La. Rev. Stat. § 18:591 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 591
Vacancy in office of elective members of state boards and commissions
Status: in_force

Within twenty-four hours after any member of a state board or commission has knowledge of a vacancy in an elective office on that state board or commission, the member shall notify the governor by certified mail of the vacancy, the date on which it occurred, and the cause thereof. Within twenty days after the governor is notified of the vacancy, the governor shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy who has the qualifications for 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. If the unexpired term is one year or less, the member so appointed shall serve for the remainder thereof. If the unexpired term exceeds one year, the governor, within twenty days after the governor is notified of the vacancy, shall issue his proclamation ordering a special election to fill the vacancy, which shall specify, 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 the 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. Immediately thereafter, the governor shall publish the proclamation in the official journal of each parish in which the election is to be held. Within twenty-four hours after issuing the proclamation, the governor shall send a copy of the proclamation 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 the special election to fill such vacancy, including the parish boards of election supervisors for the parish or parishes in which the vacancy occurred. The governor may appoint a person to fill a vacancy and issue a proclamation ordering a special election when the governor learns of a vacancy, whether or not the governor has received notice thereof from a state board or commission member. Whenever a special election is required, the governor's appointee shall serve only until the successor is elected and takes office.

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 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2024, No. 640, §4, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1461.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1461.5
Election offenses involving bribery, threats or intimidation of election officials or candidates; penalties
Status: in_force

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

(1) Offer money or anything of apparent present or prospective value or use, directly or indirectly, or engage in any form of intimidation to influence the action or encourage inaction of any election official with regard to the duties of his office.

(2) Give or offer to give, directly or indirectly, any money or anything of apparent present or prospective value to any person who has withdrawn or who was eliminated prior or subsequent to the primary election as a candidate for public office, for the purpose of securing or giving his political support to any remaining candidate or candidates for public office in the primary or general election.

(3) When such person is a candidate for public office who has withdrawn or was eliminated prior to or subsequent to the primary election, accept or offer to accept, directly or indirectly, any money, or anything of apparent present or prospective value that is given for the purpose of securing or giving his political support to any remaining candidate or candidates for public office in the primary or general election.

(4)(a) Give or offer to give, directly or indirectly, any money or any thing of apparent present or prospective value to a candidate for public office for the purpose of securing the candidate's withdrawal from an election.

(b) Solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, money or any thing of apparent present or prospective value to secure the withdrawal from an election of a candidate for public office.

B. Whoever violates any provision 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, for the first offense. On a second offense, or any subsequent offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment at hard labor for not more than five years, or both.

C. In the trial of a person charged with a violation of this Section, either the bribe-giver or the bribe-taker may give evidence, or make affidavit against the other, and may receive immunity from prosecution in favor of the first informer, except for perjury in giving such testimony.

Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 585, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:583 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 583
Procedure for anticipated vacancies
Status: in_force

A.(1) The authority required by law to call a special election to fill a vacancy in an office shall issue a proclamation ordering a special election to be held to elect a person to fill the full term of an office when it becomes certain, after the election for the term but prior to its commencement, that a vacancy will exist on the day when the term of the office commences as provided by the constitution or by law. The proclamation ordering the special election shall state the dates, in accordance with R.S. 18:402, on which the primary and general elections will be held.

(2) It shall become certain that a vacancy will exist on the day the term of office commences when the person elected to the office dies, makes a declaration to the secretary of state that he will not accept the office, or is disqualified by a court of competent jurisdiction.

B.(1) The declaration provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be signed by the official-elect and duly acknowledged by him before an officer authorized to administer oaths.

(2) The secretary of state shall immediately transmit notice of such declarations to the authority required by law to make the appointment to fill the vacancy and to the authority required by law to call the election to fill the vacancy if said authority is not the same as the authority required to make the appointment.

(3) Such declaration shall become irrevocable when received by the secretary of state, at which time an anticipated vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred.

C. When an elected official has properly tendered a notice of retirement or resignation which specifies a prospective effective date, an anticipated vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the notice of retirement or resignation becomes irrevocable. However, no special election shall be called to fill the anticipated vacancy if there is one year or less, or with respect to the office of state legislator six months or less, remaining between the prospective effective date contained in the notice of retirement or resignation and the end of the term of office of the resigning official.

D.(1) An appointment to fill an anticipated vacancy shall be made at the time the office is actually vacated and such appointment shall be made in accordance with the provisions of law applicable to the filling of vacancies in the affected office. An appointment to fill an anticipated vacancy that is made prior to the time the office is actually vacated is premature and without effect.

(2) A special election to fill an anticipated vacancy shall be called in accordance with the provisions of law applicable to the filling of vacancies in the affected office except the proclamation calling the special election shall be issued after an anticipated vacancy is deemed to have occurred. In determining the dates to be used to call the special election, the provisions of R.S. 18:402 shall apply.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 38, §1, eff. May 31, 1978; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 201, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2016, No. 281, §1, eff. May 31, 2016.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:193 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 193
Challenge and cancellation of registration; notice; procedures
Status: in_force

A. When the registrar has reason to believe that a registrant no longer is qualified to be registered, or that a registrant has changed his residence, the registrar shall immediately notify the person by sending the address confirmation notice to the registrant and place the voter on the inactive list of voters. However, a person shall not be placed on the inactive list of voters if there is address information available to the registrar from the United States Postal Service or its licensee which indicates the voter has moved to another address within the parish.

B. Repealed by Acts 2024, No. 2, §2, eff. March 31, 2025.

C. If the registrant responds to the address confirmation notice and has not moved or has moved within the parish, the registrar shall remove the person's name from the inactive list of voters if it is on the inactive list and correct the voter's address if necessary.

D.(1) If the voter responds to the address confirmation notice and has permanently moved to a different parish, the registrar shall transfer the voter's registration information to the new parish of residence.

(2) If the voter responds to the address confirmation notice and has permanently moved outside of the state, the registrar shall cancel the voter's registration.

E. A voter on the inactive list of voters who fails to respond to the address confirmation notice shall remain on the inactive list of voters until his address is confirmed in accordance with the procedures set forth in R.S. 18:196 or not later than a period of two regularly scheduled federal general elections, at which time the Department of State shall cancel the voter's registration.

F. A list of names and addresses to whom address confirmation notices are sent and whether or not each person responded to the confirmation notice shall be maintained for a period of two years and shall be open to inspection and copying as provided in R.S. 18:154. Ninety days prior to a regularly scheduled federal primary election, the names and addresses of those persons on the inactive list shall be published for one day in the official journal of the parish governing authority or in a newspaper calculated to provide maximum notice in the parish.

G.(1) If the registrar has reason to believe that the name of a person has been illegally or fraudulently placed upon the registration records or that a registrant no longer is qualified to be registered for a reason other than a change of residence or address, or that the registrant has deliberately given an incorrect address, he shall immediately notify the person. The notice shall be mailed first class, postage prepaid, to the address on file at the registrar's office.

(2) The notice shall state the alleged irregularity in the registration and shall inform the person that he must appear in person at the office of the registrar of voters within twenty-one days after the date on which the notice was mailed to show cause why his name should not be removed.

(3) If the registrant fails to appear within the required twenty-one days, the registrar shall cancel his name from the list of eligible voters. If the registrant appears and shows cause within the twenty-one days, the registrar shall not cancel the registration.

(4) Records of such activity shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions provided in Subsection F of this Section.

H. If the registrar determines that a voter's registration has been cancelled through error of the registrar or the Department of State, the registrar shall reinstate the voter's registration as though the cancellation had never occurred and shall notify the registrant of the reinstatement.

I. Repealed by Acts 2024, No. 2, §2, eff. March 31, 2025.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1985, No. 225, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1987, No. 890, §1; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2004, No. 526, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 519, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2016, No. 281, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2017; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 2, §§1, 2, eff. March 31, 2025; Acts 2024, No. 390, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1495.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1495.5
Reports; contents
Status: in_force

A. Unless otherwise specifically provided, each report required by this Part shall contain the following information:

(1) The name and address of the candidate for whom the report is filed.

(2) The name and address of the treasurer completing the report.

(3) The office sought.

(4) If the candidate has designated any subsidiary committees, the name of all subsidiary committees for whom the candidate is reporting and the address of such committees, or if a committee has no address, the address of the committee chairman.

B. Each report required to be in conformity with this Section shall contain the following information:

(1) The amount of cash and cash investments on hand at the end of the prior reporting period.

(2) The total of all contributions received and accepted by the candidate during the reporting period.

(3) Cash income from investments received during the reporting period.

