be a violation of any criminal law or provision of this Code, the findings of the investigation shall be turned over to the appropriate prosecutorial agency for further investigation or prosecution.

Acts 2004, No. 517, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2024, No. 264, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1303 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1303
Persons entitled to vote in compliance with this Chapter
Status: in_force

A. In person. Any person who is qualified to vote may vote during the early voting period at a place designated by the registrar as provided in R.S. 18:1309.

B. By mail. The following persons, otherwise qualified to vote, who expect to be out of the parish on election day, may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter:

(1) A member of the United States Service, as defined in R.S. 18:1302, and his spouse and dependents.

(2) A student, instructor, or professor in an institution of higher learning located outside the parish in which he is qualified to vote and who lives outside of said parish by reason thereof, and his spouse and any dependent accompanying and residing with him.

(3) A minister, priest, rabbi, or other member of the clergy assigned to a religious post outside the parish in which he is registered and his spouse and any dependents accompanying and residing with him.

(4) A person who is or who expects to be temporarily outside the territorial limits of the state or absent from the parish in which he is qualified to vote during the early voting period and on election day.

(5) A person who, after the registration books have closed as required by R.S. 18:135, has moved his residence to another parish and the new residence is more than one hundred miles from the parish seat of the parish of his former residence, in which case he may vote absentee by mail in the parish of his former residence.

(6) A person involuntarily confined in an institution for mental treatment outside the parish in which he is qualified to vote, who is not interdicted and not judicially declared incompetent.

(7) Repealed by Acts 1993, No. 418, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1994.

(8) A person residing outside the United States.

C. Sequestered jury member. A person who is otherwise qualified to vote, who is a member of a sequestered jury on election day, may vote absentee as provided in R.S. 18:1307.1, 1307.2, and 1308.1, upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter.

D. Hospitalized. (1) A person who is otherwise qualified to vote, who expects to be hospitalized on election day and who did not have knowledge of his proposed hospitalization until after the time for early voting had expired, may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter.

(2) A person who is otherwise qualified to vote, who expects to be hospitalized on election day and who was hospitalized during the time for early voting, may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter.

(3) A person who was hospitalized and released prior to an election but who is either hospitalized or restricted to his bed by his physician during early voting and is restricted to his bed by his physician on election day may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter.

E. Employed upon state waters. A person who by virtue of his employment or occupation expects to be out of his precinct of registration and upon the waters of the state both during the early voting period and on election day may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter.

F. Participants in former program for disabled voters. A person who lives at home and who prior to January 1, 2010, was approved by a parish board of election supervisors as being eligible to participate in the Special Program for Handicapped Voters as such program existed prior to January 1, 2010, may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter.

G. Persons incarcerated. A person incarcerated in an institution inside or outside the parish in which he is qualified to vote, who is not under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony, may only vote absentee by mail and only upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter and certification to the appropriate registrar by the sheriff of the parish where the person is incarcerated that he is not a convicted felon.

H. Confidentiality program. A person who is a program participant in the Department of State Address Confidentiality Program pursuant to R.S. 44:52 may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter. The program participant's substitute address shall be used for all purposes relative to voter registration and voting. A program participant's name and physical address shall not be included on any list of registered voters available to the public. A program participant shall not vote during early voting or in person at the polls on election day.

I. Voters with disabilities. (1) Any qualified voter who submits any of the following to the registrar of voters may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter:

(a) A copy of a current mobility impairment identification card bearing a photograph of the voter and the international symbol of accessibility issued by the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections as authorized by the provisions of R.S. 47:463.4.

(b) A copy of current documentation showing eligibility for social security disability benefits, veteran's disability benefits, paratransit services, benefits from the office for citizens with developmental disabilities, or benefits from Louisiana Rehabilitation Services.

(c) Current proof of disability from a physician, optometrist, physician assistant as defined in R.S. 37:1360.22, or nurse practitioner as defined in R.S. 37:913.

(2) Any voter who submits the information required by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection by mail to the registrar shall include a copy of his Louisiana driver's license, his Louisiana special identification card issued pursuant to R.S. 40:1321, or other generally recognized picture identification card that contains the name and signature of the voter or a form on which the voter has listed the names and addresses of at least two persons residing in his precinct who could make oath, if required, to the effect that the voter is physically disabled.

J. Senior citizen. A person who has attained the age of sixty-five years or more may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter.

K. Secretary of state and employees. The secretary of state or an employee of the secretary of state who is a qualified voter and who submits to the registrar of voters of the parish where he is registered to vote a copy of a state employee identification card may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter.