(4) Contribution(s) received during the reporting period for which the report is being completed shall be reported, and the same shall be reported irrespective of the amount thereof as follows:

(a) The full name and address of each person who has made one or more contributions to and which have been received and accepted by the candidate during the reporting period; the aggregate amount of such contributions, except in-kind contributions, from each person, and the date and amount of each such contribution; and a brief description of each in-kind contribution from each person, the valuation thereof made by the candidate and the campaign treasurer, and the date(s) of the in-kind contribution.

(b) The aggregate amount of all contributions, other than in-kind contributions, received and accepted during the reporting period.

(c) The aggregate valuation of in-kind contributions received during the reporting period.

(5)(a) The gross proceeds received and accepted by the candidate during the reporting period from the sale of paraphernalia. Purchases of such campaign paraphernalia which are made by the same person and which are of such amount as to be reportable, either singly or in the aggregate, as required in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection, shall be so reported; however, single transactions to purchase campaign items or materials which are not in excess of fifty dollars must be reported only in the report of gross proceeds and shall not be required to be reported as provided in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection.

(b) The gross proceeds received and accepted by the candidate during the reporting period from the sale of raffle tickets. Purchases of raffle tickets that are made by the same person and are of such amount as to be reportable, either singly or in the aggregate, as provided in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection, shall be so reported; however, single transactions to purchase raffle tickets which are not in excess of fifty dollars must be reported only in the report of gross proceeds and shall not be required to be reported as provided in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection.

(6) The gross proceeds received and accepted by the candidate during the reporting period from the sale of tickets to testimonials or similar fundraising events. The proceeds of any such sales shall be considered a contribution, and such contributions shall also be reported as provided in Paragraph (4).

(7) Any other cash receipts, not contributions, from any other source not included above during the reporting period, for example, refunds of overpayments and the nature, source, and an explanation thereof.

(8) Total of all receipts for the reporting period.

(9) The date and amount of each loan for campaign purposes made or received by the candidate to or from any person or committee during the reporting period, 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.

(10) The total of all loans made and the total of all loans received during the reporting period.

(11) The total of all expenditures made by the candidate during the reporting period.

(12) The full name and address of each person to whom an expenditure has been made by the candidate during the reporting period. The amount, a description of the purpose as it relates to the expenditure, and the date of each expenditure shall be reported. A brief description of an in-kind expenditure shall be given, as well as the valuation made by the candidate and the campaign treasurer and the date(s) of the expenditure. When multiple expenditures have been made to the same person, during the reporting period, the aggregate amount of such expenditures, other than in-kind expenditures, and the aggregate valuation of in-kind expenditures shall be reported for each such person. The aggregate of all expenditures made during the reporting period, other than in-kind expenditures, and the aggregate valuation of all in-kind expenditures shall also be reported. The aggregate amount expended for each candidate shall also be reported.

(13) The total amount of monetary expenditures made by the candidate from his own funds during each reporting period.

(14) The amount and nature of debts and obligations owed by or to the candidate, during the reporting period, which relate to the conduct of any political campaign, including but not limited to loans required to be reported under Paragraph (9) of this Subsection.

(15) All payments made during the reporting period to repay loans, the amount, date, and source thereof.

(16) Repealed by Acts 1993, No. 199, §2, eff. June 1, 1993.

(17) The total amount of expenditures during the reporting period from the petty cash fund.

(18) The date and amount of each anonymous contribution received and the date each was transmitted to the state as required by R.S. 18:1505.2(B) during the reporting period and the total amount of such anonymous contributions received and transmitted during the reporting period.

(19) The amount of cash and cash investments of the candidate on hand at the end of the reporting period.

(20) All other disbursements, not expenditures, made during the reporting period and the nature, recipient, and an explanation thereof, including any payments paid in accordance with the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act of 1997.

(21) The total amount of expenditures during the reporting period made in relation to the publication, distribution, transportation, or transmission of statements relative to candidates or propositions which do not fully disclose the name of the individual or the name of the association, organization, committee, or corporation and the full and correct name and address of its chairman or other chief administrative officer and whether or not such individual, association, organization, committee, or corporation supports or opposes such candidate or proposition.

C.(1) Expenditures made by a public relations firm, an advertising agency, or agent for a candidate shall be considered expenditures of the candidate and must be reported as required by this Section. Each such firm, agency, or agent which makes any expenditure for any candidate shall timely furnish to such candidate such information relative thereto as may be required for compliance with this Part.

(2) The candidate may report expenditures made to a public relations firm, advertising agency, or agent as an expenditure made to the public relations firm, advertising agency, or agent if the expenditure is less than five thousand dollars. However, expenditures of five thousand dollars or more made to a public relations firm, advertising agency, or agent shall be reported as expenditures made to the payee.

D. The supervisory committee may require the reporting of totals of any information otherwise required to be reported, including totals of amounts reported in the current report, or in the current report and other previous reports.

E. The reports required in this Part shall be filed on forms provided by the supervisory committee as more specifically provided in R.S. 18:1511.3.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Acts 1988, No. 994, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 180, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1990, No. 1088, §§1 and 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 751, §1, eff. July 7, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 199, §2, eff. June 1, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2014, No. 838, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015; Acts 2014, No. 857, §1; Acts 2020, No. 161, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2021; Acts 2024, No. 615, §2; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:55 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 55
Compensation of registrar of voters; amount and manner of payment; reduction during tenure prohibited; prohibited increase
Status: in_force

A.(1) The annual salary of registrars of voters shall be based on the most recent population figures as shown by the latest federal decennial census, the Louisiana Tech University population estimates for Louisiana parishes, or as determined by the governing authority of each parish in accordance with law.

(2) The salary ranges and pay schedule for the registrars shall be as follows:

Population Range Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

0 to 40,000 $57,769 $59,502 $61,287 $63,126

40,001 to 60,000 $64,188 $66,113 $68,097 $70,140

60,001 to 100,000 $70,607 $72,725 $74,907 $77,154

100,001 to 200,000 $77,026 $79,337 $81,717 $84,168

200,001 to 1,000,000 $83,445 $85,948 $88,526 $91,182

Population Range Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8

0 to 40,000 $65,019 $66,970 $68,979 $71,049

40,001 to 60,000 $72,244 $74,441 $76,644 $78,943

60,001 to 100,000 $79,469 $81,853 $84,309 $86,838

100,001 to 200,000 $86,693 $89,294 $91,973 $94,732

200,001 to 1,000,000 $93,918 $96,735 $99,637 $102,626

Population Range Step 9 Step 10 Step 11 Step 12

0 to 40,000 $73,180 $75,375 $77,637 $79,966

40,001 to 60,000 $81,311 $83,751 $86,263 $88,851

60,001 to 100,000 $89,443 $92,126 $94,890 $97,737

100,001 to 200,000 $97,574 $100,501 $103,516 $106,622

200,001 to 1,000,000 $105,705 $108,876 $112,143 $115,507

(3)(a) A person appointed by the parish governing authority as registrar on or after July 1, 1997, shall be employed with an annual salary of step one of the appropriate population range, unless the person is promoted from chief deputy or confidential assistant and such would result in a reduction in compensation. In such an instance, the newly appointed registrar shall receive a salary increase to the amount of the nearest step in the appropriate population range which will provide a minimum increase in salary of five hundred dollars.

(b) Each parish governing authority shall continue to compensate its registrars at no less than the same annual dollar amount as that paid by the particular parish on July 1, 1991, including both the prior mandated parish portion and any supplements authorized. The difference between the amount of compensation due each registrar and the amount payable by the parish governing authority shall be paid by the state through the secretary of state.

(4)(a) Each registrar shall automatically receive an annual salary increase to the next step on July first until his annual salary equals the highest step of the appropriate population range. However, a registrar whose salary is less than step one of the appropriate population range shall receive an annual salary increase of four thousand five hundred dollars until that amount would cause his salary to exceed step one. At that time, he shall receive a salary increase to the amount of the nearest step which will provide an increase of not less than five hundred dollars.

(b) Each registrar whose salary is at the level of step one or higher shall be evaluated as to merit in January. The merit evaluation shall result in a finding of "excellent", "successful", "unsuccessful", or "not assessed". The criteria and procedure for the merit evaluation shall be determined by the secretary of state in conjunction with the Registrar of Voters Association. Each registrar shall be evaluated by the secretary of state or his designee acting on his behalf. Upon a finding of "excellent" on a merit evaluation, the registrar shall receive a salary increase to the next step until the registrar's salary is equal to the highest step of the appropriate population range. A registrar may appeal the finding on a merit evaluation to the State Board of Election Supervisors in accordance with rules promulgated by the board. If a member of the board participates in the merit evaluation of a registrar, the member shall not participate in an appeal of the evaluation.