L. Employees of the registrar. An employee of the registrar of voters who is a qualified voter registered to vote in a parish other than his parish of employment and who submits to the registrar of voters of the parish where he is registered to vote a copy of an identification card showing employment with the registrar of voters may vote absentee by mail upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 299, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 513, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 106, §1; Acts 1981, No. 475, §1. Acts 1983, No. 500, §1, eff. July 6, 1983; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1985, No. 223, §1; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 748, §1; Acts 1992, No. 922, §1; Acts 1993, No. 418, §§1 and 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1032, §7; Acts 2005, No. 220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006 ; Acts 2006, No. 613, §2; Acts 2007, No. 124, §1; Acts 2008, No. 599, §1; Acts 2009, No. 436, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2014, No. 811, §9, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2018, No. 584, §1, eff. May 28, 2018; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1491.9 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1491.9
Joint fundraising; joint fundraising representative or committee; authority, requirements, and prohibitions
Status: in_force

A.(1) Committees may, pursuant to a written joint fundraising agreement, engage in joint fundraising efforts with other committees registered with the supervisory committee pursuant to this Chapter, committees registered with the Federal Election Commission, or with unregistered committees and organizations including any of the following:

(a) A principal campaign committee.

(b) A state party central committee, or committee designated thereby.

(c) A leadership committee.

(d) An independent expenditure-only committee.

(e) An organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(f) An entity that accepts contributions and makes expenditures for a gubernatorial transition and inauguration pursuant to R.S. 18:1501.3.

(2) For purposes of this Section, "participants" means all committees and organizations that enter into a joint fundraising agreement.

B.(1) Prior to engaging in joint fundraising activities, the participants shall execute a joint fundraising agreement. The agreement shall designate a joint fundraising representative as provided in Subsection C of this Section and establish an allocation formula as provided in Subsection E of this Section.

(2) The joint fundraising representative shall file the written agreement with the supervisory committee within ten days after the date that the agreement is executed. If a committee is designated as the joint fundraising representative, the committee chairman shall file the written joint fundraising agreement with the supervisory committee within ten days after the date that the agreement is executed or within ten days following the date that the committee's statement of organization is filed with the supervisory committee, whichever is later. A joint fundraising committee's statement of organization and written joint fundraising agreement may be filed electronically by facsimile or through the Board of Ethics Computerized Data Management System as provided in R.S. 18:1485 and R.S. 42:1158.

(3) The joint fundraising representative shall retain the written joint fundraising agreement for a period of at least six years following the last joint fundraising effort conducted pursuant to the agreement.

C. The participants shall designate a joint fundraising representative pursuant to one of the following:

(1) The participants may designate a person, including a professional fundraising firm, accounting firm, or other agent, to serve as the joint fundraising representative. In such case, each participant shall report the contributions received through a joint fundraising effort as if the contributions were received directly by the participant from the contributor and as if the participant's share of expenses of the joint fundraising effort were made directly by the participant, to be reported as an expenditure of the participant. Notwithstanding R.S. 18:1483(24), a person shall not be considered a political committee if acting solely as a financial agent to solicit and receive contributions for participants, distribute contributions to participants, or make expenditures on behalf of participants as provided in this Section.

(2) The participants may designate a political committee to serve as the joint fundraising representative, referred to in this Section as a "joint fundraising committee". A joint fundraising committee shall report all contributions made to the joint fundraising effort as contributions to the joint fundraising committee and shall report the distribution of proceeds pursuant to this Section as expenditures made to the participants pursuant to R.S. 18:1491.6, 1491.6.1, and 1491.7. Each participant shall report the amounts received from the joint fundraising committee as contributions from each contributor. The joint fundraising committee chairman shall be responsible for all duties of the joint fundraising representative provided for in this Section. Within ten days following the execution of the joint fundraising agreement, the joint fundraising committee shall file a statement of organization with the supervisory committee as provided in R.S. 18:1491.1.

D.(1) The joint fundraising representative shall make expenditures and shall collect contributions, pay fundraising costs from gross proceeds and from funds advanced by participants, and disburse net proceeds to each participant as provided in this Section.

(2) The joint fundraising representative shall be responsible for managing all joint fundraising activities, including but not limited to the following:

(a) Recordkeeping and reporting as required by this Chapter or federal law.

(b) Collecting all contributions on behalf of the participants.

(c) Paying all costs of the joint fundraising effort incurred with gross proceeds from the dedicated depository account or from funds contributed to the dedicated depository account by the participants.

(d) Distributing net proceeds to each participant according to the allocation formula or as otherwise provided in this Section.

E. The allocation formula adopted by the participants shall be stated in the written agreement as the amount or percentage of each contribution received to be allocated to each participant. If a participant participates solely for purposes of receiving contributions to retire outstanding debts, the allocation formula shall provide that if contributions allocated to the participant exceed the outstanding debts, the allocation formula shall be adjusted.

F. The joint fundraising representative shall establish a dedicated depository account to be used solely for the receipt of contributions received through the joint fundraising effort, the payment of costs associated with the joint fundraising effort, and distribution of contributions received to the participants. Only lawful contributions and advanced funds shall be deposited into the dedicated depository account.

G.(1) The fundraising representative shall collect and provide to participants all contributor information required by R.S. 18:1491.7.

(2) Participants shall provide to the joint fundraising representative all contributor information related to contributions received by the participant during the contribution period.

(3) Prior to distributing any contributions received through the joint fundraising effort, the joint fundraising representative and participants shall review contributor records and determine whether any contributions violate the provisions of this Chapter.

H.(1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the amount of funds advanced by each participant for fundraising costs shall be made in proportion to the allocation formula.

(2) A participant may advance more than its proportionate share of the fundraising costs, however, the amount advanced in excess of the participant's proportionate share shall be considered a contribution made to the other participants in accordance with the allocation formula, subject to the contribution limitations provided in R.S. 18:1505.2.

I.(1) A person not otherwise prohibited by this Chapter from making contributions to each participant may make a contribution to a joint fundraising effort, subject to the contribution limits provided in R.S. 18:1505.2.

(2) The maximum contribution that may be received by the joint fundraising representative from a contributor shall not exceed the contribution limitations set forth in R.S. 18:1505.2 for each participant in the aggregate less any contributions previously received by each respective participant from the specific contributor.

(3) Contributions may be designated by a contributor for a specific participant or participants. The calculation of the maximum contribution limitation for that specific contribution shall only include the maximum lawful amount for the participant or participants from the particular contributor.

(4) For purposes of calculating the maximum contribution limitation, gross proceeds shall be considered for the calculation of the amount of funds received by each participant.

J. The joint fundraising representative shall deposit all contributions received through the joint fundraising effort in the dedicated depository account. If one or more participants may lawfully accept contributions that another participant may not lawfully accept, the joint fundraising representative may either deposit such contributions in a second depository account established for that purpose or may forward such contributions directly to the appropriate participant or participants.

K.(1) The joint fundraising representative may distribute fundraising proceeds to participants only after sufficient contributions are received and correlating fundraising costs are paid.

(2) For reporting purposes, the date a contribution is deposited in the account of the party responsible for reporting the contribution shall be deemed the date of receipt of the contribution. For electronic transmission of a contribution, the date of the completed transmission to the party responsible for reporting the contribution shall be deemed the date of the receipt of the contribution.

(3) Participants shall report joint fundraising proceeds in accordance with R.S. 18:1491.6, 1491.6.1, and 1491.7 in the reporting period in which they are received by the participant. If any contributor's information is not known by the close of the reporting period, the participant or participants shall report all available information and amend the appropriate report once all contributor information is known, but no later than fifteen days after the close of the reporting period.

L.(1) Reallocation of surplus funds shall be based upon the remaining participants' proportionate shares under the allocation formula. However, if reallocation would result in a violation of a contribution limit provided in R.S. 18:1505.2 or federal law, the joint fundraising representative shall return to the contributor the amount of the contribution that exceeds the limit.

(2) Notwithstanding Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, designated contributions which exceed the contributor's limit to the designated participant may not be reallocated by the fundraising representative without the prior written permission of the contributor.

M.(1) Fundraising costs of a joint fundraising event shall be paid by the joint fundraising representative from the gross proceeds of the event.

(2) The joint fundraising representative shall calculate each participant's proportionate share of fundraising costs based on the allocation formula set forth in the joint fundraising agreement. If any contributions are received from prohibited sources and distributed only to participants that may lawfully accept such contributions or contributions are designated for a certain participant or participants, those funds shall not be included in gross proceeds for the purpose of allocating expenses.

(3) The joint fundraising representative shall calculate each participant's share of the proceeds by subtracting fundraising costs from the gross proceeds and allocating the remaining amount in accordance with the allocation formula.

(4) The costs from a series of fundraising events or activities shall be allocated among the participants of each individual event.

N. Any solicitation for contributions made pursuant to this Section shall include a joint fundraising notice. The notice may be made accessible via a hyperlink or QR code, provided the recipient shall take no more than one action to view the disclaimer. The notice shall include the following information:

(1) The names of all the participants of the joint fundraising effort.

(2) The allocation formula adopted by the participants.

(3) A statement that, notwithstanding the allocation formula, a contributor may designate a contribution for a particular participant or participants.

(4) A statement that contributions will be distributed in accordance with the allocation formula unless the distribution would exceed the maximum contribution that may be received by a participant, a participant is prohibited from accepting a contribution from the contributor, or the contribution is designated for a particular participant or participants.

(5) If one or more participants engage in a joint fundraising activity solely to receive contributions to pay outstanding debts, a statement informing contributors that the allocation formula may be adjusted if a participant receives sufficient contributions to pay its outstanding debts.

(6) A statement that contributions will be distributed only to those participants that may lawfully accept them.

O. The joint fundraising representative shall retain all records required by R.S. 18:1491.5 regarding disbursement of contributions for a period of at least six years following the date of the disbursement.

Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:54 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 54
Qualification; date; duplicate oath; bond; approval of bond; orientation and training
Status: in_force

A. Within thirty days after the date of his commission, each registrar shall qualify for office by subscribing to the oath of office prescribed by the constitution. The oath shall be filed with the clerk of court, and a duplicate original or a certified copy thereof shall be filed with the secretary of state. In a parish containing a municipality with a population of three hundred thousand or more, the oath shall be filed with the clerk of the civil district court. Each registrar also shall file with the secretary of state a bond, in favor of the governor and with security, for the faithful performance of the duties required of him and for the payment of such damages as may be sustained by his failure to discharge his duties. The sureties on the bond shall be with a company authorized to do business in Louisiana, and in each parish the bond shall be in the amount of five thousand dollars.