B. No law to increase or decrease that portion of the salary payable by the parish shall be enacted hereafter unless notice of intent to enact such a law has been published on two separate days, without cost to the state, in the official journal of each locality affected by the enactment of the increase or decrease in the salary figures. The last day of publication shall be at least thirty days prior to introduction of the bill.

C. The annual compensation of each registrar of voters shall be based upon the most recent census taken by the United States Government, Louisiana Tech University population estimates for Louisiana parishes, or upon the population figures of each parish as determined by its governing authority as provided by law.

D. The state portion of each salary shall be paid biweekly by the state through the secretary of state, and the parish portion of each salary shall be paid monthly by the parish governing authority on the warrant of the respective registrars. The funds for the parish portion of the salary shall be annually appropriated by the parish governing authority and the funds for the state portion of the salary shall be annually appropriated to the secretary of state.

E. The registrars of voters shall receive cost-of-living salary increases whenever such salary increases are given to state employees and a similar structure adjustment shall be made in the entire registrars' pay schedule.

F. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, no registrar shall receive an increase in salary as provided in Paragraph (A)(4) of this Section during a time period when the State Civil Service Commission has suspended the authority to award merit increases to classified employees.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 37, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 236, §4, eff. Sept. 1, 1979; Acts 1979, No. 295, §3; Acts 1980, No. 634, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1980; Acts 1980, No. 716, §3; Acts 1983, No. 299, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1991, No. 277, §1; Acts 1991, No. 395, §1, eff. July 1, 1991; Acts 1997, No. 1008, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 972, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 683, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2007, No. 254, §1, eff. July 1, 2007; Acts 2010, No. 622, §1, eff. June 25, 2010; Acts 2016, No. 358, §1; Acts 2025, No. 371, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:532 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 532
Establishment of precincts
Status: in_force

A. Subject to the provisions of R.S. 18:532.1, the governing authority of each parish shall establish precincts, define the territorial limits for which each precinct is established, prescribe their boundaries, and designate the precincts. The governing authority of each parish shall by ordinance adopt the establishment and boundaries of each precinct in accordance with the timetable as set forth in this Section and in accordance with R.S. 18:532.1.

B.(1)(a) Each precinct shall be a contiguous, compact area having clearly defined and clearly observable boundaries coinciding with visible features readily distinguishable on the ground and approved extensions of such features, such as designated highways, roads, streets, rivers, or canals, and depicted on United States Bureau of the Census base maps for the next federal decennial census, except where the precinct boundary is coterminous with the boundary of a parish or an incorporated place when the boundaries of a single precinct contain the entire geographic area of the incorporated place. Except as otherwise provided in this Paragraph, on and after July 1, 1997, any precinct boundary which does not coincide with a visible feature shall be changed by the parish governing authority to coincide with a visible feature in accordance with R.S. 18:532.1.

(b) For the purposes of this Paragraph, the term "approved extension" shall mean an extension of one visible feature to another visible feature which has been approved by the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives or their designees and which is or which will be a census tabulation boundary.

(2) No precinct shall be wholly contained within the territorial boundaries of another precinct, except that a precinct which contains the entire geographical area of an incorporated place and in which the total number of registered voters at the last general election was less than three hundred may be so contained.

(3) No precinct shall contain more than two thousand two hundred registered voters within its geographic boundaries. Within thirty days after the completion of each canvass, the registrar of voters of each parish shall notify the parish governing authority of every precinct in the parish which contains more than two thousand two hundred registered voters within its geographic boundaries. Within sixty days of such notification, the parish governing authority shall divide such precincts by a visible feature in accordance with R.S. 18:532.1.

(4)(a) No precinct shall contain less than three hundred registered voters within its geographical boundaries, except:

(i) When necessary to make it more convenient for voters in a geographically isolated and unincorporated area to vote. A voter in a geographically isolated and unincorporated area shall mean a voter whose residence is outside an incorporated place and who would have to travel by roadway more than ten miles or cross a public ferry to a polling place to vote if the precinct were not established.

(ii) When the precinct contains the entire geographical area of an incorporated place.

(iii) When the precinct may not be merged with any adjacent precinct due to voting district boundaries, provided that such a precinct has a consolidated polling place with an adjacent precinct and the number of commissioners for the polling place has been reduced in accordance with R.S. 18:425.1 and 1286.1.

(b)(i) No precinct shall be established as authorized in this Paragraph unless it is in compliance with the provisions of R.S. 18:532.1(C) and unless the parish governing authority has submitted documentation to the Department of State that the precinct meets one of the criteria in this Paragraph and the parish governing authority has received written approval for the establishment of the precinct from the secretary of state. However, a precinct may contain less than three hundred registered voters if the parish governing authority is responsible for all election expenses incurred in the precinct as provided in R.S. 18:1400.7.

(ii) In addition to the authority in Item (i) of this Subparagraph, the secretary of state may permit the establishment of precincts with less than three hundred registered voters under extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances.

(c) Within thirty days after the completion of each canvass, beginning with the 1996 canvass, the registrar of voters of each parish shall notify the parish governing authority of every precinct in the parish which contains fewer than three hundred registered voters within its geographic boundaries. Within sixty days after such notification, the parish governing authority shall merge such precincts with other precincts, unless the approval of the Department of State has been granted as provided in this Paragraph.

(5) The provisions of Paragraph (4) of this Subsection shall not be effective during the period of time established by R.S. 18:532.1(D).

C. Each parish governing authority shall provide and maintain at all times geospacial shape files, if available, and a suitable printed map showing the current geographical boundaries with designation of precincts, and a correct, written legal description of the precinct geographical boundaries. Each parish governing authority shall send a copy of each map, with description attached, to the registrar of voters and the secretary of state. The map may be composed of one or more sheets but each sheet shall not exceed three feet by four feet. The map shall include all existing roads, streets, railroad tracks, and drainage features but shall not include underground utility lines, land use and zoning symbols or shadings, symbols for vegetation cover, topographic contour lines, and similar items that obscure the basic street pattern and names. All features, names, titles, and symbols on the map shall be clearly shown and legible. The map sheet of the entire parish shall be on a scale of one inch equals one mile to one inch equals two miles. Map sheets of each incorporated place within the parish shall be on a scale of one inch equals eight hundred feet to one inch equals sixteen hundred feet. Each map sheet shall indicate the date of the base map or the date of last revision. Wherever the boundaries of a precinct or incorporated place are coterminous, they shall be clearly indicated as such.

D. The parish governing authority shall also furnish to the registrar of voters and secretary of state geospacial shape files, if available, and a printed map clearly indicating the boundaries of each parish governing authority district, school board district, special election district, representative district, and senate district, and a correct, written legal description of the boundaries.

E.(1) In complying with the provisions of this Section for the establishment of precincts and the prescription of their boundaries, each parish governing authority and registrar of voters shall coordinate with the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives, or their designees, pursuant to their authority to submit a plan for census data for reapportionment under the provisions of Chapter 13 of this Title and shall adopt or adjust precinct boundaries as may be necessary to comply with this Section.

(2) The proposed precinct boundaries submitted to the United States Bureau of the Census by a parish through the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives or their designees, and approved by the Bureau of the Census as block boundaries for each federal decennial census, shall be the precinct boundaries for the parish for reapportionment purposes following each federal decennial census.

F. Prior to the adoption of an ordinance to establish the boundaries of precincts pursuant to this Section, the parish governing authority shall submit the proposed precincts and boundaries to the clerk of court and registrar of voters to confirm the ability to conduct an election utilizing the proposed boundaries.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 523, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1978; Acts 1978, No. 298, §1, eff. July 10, 1978; Acts 1982, No. 559, §1, eff. July 22, 1982; Acts 1985, No. 670, §1, eff. July 16, 1985; Acts 1986, No. 286, §1, eff. June 30, 1986; Acts 1988, No. 329, §1; Acts 1988, No. 403, §1, eff. July 10, 1988; Acts 1990, No. 629, §1; Acts 1992, No. 788, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Acts 1992, No. 803, §1; Acts 1995, No. 552, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §2, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 254, §2, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2018, No. 550, §1; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020; Acts 2025, No. 199, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:60 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 60
Removal of deputies and employees
Status: in_force

Subject to applicable civil service law, a registrar may remove any deputy registrar, confidential assistant, or other employee. However, no registrar who is subject to removal by the State Board of Election Supervisors pursuant to R.S. 18:53 may remove a deputy registrar, confidential assistant, or other employee from the time the registrar is made aware that he is subject to removal until after the State Board of Election Supervisors makes a final determination on the removal of the registrar.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2025, No. 371, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1461.7 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1461.7
Miscellaneous election offenses; penalties
Status: in_force

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

(1) Fail to submit to the parish registrar of voters a completed registration application collected through a third-party voter registration drive within thirty days of receipt of the completed application from the applicant or no later than the date provided in R.S. 18:135(A)(1), whichever occurs first.