B. Each registrar appointed on or after January 1, 2022, shall complete orientation and training prepared by the secretary of state in conjunction with the Registrar of Voters Association and approved by the attorney general. Such orientation and training shall be conducted by the secretary of state.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 544, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1991, No. 277, §1; Acts 1992, No. 949, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Acts 2011, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 32, §1; Acts 2020, No. 165, §1; Acts 2021, No. 16, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:410.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 410.2
Party primary office; party primary qualifications
Status: in_force

Major political parties shall make nominations of candidates for party primary office as provided in this Part. Only candidates affiliated with a major political party may participate in the party primary election of the political party of the candidate's party affiliation.

Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2024, No. 640, §2, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §2, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:567.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 567.4
Computation of time
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in this Subpart, computation of all time intervals in this Subpart shall include Sundays and other legal holidays. However, if the time interval ends on a Sunday or other legal holiday, then noon of the next legal day shall be deemed to be the end of the time interval.

Acts 2003, No. 423, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:651 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 651
Applicability
Status: in_force

The provisions of this Subpart shall apply to all elected officials of this state and its political subdivisions. The provisions of this Subpart shall not apply to members of the congress.

Added by Acts 1978, No. 38, §1, eff. May 31, 1978; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:602 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 602
Vacancies in certain local and municipal offices; exceptions
Status: in_force

A. When a vacancy occurs in the office of a member of a parish or municipal governing authority or a combination thereof, a mayor, or any other local or municipal office, except an office covered by Subsections B and C of this Section and except the office of judge, state legislator, or marshal of a city or municipal court, and the office is filled by election wholly within the boundaries of a local governmental subdivision, the governing authority of the local governmental subdivision where the vacancy occurs shall within twenty days appoint a person to fill the vacancy who meets the qualifications of the office. However, if the deadline for making the appointment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for making such appointment. The presiding officer of the governing authority shall not be required to vote on such an appointment to be made by the governing authority of a local governmental subdivision unless a tie vote occurs thereon, in which case he shall vote to break the tie; however, in no case shall the presiding officer vote more than once on the appointment.

B. When a vacancy occurs in the membership of a city or parish school board, the remaining members of the board shall within twenty days declare that the vacancy has occurred and proceed to appoint a person who meets the qualifications of the office to fill the vacancy. However, if the deadline for making the appointment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for making such appointment. For the purposes of this Subsection, in addition to the definition of "vacancy" provided in R.S. 18:581, a "vacancy" in a city or parish school board office shall be deemed to have occurred when, in the case of a city school board, a member's residence no longer lies within the jurisdiction of the board or when, in the case of a parish school board, a member changes his domicile from the district he represents or, if elected after reapportionment, is domiciled outside the district he represents at the time he is sworn into office, any declaration of retention of domicile to the contrary notwithstanding.

C.(1) When a vacancy occurs in any of the following offices, the duties of the office shall be assumed by the person hereinafter designated: (a) district attorney, by the first assistant; (b) clerk of a district court, by the chief deputy; (c) coroner, by the chief deputy; (d) sheriff, by the chief criminal deputy, except that in a parish that has both a civil sheriff and a criminal sheriff, the civil sheriff by the chief civil deputy, and the criminal sheriff, by the chief criminal deputy, respectively; and (e) tax assessor, by the chief deputy assessor.

(2)(a) If there is no such person to assume the duties when the vacancy occurs, the governing authority or authorities of the parish or parishes affected shall within twenty days appoint a person having the qualifications of the office to assume the duties of the office. However, if the deadline for making the appointment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for making such appointment.

(b) If the vacancy in the office of sheriff occurs after a regularly scheduled election for the office of sheriff but prior to the beginning of the term and there is no chief deputy sheriff as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection to assume the duties of the office, the parish governing authority may appoint the person who was elected to the office of sheriff in the regular election to assume the duties of the office in the manner provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.

D. If a vacancy is not filled within the time specified in Subsection A, B, or C of this Section, the governor shall fill the vacancy.

E.(1)(a) If the unexpired term of an office covered by Subsection A of this Section is eighteen months or less, the person appointed to fill the vacancy or designated to assume the duties of the office shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(b) If the unexpired term of an office covered by Subsection B or C of this Section is one year or less, the person appointed to fill the vacancy or designated to assume the duties of the office shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(c) If any member of a parish or city school board is removed or suspended from office pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 42:1411, except in the parish of Jefferson, the person appointed to fill the vacancy or to perform the official acts, duties, and functions of that office during the period of suspension shall be eligible in the next election as a candidate for the office to which he is appointed.

(d) If a sheriff is removed or suspended from office pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 42:1411 or 1412 and a person is appointed to assume the duties of the office pursuant to Subparagraph (C)(2)(b) of this Section, the person so appointed shall be eligible in the next election as a candidate for the office to which he is appointed.