(2) As a voter, election official, watcher, or person assisting a voter, allow a ballot to be seen, except as provided by law; announce the manner in which a person has cast his ballot; place a distinguishing mark on a ballot with intent to make the ballot identifiable, or make a false statement concerning ability to mark a ballot without assistance.

(3) When assisting a voter in voting, fail to mark the ballot or vote in the manner dictated by the voter.

(4) Being a physician, optometrist, physician assistant as defined in R.S. 37:1360.22, or nurse practitioner as defined in R.S. 37:913 certify to the disability of a voter under this Title or certify that a person will be hospitalized on election day, knowing such information to be false.

(5) Transmit or otherwise provide false or misleading information concerning an election from a source disguised to appear to be or while impersonating the secretary of state, a registrar of voters, a clerk of court, or other election official.

(6) Facilitate the distribution and collection of absentee by mail ballot applications or absentee by mail ballots in violation of this Title.

(7) Breach any mandatory provision of this Title.

(8) Witness the certificate of more than one voter who is not an immediate family member in violation of R.S. 18:1306.

(9) Witness more than one certificate of a voter who is not an immediate family member in violation of R.S. 18:1306.

(10) Participate in any bet or wager that is based upon any contingency whatsoever that arises from an election conducted pursuant to this Title, including any of the following:

(a) Making an offer to bet or wager on an election.

(b) Accepting a bet or wager on an election.

(c) Taking a share or monetary interest in a bet or wager on an election.

(d) Providing money to be used by another person in making a bet or wager on an election.

(e) Acting in any manner to become a party to a bet or wager on an election.

B. Whoever violates any provision of Subsection A of this Section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or be imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. On a second offense, or any subsequent offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.

C. No person shall:

(1) Possess any beverage of alcoholic content in a polling place after having been directed by a registrar or deputy registrar, commissioner-in-charge, commissioner or law enforcement officer providing assistance to maintain order at the polling place to remove or dispose of the beverage.

(2) Appear at a polling place in an intoxicated condition.

(3) Carry or possess a firearm while present in a polling place, except a peace officer as defined by R.S. 40:2402(3)(a), in the performance of his official duties.

D. Whoever violates any provision of Subsection C 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 subsequent offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

E. Any person who intentionally makes a false written statement in an attestation required by this Code shall, upon conviction, be guilty of the crime of perjury and subject to the penalty set forth in R.S. 14:123.

Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 381, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2022; Acts 2024, No. 302, §2, eff. July 1, 2025; Acts 2024, No. 317, §2, eff. May 28, 2024; Acts 2024, No. 701, §1; Acts 2024, No. 712, §1, eff. July 1, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 4, §1; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1511.11 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1511.11
Precedence of actions; limitation of actions
Status: in_force

A. Any action brought in or removed to district court under the provisions of this Chapter shall be advanced on the docket of the district court in which filed and shall take precedence over and be considered in advance of all other actions other than actions brought under this Chapter.

B. Actions for violation of this Chapter must be commenced before three years have elapsed from the date of the violation or, if the violation is contained in a report, before one year has elapsed from filing of the relevant report.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1997, No. 286, §1; Acts 2024, No. 137, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:419.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 419.2
Spring elections in 2026
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding R.S. 18:402(C)(1) or 410.10 or any other provision of law to the contrary, the following dates shall apply for the spring elections in 2026:

(1) There shall be a spring primary election held on May 16, 2026, for municipal and ward officers elected in the spring of a nonpresidential congressional election year and for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office to be elected in that year. Any contest, proposition, question, or constitutional amendment scheduled to appear on the ballot for the April 18, 2026, election shall instead appear on the ballot for the May 16, 2026, election.

(2) There shall be a spring general election held on June 27, 2026, for municipal and ward officers and, if necessary, a second party primary for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office to be elected that year. Any contest, proposition, or question scheduled to appear on the ballot for the May 30, 2026, election shall instead appear on the ballot for the June 27, 2026, election.

B.(1) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:467 or any other provision of law to the contrary, the qualifying period for candidates for the spring primary election in 2026 and for all candidates for a party primary office to be elected in 2026, and those in any special primary election to be held at the same time, shall open on February 11, 2026.

(2)(a) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:410.5 and 465(B) or any other provision of law to the contrary, any signature collected on or after September 16, 2025, on a nominating petition for an office for which qualifying opens on February 11, 2026, shall be considered timely.

(b) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:465(C)(3)(b), the number of qualified voters who must timely sign a nominating petition for a candidate for United States representative in Congress to be elected in 2026, is seven hundred fifty from within the state.

(c) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:465(C)(1), the number of qualified voters who must timely sign a nominating petition for a candidate for United States senator to be elected in 2026, is two thousand five hundred from within the state.

C.(1) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:1491.6(B)(1), each committee which is participating in the election of a candidate for major office in the May 16, 2026, election, excluding a candidate for party primary office, shall file a report as required by R.S. 18:1491.6 no later than November 20, 2025, which shall be complete through the one hundred ninetieth day prior to the May 16, 2026, election. However, it shall not be a violation of Chapter 11 of this Title for a committee to fail to file such a report prior to November 20, 2025.

(2) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:1495.4(B)(1), each candidate for major office in the May 16, 2026, election, excluding a candidate for party primary office, shall file a report as required by R.S. 18:1495.4 no later than November 20, 2025, which shall be complete through the one hundred ninetieth day prior to the May 16, 2026, election. However, it shall not be a violation of Chapter 11 of this Title for a candidate to fail to file such a report prior to November 20, 2025.

(3) A candidate who is required to file a supplemental report by February 15, 2026, pursuant to R.S. 18:1495.4(D)(3)(b) shall instead file the supplemental report by March 2, 2026.

(4) A candidate who is required to file an annual report by February 15, 2026, pursuant to R.S. 18:1495.4(E) shall instead file the annual report by March 2, 2026.

D.(1) The secretary of state may make necessary changes to any rules, regulations, forms, instructions, statements, ballots, nominating petitions, early voting ballot instructions, or absentee by mail ballot envelopes, instructions, certificates, or other balloting paraphernalia to reflect the dates and deadlines provided for in this Part without approval as otherwise required by R.S. 18:18, 423, 431, 552, or 1306.

(2) The secretary of state may proceed with emergency rulemaking pursuant to R.S. 49:962 if necessary to implement the provisions of this Part.

Acts 2025, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. Oct. 30, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:410.9 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 410.9
Nomination of candidates in a party primary election; general election; unopposed candidate
Status: in_force

A. If, after the close of the qualifying period for candidates in a party primary election, only one candidate qualified for the major political party or only one candidate for the major political party remains after the withdrawal of one or more candidates, the candidate is declared the nominee of the party, and his name shall not appear on the ballot in a party primary election but shall be on the ballot for the general election. If a party primary election ballot was printed with the name of a candidate who withdrew on it, any votes received by a candidate who withdrew shall be void and shall not be counted for any purpose whatsoever.

B. If, after the close of the qualifying period for candidates for a party primary office, only one candidate qualified for a party primary election or the general election or only one candidate remains after the withdrawal or disqualification of one or more candidates, the candidate is declared elected by the people at the close of the polls on the day of the general election, and his name shall not appear on the ballot in a party primary and such candidate's name shall not appear on the general election ballot.

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. § 18:1260 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1260
Votes for presidential electors
Status: in_force

A vote for a presidential and a vice presidential candidate shall be a vote for each of the electors nominated in support of those candidates, whether by a recognized political party, by a nominating petition, or by the filing of notices of candidacy accompanied by a qualifying fee.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 588, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1466 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1466
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this Chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings hereafter ascribed to each:

(1) "Person" shall have the meaning ascribed to it by R.S. 1:10.

(2) "Election official" means:

(a) The parish board of election supervisors.

(b) Clerks and their employees who perform duties in the election process.

(c) Registrars of voters and their employees.

(d) The secretary of state and employees of his office who perform duties in the election process.

(e) Commissioners, including the commissioner-in-charge.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1400.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1400.4
Elections costs for parish boards of election supervisors; payment of compensation; reimbursement; expenses
Status: in_force

A. Election expenses incurred by parish boards of election supervisors 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) Election expenses incurred by parish boards of election supervisors 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) Election expenses incurred by parish boards of election supervisors 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 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.

D. For the purposes of this Section, "election expenses incurred by the parish boards of election supervisors" is defined and limited to the following:

(1) Compensation of each member of the parish board of election supervisors as provided in R.S. 18:423(E).

(2) Expenses of an extraordinary nature incurred by the parish boards of election supervisors for an election which have received prior approval of the secretary of state.

(3) Expenses incurred by a parish board of election supervisors to pay for law enforcement officers used during the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots.

E. Any other expenses incurred by the parish board of election supervisors in the performance of its duties shall be paid by the state from funds appropriated to the secretary of state for that purpose.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 681, §1, eff. July 21, 1983; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1990, No. 116, §1; Acts 1992, No. 963, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:107 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 107
Party affiliation for registration; change in party affiliation
Status: in_force

A. An applicant need not be a member of a political party or declare a party affiliation in order to be registered, but in such case the words "no party" or an abbreviation thereof on the application form shall be circled.

B. A registrant may change his party affiliation by making application therefor in writing to the registrar. When he receives the request, the registrar shall note the political party designated by the registrant and the date of the change 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.

C. If a registrant has registered without declaration of party affiliation and afterwards desires to affiliate with a party, he shall make written application therefor to the registrar, and the registrar shall enter 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, the party the registrant selects and the date of the change.

D. If a registrant has registered with a declaration of party affiliation and afterwards desires to affiliate with no party, he shall make written application therefor to the registrar, and the registrar shall enter 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, the words "no party" or an abbreviation thereof and the date of the change.

E. The provisions of Subsections B, C, and D of this Section, relative to party affiliation, shall be subject to the provisions of R.S. 18:135(B).

F. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections B and C of this Section, a registrant shall not be designated as being affiliated with more than one party at the same time.

G.(1) A person who applies for registration on or after August 1, 2025, shall not be designated as "Independent" or designated as being affiliated with the "Independent Party". An applicant who declares party affiliation as "Independent" or with the "Independent Party" shall have his party affiliation entered as "No Party". The Department of State shall notify the registrant of the change pursuant to R.S. 18:109. The notice shall contain an explanation for the change in registration.

(2) A registrant who is registered as "Independent" or designated as being affiliated with the "Independent Party" before August 1, 2025, shall have his party affiliation changed to "No Party". The Department of State shall notify the registrant of the change pursuant to R.S. 18:109. The notice shall contain an explanation for the change in registration.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 544, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 2009, No. 186, §2, eff. June 29, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 533, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2025, No. 84, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:461.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 461.1
Ethics education requirement; certification for ethics education
Status: in_force

A. Any person who becomes a candidate for statewide elective office or the office of state representative or state senator shall be required to obtain at least one hour of ethics education and training in the same manner as required of public servants by R.S. 42:1170.

B. Each person who has qualified for a statewide elective office or the office of state representative or state senator shall certify that he has obtained at least one hour of ethics education and training as required by this Section by executing the certification designed pursuant to Subsection C of this Section. The certification shall be filed with the Board of Ethics no later than three business days after the close of the qualifying period for such office.

C. The certification required by this Section shall be designed by the Board of Ethics and shall at a minimum include the assertion that all of the statements contained in it are true and correct.

D. The certification form and a notice to the candidate regarding the requirements and the availability of education and training shall be included in the informational packets provided for in R.S. 18:463(D).

Acts 2012, No. 707, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:511 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 511
Election of candidates in a primary election
Status: in_force

A. Majority vote. A candidate who receives a majority of the votes cast for an office in a primary election is elected. If there are two or more offices of the same character to be filled, the number of votes necessary to constitute a majority shall be greater than the result obtained by dividing the total votes cast for all of the candidates by the number of offices to be filled and dividing the result so obtained by two. If more candidates receive a majority than there are offices to be filled, those of such candidates receiving the highest total of votes shall be elected, to the number required to fill all of the offices. Any votes received by a withdrawn candidate or a deceased candidate shall be void and shall not be counted for any purpose whatsoever.

B. Election of unopposed candidates for public office. If, after the close of the qualifying period for candidates in a primary election other than a party primary election, the number of candidates for a public office does not exceed the number of persons to be elected to the office, the candidates for that office, or those remaining after the withdrawal of one or more candidates, are declared elected by the people, and their names shall not appear on the ballot in either the primary or the general election.

C. Election of unopposed candidates for membership on party committees. If, after the close of the qualifying period for candidates in a primary election, the number of candidates for membership on a political party committee does not exceed the number of members to be elected to the committee, the candidates for membership on that political party committee, or those remaining after the death or withdrawal of one or more candidates, are declared elected by the people, and their names shall not appear on the ballot in either the primary or the general election.

D. Effect of a tie vote. If, as a result of a tie vote in a primary election, the number of candidates who would be elected to an office exceeds the number of persons to be elected to the office, the candidates who received the same majority of the votes cast in the primary election are not elected, but they are qualified as candidates in the general election.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 523, §eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 2005, No. 282, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; 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. § 18:1922.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1922.1
Public participation
Status: in_force

A. Prior to the adoption of any redistricting or reapportionment plan, a local governing body shall hold a minimum of two public hearings. At least one hearing shall be held within thirty days after the publication of any proposed redistricting plan.

B. Each member of the public who attends a hearing shall be afforded an opportunity to testify on the record in accordance with the rules of the local governing body.

Acts 2023, No. 240, §1, eff. June 9, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:454 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 454
Campaign Sign Recycling Fund
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby established in the state treasury, as a special fund, the Campaign Sign Recycling Fund, hereinafter referred to in this Section as the "fund".

B.(1) After allocation of money to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund as provided in Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, the treasurer shall deposit into the fund the following:

(a) Monies collected from candidate qualifying fees for an election pursuant to R.S. 18:464(B)(5).

(b) Monies designated for the fund and received by the state treasurer from donations, gifts, grants, appropriations, or other revenue.

(2) Monies in the fund shall be invested in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. Interest earned on investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited into the state general fund. Unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.

C.(1) Monies in the fund shall be appropriated to the secretary of state for the recycling of political campaign signs.

(2) The secretary of state shall promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act necessary for implementation and administration of the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

Acts 2025, No. 213, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1367.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1367.2
Authority to resolve protested solicitations and awards
Status: in_force

A. Right to protest. Any person who is aggrieved in connection with the solicitation or award of a contract of a voting system or system components issued by the applicable chief procurement officer shall protest to the chief procurement officer. Protests with respect to a solicitation shall be submitted in writing at least ten days prior to the opening of bids. Protests with respect to the award of a contract shall be submitted in writing within fourteen days after contract award.

B. Authority to resolve protests. The chief procurement officer or his designee shall have authority, prior to the commencement of an action in court concerning the controversy, to settle and resolve a protest of an aggrieved person concerning the solicitation or award of a contract. This authority shall be exercised in accordance with regulations promulgated pursuant to R.S. 39:1671(H).

C. Decision. If the protest is not resolved by mutual agreement, the chief procurement officer or his designee shall, within seven days, issue a decision in writing. The decision shall:

(1) State the reasons for the action taken.

(2) Inform the protestant of its right to administrative and judicial review as provided in this Subpart.

D. Notice of decision. A copy of the decision under Subsection C of this Section shall be mailed or otherwise furnished immediately to the protestant and any other party intervening.

E. Finality of decision. A decision under Subsection C of this Section shall be final and conclusive unless one of the following applies:

(1) The decision is fraudulent.

(2) The person adversely affected by the decision has timely appealed administratively to the commissioner in accordance with R.S. 18:1367.6.

F. Stay of procurements during protests. In the event of a timely protest under Subsection A of this Section, the state shall not proceed further with the solicitation or with the awarding of the contract unless the chief procurement officer makes a written determination that the awarding of the contract is necessary without delay to protect the substantial interests of the state. Upon such determination by the chief procurement officer, no court shall enjoin progress under the award except after notice and hearing.

G. Award of costs to protestants. In addition to any other relief, when the protest is administratively or judicially sustained and the protesting bidder or proposer should have been awarded the contract but is not, the protesting bidder or proposer shall be entitled to the reasonable costs incurred in connection with the solicitation, including bid or proposal preparation costs other than attorney fees, provided that any administrative determination of such costs shall be subject to the written concurrence of the attorney general.