(2)(a) If the unexpired term of an office covered by Subsection A of this Section exceeds eighteen months or the unexpired term of an office covered by Subsection B or C of this Section exceeds one year, the governing authority of the local governmental subdivision in which the vacancy occurs, or the school board when the vacancy occurs in its membership, or the governor when a vacancy occurs in the office of district attorney or in an office for which there is not a single governing authority or as provided in Subsection F of this Section, within twenty days after the vacancy occurs, shall issue a proclamation ordering a special election to fill the vacancy and shall specify in the proclamation, in accordance with R.S. 18:402, the dates on which the primary and general elections shall be held and, in accordance with R.S. 18:467 and 468, the dates of the qualifying period for candidates in the special election. However, if the deadline for issuing the proclamation falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for issuing such proclamation. In selecting the dates for such special elections, the governing authority or school board as the case may be, may choose a gubernatorial or congressional election date, if such date is available within eighteen months of the occurrence of the vacancy for an office covered by Subsection A of this Section or within a year of the occurrence of the vacancy for an office covered by Subsection B or C of this Section or may select an election date in accordance with R.S. 18:402. In the cases in which the governor has the authority to select the date for such special elections, the governor shall first choose a gubernatorial or congressional election date. If no such date is available within eighteen months of the occurrence of the vacancy for an office covered by Subsection A of this Section or within a year of the occurrence of the vacancy for an office covered by Subsection B or C of this Section, the governor shall then select an election date in accordance with R.S. 18:402. If the governing authority or school board fails to issue the proclamation within twenty days after the vacancy occurs, the governor shall issue the proclamation.

(b) Immediately thereafter the governing authority or the school board or, if the governor issued the proclamation, the secretary of state shall publish the proclamation in the official journal of each parish in which the election is to be held.

(c) Within twenty-four hours after issuing the proclamation, the authority or authorities ordering the special election shall send a copy of the proclamation, by certified or registered mail, to the clerk of the district court for the parish in which the vacancy occurred. If the vacancy occurred in the parish of Orleans, the copy of the proclamation shall be so mailed to the clerk of the criminal district court. If the vacancy occurs in an office which affects more than one parish, a copy of the proclamation shall at the same time be so mailed to the clerk of each of the parishes. A copy of the proclamation also shall be mailed to the secretary of state at the same time and in the same manner.

(d) Within twenty-four hours after he receives the copy, the secretary of state shall notify all election officials having any duty to perform in connection with a special election to fill such vacancy, including the parish boards of election supervisors for the parish or parishes in which the vacancy occurred.

(3) The special election shall be held, without the necessity of a call by the governor, except in the case of a vacancy in the office of district attorney. When a special election is required, the appointee or person designated to assume the duties of the office shall serve only until the successor is elected and takes office.

(4) If the unexpired term of a parish or municipal office covered by Subsection A of this Section is eighteen months or more, but the vacancy occurs within eighteen months of the regularly scheduled primary election for that office, no special election will be called, and the appointee shall serve for the remainder of the term of office.

(5) If the unexpired term of an office covered by Subsection B of this Section is one year or more and the vacancy occurs within one year of the first election at which a redistricting plan adopted following the most recent federal decennial census is to be utilized, no special election will be called and the appointee shall serve the remainder of the term of office.

F. Whenever multiple vacancies in a local or municipal governing authority or in a school board covered by Subsection A or B of this Section reduce the membership of such governing authority or board below the number of total members required to constitute a quorum to conduct official business, the remaining members shall immediately inform the governor of the existence of the vacancies. Within twenty days after he receives this notice, the governor shall make appointments to fill all the vacancies and shall issue a proclamation calling special elections to fill such vacancies if special elections are required under the provisions of this Section. However, if the deadline for making the appointment or issuing the proclamation, if applicable, falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for making such appointment or issuing such proclamation.

G. The provisions of this Section shall apply to all local governmental subdivisions, including those operating under the provisions of a legislative charter, but shall not apply where the filling of a vacancy otherwise is provided for by the constitution or by the home rule charter or home rule plan of government of the affected local governmental subdivision. Such constitutional home rule plan provisions shall govern the filling of the vacancies, except that the provisions of R.S. 18:402 shall apply to the time and manner of calling the special elections to fill the vacancies.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 545, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1978, No. 38, §1, eff. May 31, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1979, No. 503, §1; Acts 1980, No. 314, §1; Acts 1980, No. 792, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 76, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 839, §1; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1990, No. 892, §1; Acts 1992, No. 393, §1, eff. June 19, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 622, §4, eff. Dec. 11, 2006; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2012, No. 296, §1; Acts 2014, No. 202, §1, eff. May 22, 2014; Acts 2022, No. 177, §1, eff. May 31, 2022; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022; Acts 2024, No. 640, §4, eff. See Act.

NOTE: See Acts 2012, No. 296, §2 regarding retroactive application of R.S. 18:602(C)(2)(b) and (E)(1)(c).

NOTE: See R.S. 42:1113(A)(1)(b) relative to eligibility of certain appointees to seek election.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:426 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 426
Alternate commissioners; qualifications, powers, and duties; oath and compensation
Status: in_force

A. Qualifications. An alternate commissioner shall meet the same qualifications of a commissioner as provided in R.S. 18:425(B).

B. Powers and duties. An alternate commissioner who replaces an absent or unqualified commissioner shall have the same powers and duties and shall possess the same qualifications as a commissioner.

C. Oath and compensation. An alternate commissioner who replaces an absent or unqualified commissioner shall, before entering upon the performance of his duties as a commissioner, take the same oath as a commissioner, and he shall receive the same compensation as a commissioner.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 471, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1993, No. 465, §1; Acts 2004, No. 526, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2023, No. 221, §1, eff. June 8, 2023; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:428 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 428
Law enforcement assistance to commissioners
Status: in_force

A. Presence at polling places on election day. Law enforcement officers shall not be stationed at polling places on election day, but the commissioners or the clerk of court may summon law enforcement officers to assist them in preserving order, enforcing the election laws, or protecting election officials from interference with the performance of their duties. Law enforcement officers shall not be eligible to serve as commissioners-in-charge, commissioners, alternate commissioners, or watchers.

B. Authority over law enforcement officers. A law enforcement officer at a polling place on election day is subject only to the orders of the commissioners at that polling place.

C. Duty of law enforcement officers. A law enforcement officer at a polling place on election day shall assist the commissioners in preserving order, enforcing the election laws, and protecting election officials from interference with the performance of their duties. A law enforcement officer shall not enter a polling place on election day except to vote or to enforce the orders of the commissioners, and a law enforcement officer shall not interfere with the conduct of the election, the voters, or the election officials.

D. The office of the district attorney in each parish in which an election where a candidate appears on the ballot is being conducted may remain open during the hours that polling places are required to be open for voting. However, the office of the district attorney in each parish in which a special bond or tax election is being held shall not remain open during the hours that polling places are required to be open for voting, unless requested by the governing authority.

E. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, law enforcement officers may be stationed at polling places if in the regular course and scope of their duties such law enforcement officers provide security for the public building in which the polling place is located and for the personnel working in such building. Law enforcement officers stationed at a polling place pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection shall not interfere with the conduct of the election, the voters, or the election officials.

F. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, law enforcement officers may enter the polling place when there is a reasonable belief there is an emergency and the commissioners are unable to summon the law enforcement officers.

G. Law enforcement officers. For purposes of this Code, the term "law enforcement officer" shall mean any employee of the state, a municipality, a sheriff, or other public agency, whose permanent duties actually include the making of arrests, the performing of searches and seizures, or the execution of criminal warrants, and who is responsible for the prevention or detection of crime or for the enforcement of the penal, traffic, or highway laws of this state.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 296, §1; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1986, No. 853, §1; Acts 1988, No. 585, §1; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2013, No. 189, §1; Acts 2020, No. 220, §1, eff. June 11, 2020.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1278 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1278
Vacancies; United States senator
Status: in_force

A. The governor may fill any vacancy in the office of United States senator by appointment. If the United States Senate is in session when the vacancy occurs, the governor shall appoint a senator to fill the vacancy within ten days after receiving official notice of the vacancy.

B. If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator and the unexpired term is more than one year, an appointment to fill the vacancy shall be temporary. Any senator so appointed shall serve until his successor is elected at a special election and takes office. Within ten days after receiving official notice of the vacancy, the governor shall issue a proclamation for special election to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. The date of the special election shall be established by the governor in accordance with the procedures and on the election dates established in this Code. The dates of the qualifying period shall be established by the governor on dates in compliance with the provisions of this Code. Within twenty-four hours after its issuance, the governor shall send a copy of the proclamation to the secretary of state. Within twenty-four hours after he receives the copy, the secretary of state shall notify all election officials having any duty to perform in connection with a special election to fill such vacancy, including the parish boards of election supervisors for the parish or parishes in which the vacancy occurred. Immediately thereafter, the secretary of state shall publish the proclamation in the official journal of each parish in which the election is to be held. The election shall be conducted and the returns shall be certified as in regular elections for United States senator.

C. If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator and the unexpired term is one year or less, no special election shall be called by the governor and, if a senator is appointed to fill the vacancy, he shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term, and his successor shall be elected at the next regular election for United States senator.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1978, No. 38, §1, eff. May 31, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 792, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 76, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2007, No. 240, §1; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022; Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2024, No. 640, §2, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §§ 3, 7, eff. June 20, 2025 .
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:59.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 59.4
The Louisiana Voter Registration Administrators' Certification Program; requirements; compensation
Status: in_force

A. The Louisiana Voter Registration Administrators' Certification Program is hereby established to formalize and recognize the professional standards of registrars of voters, chief deputy registrars, and confidential assistants to registrars of voters in the state.

B. The voter registration administrators' certification program is designed to provide registrars of voters, chief deputy registrars, and confidential assistants educational courses and a curriculum to develop core skills required for election and voter registration administration and to establish additional professional bonds of achievement. The program will accomplish these goals by introducing registrars of voters, chief deputy registrars, and confidential assistants to registrars of voters to new ideas that will enhance effective performance in registration administration; creating opportunities to enhance professional development through attendance and involvement in respective state associations; emphasizing the need for continued maintenance of high standards for the registrars of voters offices; and providing recognition for the attainment of enhanced managerial and administrative skills.

C. Only those persons holding the position of registrar of voters, chief deputy registrar, and confidential assistant to a registrar of voters shall be eligible for participation in the voter registration administrators' certification program.