Acts 2025, No. 208, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:552 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 552
Election materials
Status: in_force

A. Materials furnished. At least twenty-two days before a primary election and as soon as possible for a general election:

(1) The secretary of state shall furnish the ballots to be used on the voting machines;

(2) The secretary of state shall furnish to the parish custodian of voting machines for each parish in which voting shall be conducted in an election two copies of a statement, which has been approved by the attorney general, explaining the scope and nature of any proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot and two sample ballots for each voting precinct at which voting shall be conducted in an election; and

(3) The secretary of state shall furnish the parish custodian of voting machines for each parish with the election materials required by the rules and regulations of the state board of election supervisors for the conduct of the election at each polling place.

(4) The secretary of state shall furnish to the parish custodian of voting machines for each parish in which voting will be conducted in an election a supply of state mail voter registration application forms. The custodian of voting machines shall distribute the forms to every location in the parish where voting will be conducted, and the forms shall be made available to the public at the polling place at all times when the polling place is open for voting.

B. In the case of a federal election, in addition to the materials provided in Subsection A of this Section, the secretary of state shall supply informational posters as required by the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

C. Delivery of materials. The contractor who delivers the voting machines also shall deliver the election materials to each polling place under the direction and supervision of the parish custodian of voting machines.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978; Acts 1982, No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1983; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 2001, No. 451, §1, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §2, eff. July 3, 2003; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1308 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1308
Absentee voting by mail
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a) Beginning with the date on which the registrar receives the absentee by mail ballots and other necessary paraphernalia from the secretary of state, and thereafter, immediately upon receipt of an application by mail, the registrar shall mail the necessary instructions, certificates, ballots, and envelopes to the applicant at the address furnished by the applicant.

(b) If the voter feels he will not have time to vote timely by mail, the voter may request that the registrar transmit to him by facsimile a ballot, or a second ballot, as the case may be, along with a certificate and waiver of the right to a secret ballot as provided in Subsection D of this Section, and the registrar shall do so if he has a facsimile machine in his office. However, the registrar shall not be required to send a second ballot by facsimile if the voter received a ballot by mail. The voter may mail his voted ballot and completed certificate and waiver back to the registrar or transmit the documents by facsimile at the facsimile machine number designated by the registrar. Upon receipt, the registrar shall place the voted ballot along with the completed certificate and waiver in an appropriately marked envelope and seal it.

(c)(i) A voter who is eligible to vote absentee by mail pursuant to R.S. 18:1303(D)(1) and who feels he will not have time to vote timely by mail may request that the registrar transmit electronically to him a ballot along with a certificate and waiver of the right to a secret ballot as provided in Subsection D of this Section, and the registrar shall do so. Alternatively, an immediate family member of the voter may pick up the necessary instructions, certificate, ballot, and envelope at the registrar's office.

(ii) If the materials are transmitted electronically to the voter, the voter shall mark the ballot as provided in R.S. 18:1310 and complete the certificate and waiver and return his voted ballot and completed certificate and waiver to the registrar by facsimile or any means authorized by Subsection B of this Section.

(iii) If an immediate family member of the voter picks up the voter's materials, the voter shall mark the ballot as provided in R.S. 18:1310 and return his voted ballot and completed certificate to the registrar by facsimile or any means authorized by Subsection B of this Section. If the voter returns the voted ballot and completed certificate by facsimile, he shall also include his completed waiver, and the registrar and his staff shall take the steps necessary to keep the voted ballot as confidential as practicable.

(d)(i) Upon request, the registrar shall transmit electronically a ballot, certificate, and waiver of the right to a secret ballot as provided in Subsection D of this Section to a voter who is eligible to vote absentee by mail pursuant to R.S. 18:1303(F) or (I) and who is unable to vote an absentee by mail ballot without assistance because of a disability.

(ii) The voter shall mark the ballot and complete the certificate and waiver as provided in R.S. 18:1310 and return his voted ballot and completed certificate and waiver to the registrar by facsimile or any means authorized by Subsection B of this Section.

(2)(a) With respect to members of the United States Service and persons residing outside of the United States who are registered to vote, these materials shall be mailed as provided by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 39 U.S.C. 3406 and 52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq., and shall include both the primary election ballot and the special ballot for the general election. The registrar shall mail the materials for candidates for United States senator or United States representative in congressional primary and general elections, candidates for presidential nominee in presidential preference primary elections, and candidates in presidential elections at least forty-five days prior to the election to those voters who have made application to vote absentee by mail by such time.

(b) Notwithstanding the provision of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, with respect to members of the United States Service and persons residing outside of the United States who are registered to vote, these materials may be electronically transmitted as follows:

(i) For candidates for United States senator or United States representative in congressional primary and general elections, the registrar shall include the special ballot or ballots as provided in R.S. 18:1306(A)(4) for the congressional general election. The registrar shall transmit the materials at least forty-five days prior to the election to those voters who have requested electronic transmission by such time.

(ii) For candidates for presidential nominee in presidential preference primary elections and candidates in presidential elections, the registrar shall transmit the materials at least forty-five days prior to the election to those voters who have requested electronic transmission by such time.

(iii) For candidates for state, local, and municipal offices, the registrar shall include the special ballot or ballots as provided in R.S. 18:1306(A)(4) for the general election.

(iv) Materials may be electronically transmitted for candidates for political party offices and for recall, proposed constitutional amendments, proposition, and question elections.

(c) For mailed ballots, the envelope mailed to the voter shall contain ballot envelopes, an adequate number of certificates required pursuant to R.S. 18:1306, and a return envelope. The return envelope shall bear the official title and mailing address of the registrar and the name, return address, and precinct or district number of the voter. The voter shall return his voted primary election ballot and certificate and special ballot and certificate for the general election to the registrar in the appropriate envelope. The registrar of voters shall mail a regular general election absentee ballot to a member of the United States Service or to persons residing overseas only if the regular general election absentee ballot includes one or more elections that were not included on the special ballot sent, as provided herein, to the voter. The envelope for the special ballot shall contain language on the outside of the envelope that clearly designates which envelope is to be used for return of the general election ballot.

(d)(i) For electronically transmitted ballots, the registrar shall transmit the ballot or ballots, certificate, and waiver of the right to a secret ballot as provided in Subsection D of this Section to the voter for each ballot mailing. The voter shall return by facsimile or any means authorized by Subsection B of this Section his voted ballot or ballots and completed certificate and waiver for each ballot mailing.

(ii) The voter may use a separate "Security Envelope" and ballot transmittal envelope from the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot to mail the electronically transmitted presidential preference primary, presidential, congressional primary, or congressional general election ballot or ballots, certificate, and waiver of the right to a secret ballot to the parish registrar of voters for each ballot mailing.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Paragraph, a voter who is a member of the United States Service or who resides outside of the United States and who feels he will not have time to vote timely by mail may request that the registrar transmit to him by facsimile a ballot, or a second ballot, as the case may be, along with a certificate and waiver of the right to a secret ballot as provided in Subsection D of this Section, and the registrar shall do so. The voter may then mail his voted ballot and completed certificate and waiver back to the registrar or transmit the documents by facsimile at the facsimile machine number designated by the registrar. Upon receipt, the registrar shall place the voted ballot along with the completed certificate and waiver in an appropriately marked envelope and seal it.

(f)(i) The secretary of state as the chief election officer of the state shall take all actions reasonably necessary to allow members of the United States Service and persons residing outside of the United States to vote according to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act or otherwise, whether by mail, facsimile, or other means of transmission of the ballot, notwithstanding any provision of this Code to the contrary.

(ii) The secretary of state as the chief election officer of the state shall take all actions reasonably necessary to allow registered voters who are unable to vote during early voting or at the polling place on election day due to out-of-parish or out-of-state work responsibilities relating to a declared emergency to vote, whether by mail, facsimile, or other means of transmission of the ballot.

B.(1) The ballot shall be marked as provided in R.S. 18:1310 and returned to the registrar by the United States Postal Service, a commercial courier, or hand delivery. If delivered by other than the voter, a commercial courier, or the United States Postal Service, the registrar shall require that the person making such delivery sign a statement, prepared by the secretary of state, certifying that the person has the authorization and consent of the voter to hand deliver the marked ballot. For purposes of this Subsection, "commercial courier" shall have the same meaning as provided in R.S. 13:3204(D). No person except the immediate family of the voter, as defined in this Code, shall submit by any means or send for delivery by the United States Postal Service or commercial courier more than one marked ballot per election to the registrar. Upon its receipt, the registrar shall post the name and precinct of the voter as required by R.S. 18:1311.

(2) If the ballot is hand delivered, the voter or person authorized by the voter pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall deliver the absentee ballot to the registrar or to an employee of the registrar at one of the following locations:

(a) The registrar's principal office, as long as the absentee by mail ballot is returned during the time period set forth in Subsection C of this Section.

(b) The registrar's branch office, as long as the absentee by mail ballot is returned during the time period set forth in Subsection C of this Section.

(c) An early voting location in the parish in which the voter is registered to vote, as long as the ballot is returned during the applicable period of time set forth for early voting in R.S. 18:1309.

C. Except as provided in R.S. 18:1308.1(C) and 1311(D)(1) and (5), all ballots received by the registrar by 4:30 p.m. on the day before election day shall be counted.

D.(1) The waiver of the right to a secret ballot shall contain the following statement: "My ballot was transmitted by facsimile to me, and I am voluntarily waiving my right to a secret ballot." The waiver shall also contain spaces for the voter's handwritten signature, the date, and the last four digits of the voter's social security number.

(2) The registrar and his staff shall take the steps necessary to keep all voted ballots accompanied by a completed certificate and waiver as confidential as practicable.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 513, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 475, §1; Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1986, No. 425, §1; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, No. 201, §1, eff. July 2, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 438, §1, eff. June 20, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; 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 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; 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 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2012, No. 140, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 241, §1, eff. June 12, 2013; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 307, §1, eff. June 29, 2015; Acts 2016, No. 508, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017; Acts 2021, No. 381, §1, eff. June 17, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022; Acts 2022, No. 539, §1, eff. June 17, 2022; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:464 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 464
Qualifying fees; additional fees imposed by political party committees; financial statements
Status: in_force

A. Method of payment. The qualifying fee shall be paid to the official with whom the candidate qualifies and shall accompany the notice of candidacy. The qualifying fee 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.

B. Amount of qualifying fees. The qualifying fees for candidates in primary elections are:

(1) For state candidates -- two thousand five hundred dollars for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, commissioner of agriculture, and commissioner of insurance; three thousand five hundred dollars for United States senator; one thousand five hundred dollars for United States representative; four hundred fifty dollars for justice of the supreme court, judge of a court of appeal, and member of the public service commission; and six hundred dollars for all other state candidates.

(2) For local candidates -- three hundred dollars for state senator and district judge, two hundred twenty-five dollars for state representative, parish president, and other district or parochial offices, one hundred fifteen dollars for police juror, parish council member, and school board member, and seventy-five dollars for ward and all other local offices.

(3) For municipal candidates -- forty dollars in a municipality with a population of less than five thousand, seventy-five dollars in a municipality with a population of five thousand or more but less than twenty-five thousand, one hundred fifty dollars in a municipality with a population of twenty-five thousand or more but less than fifty thousand, two hundred twenty-five dollars in a municipality with a population of fifty thousand or more but less than one hundred thousand, three hundred dollars in a municipality with a population of one hundred thousand or more but less than three hundred thousand, and three hundred seventy-five dollars in a municipality with a population of three hundred thousand or more. Population for purposes of this Paragraph shall be the population shown by the latest federal decennial census.

(4) For candidates for membership on state central committees and parish executive committees of political parties -- seventy-five dollars.

(5) All candidates other than candidates for membership on the state central committee or parish executive committee of a political party, in addition to the qualifying fees established pursuant to Paragraphs (1) through (4) of this Subsection, shall pay an additional qualifying fee of twenty-five dollars. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the additional fee paid pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph shall be deposited into the Campaign Sign Recycling Fund as established in R.S. 18:454.

C. Additional fees imposed by state central committees. (1) A state central committee of a political party may impose an additional fee on a state candidate or a candidate for presidential nominee who is affiliated with that political party. The amount of the additional fee shall be uniform as to all candidates for each office of the same kind or character and in no event shall be in an amount in excess of one-half the qualifying fee fixed by law. If a state central committee of a political party fixes an additional fee, then at the time a state candidate or a candidate for presidential nominee qualifies with the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall collect the additional fee and make a record containing the name of the candidate from whom received, the amount of the fee, and the state central party committee with which the candidate is affiliated. After the close of the qualifying period for state candidates in a primary election, the secretary of state shall immediately transmit all additional fees so collected to the state central committee for the party with which the candidate is affiliated. The fee so imposed and collected shall be retained and used by that state central party committee.

(2) A state central committee of a political party may fix and impose an additional fee on all candidates for membership on that committee; however, if an additional fee as authorized by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection is imposed on state candidates, then a fee of not less than twenty-five dollars shall be assessed and collected from all candidates for membership on the state central committee. The additional fee shall be paid at the time of qualification as a candidate and shall be collected by the official with whom the candidate qualifies. The official who collects these additional fees shall make a record containing the name of each candidate from whom received, the amount of the fee, and political party with which the candidate is affiliated. After the close of the qualifying period for a candidate in a primary election, the official who collected such additional fees shall immediately transmit all additional fees so collected and the name of each candidate to the state central committee on which the candidate is seeking membership. The fee so imposed and collected shall be retained and used by the state central committee imposing the fee.

(3)(a) In any parish, a state central committee of a political party may impose an additional fee on a local or municipal candidate who is affiliated with that political party. The amount of the additional fee shall be uniform as to all candidates for each office of the same kind or character and in no event shall be in an amount in excess of one-half the qualifying fee fixed by law.

(b) If a state central committee of a political party fixes an additional fee, then at the time a local or municipal candidate qualifies, the additional fee shall be paid to and collected by the official with whom the candidate qualifies. The official who collects these additional fees shall make a record containing the name of each candidate from whom received, the amount of the fee, and political party with which the candidate is affiliated. After the close of the qualifying period for a candidate in a primary election, the official who collected the additional fees shall immediately transmit all additional fees so collected and the name of each candidate to the state central committee. The fees so imposed and collected shall be retained and used by the state central committee imposing the fee.

(4) The additional fee imposed by a state central committee of a recognized political party with which thirty percent or less of the registered voters in the state are affiliated at the opening of the qualifying period for all candidates for membership on that committee shall be two hundred sixty-two dollars and fifty cents unless such amount is decreased by resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the state central committee of such party.

D. Additional fees imposed by parish executive committees. (1)(a) A parish executive committee of a political party in any parish may impose an additional fee on a local or municipal candidate who is affiliated with that political party. The amount of the additional fee shall be uniform as to all candidates for each office of the same kind or character and in no event shall be in an amount in excess of one-half the qualifying fee fixed by law.

(b) If a parish executive committee fixes an additional fee, then at the time a local or municipal candidate qualifies with the clerk of court, the clerk shall collect the additional fee and make a record containing the name of the candidate from whom received, the amount of the fee, and the parish executive committee with which the candidate is affiliated. After the close of the qualifying period for a candidate in a primary election, the clerk shall immediately transmit all additional fees so collected to the parish executive committee with which the candidate is affiliated. The fee so imposed and collected shall be retained and used by that parish executive committee.

(2) A parish executive committee of a political party may fix and impose an additional fee on all candidates for membership on such committee; however, in no event shall the additional fee be in an amount in excess of one-half of the qualifying fee fixed by law. If an additional fee as authorized by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection is imposed on local and municipal candidates, then a fee of not less than twenty-five dollars shall be assessed and collected from all candidates for membership on the parish executive committee. The additional fee shall be paid at the time of qualification as a candidate and shall be collected by the official with whom the candidate qualifies. The official who collects these additional fees shall make a record containing the name of each candidate from whom received, the amount of the fee, and the political party with which the candidate is affiliated. After the close of the qualifying period for a candidate in a primary election, the official who collected the additional fees shall immediately transmit all additional fees so collected to the parish executive committee on which the candidate is seeking membership. The fee so imposed and collected shall be retained and used by the parish executive committee imposing the fee.

E. Clerks' fees. Each clerk of court may retain from the qualifying fees of each local and municipal candidate and each candidate for membership on a political party committee a fee of not more than ten percent, but not less than ten dollars, which shall be retained by the clerk and used by him to cover his office expenses for filing and recording the candidate's qualifying papers. However, the sums retained by the clerk of court shall be retained only from those qualifying fees that are remitted to the secretary of state.

F. Financial statements. Each state central committee and each parish executive committee shall file a financial statement annually, certified by the treasurer or, if none, by the chairman, as to its accuracy, with the legislative auditor. Each parish executive committee shall file a copy of the financial statement with the state central committee of the party with which it is affiliated. The financial statement shall be in a form approved by the legislative auditor.

G. Use of fees. Fees collected by state central committees and parish executive committees pursuant to this Section shall be used solely for the operation of such committees. No such fees shall be used for the direct benefit of any particular candidate for public office.