D.(1) The requisite education and training will be provided through courses of the Certified Elections Registration Administrator program administered through Auburn University and the Election Center, a national certification designation. Any course taken by a registrar of voters, chief deputy registrar, or confidential assistant shall be a course that is required for the attainment of certification or maintenance of such certification.

(2) The Voter Registration Administrators' Certification Program requires the following: a minimum of twelve courses of twelve hours in length for a total of one hundred forty-four hours to be completed within five years, except that if a gubernatorially declared state of emergency impacts the certification process, the course work shall be completed within six years; maintenance of a yearly rating of "excellent" as determined through the standards specified in R.S. 18:55(A); five years work experience related to the administration of elections and voter registration; and completion of all continuing education course hours required to maintain certification. If these requirements are not met, the registrar of voters, chief deputy registrar, or confidential assistant, as the case may be, will lose certification and certification compensation until certification requirements are once again attained.

E.(1) The Voter Registration Administrators' Certification Program Committee is hereby created to govern the certification program. The certification committee shall be composed of five members who shall serve one-year terms and who may be reappointed. The members shall be appointed as follows:

(a) One member shall be the chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Registrar of Voters Association who shall serve as chairman of the committee.

(b) One member shall be the chairman of the subcommittee of the Legislative Committee of the Registrar of Voters Association appointed to explore the creation of a certification program.

(c) Three members shall be registrars of voters, chief deputy registrars, or confidential assistants to registrars of voters who have received the designation of Certified Elections Registration Administrator.

(2)(a) Documents establishing the successful completion of the certification program shall be submitted to and approved by the certification committee. Upon approval of the application for certification, a person holding the position of registrar of voters, chief deputy registrar, or confidential assistant to a registrar of voters shall receive the designation of Louisiana Certified Elections Administrator and notice of the approval shall be forwarded to the legislative auditor by the certification committee.

(b) If, on July 1, 2006, a registrar of voters, chief deputy registrar, or confidential assistant to a registrar of voters has completed the educational and experience requirements as provided in Subsection D of this Section and the documents showing the successful completion of the program have been submitted to and approved by the certification committee and such approval documented to the secretary of state, the registrar of voters, chief deputy registrar, or confidential assistant to a registrar of voters shall be granted a seven percent increase in his annual salary as set forth in R.S. 18:55 or 59.

(c) A registrar of voters, chief deputy registrar, or confidential assistant to a registrar of voters shall complete the requirements of Subsection D of this Section and this Subsection in order to receive the seven percent compensation enhancement. If a registrar of voters, chief deputy registrar, or confidential assistant to a registrar of voters does not complete the certification program as provided in Subsection D of this Section and this Subsection, his salary shall remain as provided in R.S. 18:55 or 59. If, after certification, a registrar of voters, chief deputy registrar, or confidential assistant to a registrar of voters does not receive certification renewal within each three-year period, or within a four-year period if a gubernatorially declared state of emergency impacts the certification process, his salary shall revert back to the salary scale provided for in R.S. 18:55 or 59. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:57, the failure to maintain certification shall result in the loss of the compensation enhancement provided for in this Section.

Acts 2004, No. 785, §1, eff. July 1, 2004; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1462 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1462
Acts prohibited during early voting or on election day; electioneering; intimidation; exceptions; enforcement; penalties
Status: in_force

A. The Legislature of Louisiana recognizes that the right to vote is a right that is essential to the effective operation of a democratic government. In order to preserve the integrity of its election process, and to protect the right of citizens to vote freely for the candidates of their choice, the state has a compelling interest in establishing a zone securing polling locations against certain conduct and activities, including voter intimidation, election fraud, confusion, and general disorder, that would interfere with the exercise of the right to vote. The legislature, therefore, enacts this Subsection to provide for a six hundred foot campaign-free zone around polling places to provide to each voter such an environment in which to exercise his right to vote. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, it shall be unlawful for any person, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., to perform or cause to be performed any of the following acts within any polling place being used in an election on election day or during early voting, or within a radius of six hundred feet of the entrance to any polling place being used in an election on election day or during early voting:

(1) To solicit in any manner or by any means whatsoever any other person to vote for or against any candidate or proposition being voted on in such election.

(2) To remain within any such polling place or within a radius of six hundred feet of the entrance of any such polling place, except when exercising the right to vote, after having been directed by an election commissioner, law enforcement officer, registrar, or deputy registrar to leave the premises or area of a polling place.

(3) To hand out, place, or display campaign cards, pictures, or other campaign literature of any kind or description whatsoever which advocate for or against any candidate, proposition, or political party appearing on the ballot in the election.

(4) To place, wear, or display political signs, campaign apparel, pictures, or other forms of political advertising which advocate for or against any candidate, proposition, or political party appearing on the ballot in the election.

(5) To circulate a petition or seek handwritten signatures to a petition.

B. The provisions hereof shall not apply to the placing and displaying, either by the owner, lessee, or lawful occupant thereof, or with the consent of such owner, lessee or occupant, of political signs or pictures on private property which is not being used as a polling place.

C. The provisions of this Section shall not be construed as prohibiting any appointed election commissioner or any official watcher from remaining in and about the polling place in which he was selected to serve.

D. No election official shall wear any badge, button, pin, or other insignia identifying him with any political candidate or faction.

E. No election official shall in any manner attempt to influence any voter to vote for or against any candidate or proposition being voted on in the election being held in that polling place.

F. The duly constituted law enforcement officers of the political subdivision in which any such election is being held shall enforce the provisions of this Section when requested to do so by a clerk of court, registrar, deputy registrar, commissioner-in-charge, or commissioner. The clerk of court, registrar, deputy registrars, commissioners-in-charge, and commissioners likewise shall enforce the provisions of this Section at the polling places. The law enforcement officers, clerk of court, commissioners-in-charge, commissioners, deputy registrars, and registrar are authorized to seize, remove, and destroy any political cards, signs, pictures, or literature being used or displayed in violation of any of the provisions of this Section.

G. Whoever violates any provision of this Section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. On a second offense or any succeeding offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 810, §1; Acts 1982, No. 778, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 2004, No. 626, §1; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2021, No. 85, §1, eff. June 4, 2021; Acts 2025, No. 75, §1; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:442 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 442
Organization
Status: in_force

A recognized political party shall be controlled and directed by one state central committee and a parish executive committee for each parish.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:51 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 51
Registrar for each parish; appointment; commission; bond and oath
Status: in_force

A. There shall be a registrar of voters for each parish in the state, who shall be appointed by the governing authority of the parish in the manner provided in this Section and R.S. 18:51.1.

B.(1) Upon receipt of notice and supporting documentation from the governing authority that show the governing authority complied with the requirements of this Section and R.S. 18:51.1 in appointing the registrar, the governor shall issue a commission to the registrar, who thereupon shall make the bond, subscribe to the oath, and receive the compensation prescribed in this Chapter.

(2) If the governing authority fails to submit notice and documentation pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection or if the notice and documentation submitted by the governing authority is not sufficient to show the governing authority complied with the requirements of this Section and R.S. 18:51.1 in appointing the registrar, the governor shall not issue a commission to the registrar but shall instead send notice to the governing authority that it has failed to show compliance.

C.(1)(a) A vacancy for any cause in the office of registrar shall be filled by the parish governing authority within ninety days after the date on which the vacancy occurs. An appointment to fill a vacancy that is made prior to the time the office is actually vacated is premature and without effect. The parish governing authority shall advertise the vacancy and solicit applications for the office in the manner provided in R.S. 18:51.1.

(b) Until the appointment is made, the chief deputy shall perform the duties of the registrar in a parish having a chief deputy. If there is no chief deputy, within forty-eight hours after the office becomes vacant, the parish governing authority shall appoint a person temporarily to perform the duties of the registrar until the parish governing authority fills the vacancy as provided in this Section. However, if the parish governing authority neither fills the vacancy nor, in a parish having no chief deputy, designates a person temporarily to perform the duties of registrar within forty-eight hours after the office becomes vacant, the State Board of Election Supervisors shall appoint a person to perform the duties until the parish governing authority fills the vacancy. A person appointed temporarily to perform the duties of registrar shall have authority to register voters in accordance with law.

(2) The person performing the duties of registrar until the parish governing authority makes its appointment shall be issued a commission by the governor and shall give the bond required of a registrar of voters, unless the person previously has done so in his capacity as deputy registrar. He shall receive the compensation prescribed by this Chapter for the registrar. If the person appointed by the State Board of Election Supervisors held a position in the office of the registrar prior to such appointment, then upon the appointment of a registrar to fill the vacancy, he shall be eligible to return to the position previously held.

D. A registrar who has no chief deputy or other permanent employee shall file an affidavit with the parish governing authority and the secretary of state designating a person as chief deputy who would operate the registrar's office in the event the registrar becomes unable to name a chief deputy and perform his duties due to illness, injury, or disability.

Acts 1976, No. 697 §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 544, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2016, No. 360, §1, special eff. date; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1408 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1408
Service of process; sending notice and copies; documents to be filed
Status: in_force

A. If service of process is to be made on the appointed agent, as authorized by R.S. 18:1407, such service shall be made by serving citation on this agent, but at the same time that service is made on the appointed agent, a diligent effort shall be made to make personal service on the defendant at his domiciliary address as shown on his notice of candidacy.

B. When service is made on the appointed agent, he shall immediately notify the defendant by telephone and send notice thereof, together with a copy of the citation, by electronic mail to the address listed on his notice of candidacy. If the defendant did not list an electronic mail address on his notice of candidacy, the appointed agent shall mail a copy of the citation to the defendant at his domiciliary address as listed on his notice of candidacy.

C. Service of process on and citation of the appointed agent, together with the posting of the petition as provided in R.S. 18:1406, shall be sufficient service to give the trial court jurisdiction over the person of the defendant.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1999, No. 395, §3; Acts 2020, No. 128, §1, eff. Feb. 1, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:191 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 191
Permanent registration
Status: in_force

The registration of any person as provided in this Chapter shall remain in effect for so long as the registration is not canceled for a cause and in the manner set forth in this Chapter.

Acts 1989, No. 652, §1.