H. Notice of imposition of fees. Each state central committee and parish executive committee shall, no later than thirty days prior to the beginning of qualifying, notify, in writing, the secretary of state and the clerk of court of any parish affected, if said committee will impose additional qualifying fees on candidates. However, once the notice of imposition is filed in accordance with this Subsection, a notice need not be filed again unless the state central committee or parish executive committee discontinues such imposition or changes the amount of fees to be imposed.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1982, No. 531, §1, eff. July 22, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 1985, No. 123, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 235, §1; Acts 1989, No. 652, §1; Acts 1991, 1st E.S., No. 1, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 596, §1; Acts 1992, No. 944, §1; Acts 1992, No. 949, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Acts 1997, No. 469, §1; Acts 2003, No. 910, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 526, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2004, No. 604, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2018, No. 584, §1, eff. May 28, 2018; Acts 2025, No. 213, §1, eff. June 8, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 495, §1.

NOTE: See Acts 1989, No. 652, §2, relative to disposition of funds from fees.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:21 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 21
Maps; use of voting machines, technology, and other resources; fees; Voting Technology Fund
Status: in_force

A. The secretary of state may produce and sell maps of precincts and election jurisdictions. The secretary of state may charge uniform, reasonable fees for the maps. The fees shall be established by rule adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

B. The secretary of state may utilize the voting machines, voting technology, and other resources of his office to conduct an election not governed by the provisions of this Code or law. The secretary of state may charge uniform, reasonable fees for this service. The fees shall be established by rule adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

C.(1) There is hereby created as a special fund in the state treasury, the Voting Technology Fund, hereafter in this Subsection referred to as the "fund". The source of monies for the fund shall be the monies derived from fees imposed pursuant to this Section, and any other monies appropriated to the fund.

(2) All fees imposed and collected pursuant to this Section shall be remitted to the state treasurer for immediate deposit into the state treasury. After compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, and prior to monies being placed in the state general fund, an amount equal to the fees collected as required by this Section shall be credited to the fund. Monies in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. All interest earned on the investment of monies in the fund shall be credited to this fund following compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of each fiscal year shall remain in the fund.

(3) All monies in the fund shall be used solely and exclusively for general operating purposes and for the acquisition and maintenance of voting machine technology, including hardware and software; voting equipment and supplies; voter outreach; voter improvement; early voting; and information technology products to produce, run, and support the election and voting system.

Acts 2015, No. 296, §1, eff. Jan. 11, 2016; Acts 2019, No. 362, §3, eff. June 11, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:672 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 672
Filing of complaint
Status: in_force

When any voter lawfully registered in the district or geographical area from which an officeholder has been elected, or from which an officeholder has been appointed or otherwise selected to hold an office, has reason to believe that the officeholder no longer meets the residence or domicile requirements of that office, the voter may make a written complaint of that fact to the proper official.

Acts 1988, No. 550, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 1988.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1511.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1511.6
Procedures for enforcement; criminal
Status: in_force

A. When the results of the supervisory committee's investigation indicate that a knowing, willful, and fraudulent violation or an intentional criminal violation of this Chapter has occurred, the supervisory committee shall forward all information concerning the alleged violation to the district attorney of the judicial district in which the alleged violation has occurred who shall review such information and make such investigation and initiate such prosecution as he shall deem necessary; except, if the violation occurred with regard to a campaign for the office of district attorney for the judicial district in which the violation took place, the committee shall forward all information concerning the alleged violation to the attorney general who, for cause, when authorized by the court which would have original jurisdiction and subject to judicial review, shall proceed with such criminal prosecutions as are provided by this Chapter.

B. Only the district attorney or attorney general may initiate criminal actions under the provisions of this Chapter. Initiation of such criminal actions by the district attorney or attorney general shall be on the basis of information forwarded by the supervisory committee to the district attorney or attorney general or on the basis of such other information as may be available to the district attorney or the attorney general. The supervisory committee shall have no authority to initiate prosecution.

C. The supervisory committee shall post on its website the name of each person or entity that is the target of any investigation forwarded to the district attorney or attorney general as provided in Subsection A of this Section. The posting shall indicate the date of such referral and the current status of prosecution. The status of each prosecution shall be updated quarterly for two years or until there is a final disposition of the matter, whichever occurs first.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 2008, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 27, §1, eff. March 30, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 904, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1495.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1495.4
Reports required; reporting times and periods; extension
Status: in_force

A. The candidate and his campaign treasurer, if any, shall be responsible for filing a report of all information required in this Section and R.S. 18:1495.5 with the supervisory committee at the times required in this Section. The candidate and his campaign treasurer, if any, shall certify, in each report, that the information contained in the report is true and correct to the best of their knowledge, information and belief, that no expenditures have been made and no contributions have been received that are not reported therein, and that no information required by this Part has been deliberately omitted.

B. A report shall be filed for a candidate for each regularly scheduled election in which the candidate participates according to the following schedule:

(1) Each candidate for major office , excluding a candidate for party primary office, shall file a report no later than the one hundred eightieth day prior to the primary election, which shall be complete through the one hundred ninetieth day prior to the primary election.

(2) Each candidate for major office, excluding a candidate for party primary office, shall file a report no later than the ninetieth day prior to the primary election, which shall be complete through the one hundredth day prior to the primary election.

(3) Each candidate shall file a report no later than the thirtieth day prior to the primary election, which shall be complete through the fortieth day prior to the primary election.

(4)(a) Each candidate shall file a report no later than the tenth day prior to the primary election which shall be complete through the twentieth day prior to the primary election.

(b) If a second party primary election is held, each candidate shall file a report no later than the tenth day prior to the second party primary election which shall be complete through the twentieth day prior to the second party primary election.

(c) Each candidate for a party primary office shall file a report no later than the ninetieth day prior to the general election for a party primary office, which shall be complete through the one hundredth day prior to the general election for a party primary office. This shall be the final report for the election for any candidate which does not participate in the general election for party primary office, unless supplemental reports are required as provided in Subsection D of this Section.

(d) Each candidate participating in the general election for a party primary office shall file a report no later than the thirtieth day before the general election for a party primary office, which shall be complete through the fortieth day before the general election for a party primary office.

(5) Each candidate shall file a report no later than the tenth day prior to the general election which shall be complete through the twentieth day prior to the general election. This shall be the final report for the election for any candidate who does not participate in the general election, unless supplemental reports are required as provided in Subsection D of this Section.

(6) Each candidate shall file a report no later than the fortieth day after the general election which shall be complete through the thirtieth day after the general election. This report shall be the final report for the election for any candidate who participated in the general election, unless supplemental reports are required as provided in Subsection D of this Section.

(7) The final report of a candidate who either withdraws as a candidate or is unopposed for election to the office he seeks shall be the next report due as required in this Subsection as of the date that the candidate withdraws or ascertains that he is unopposed, unless supplemental reports are required as provided in Subsection D of this Section. The report shall contain a statement that it is the final report and the reasons therefor.

C. During the period beginning at midnight of the twentieth day prior to a primary election and extending through midnight of primary election day; during the period beginning at midnight of the twentieth day prior to a second party primary election and extending through midnight of the second party primary election day, if applicable; and during the period beginning at midnight of the twentieth day prior to a general election and extending through midnight of general election day, each candidate shall file a report with the supervisory committee of:

(1)(a) The full name and address of each person from whom the candidate has received and accepted a contribution or loan during such period in excess of the following amounts: a candidate for any major office, two thousand dollars; a candidate for district office, one thousand dollars; a candidate for any other office, five hundred dollars.

(b) Such report shall include the amount and date of each such contribution or loan reported, and a brief description and valuation of each in-kind contribution. If a loan is reported, the report shall contain the 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.

(2) Any expenditure in excess of five hundred dollars made to a candidate, committee, or person required to file reports by this Chapter, who makes endorsements, including the full name and address of each person to whom such expenditure is made, the amount, date, and purpose of each such expenditure, and a brief description and valuation of an in-kind expenditure.

(3) Each report required by this Subsection shall be filed within two business days of the contribution or loan being received or expenditure being made. If such time falls other than during regular working hours, the report shall be filed as soon as possible after the opening of the office of the supervisory committee on the next working day after the time at which the report is otherwise due.

D.(1) If the final report of a candidate for an election, as required by Paragraph (B)(5), (6), or (7) of this Section, shows a deficit or a surplus, the candidate and his treasurer, if any, shall file supplemental reports with the supervisory committee of all information required in R.S. 18:1495.5. Such reports shall be filed annually no later than February twenty-eighth and shall be complete through the preceding December thirty-first. Such a supplemental report shall be filed each year until a report has been filed which shows no deficit and until any surplus campaign funds have been disposed of in accordance with R.S. 18:1505.2(I). The report on surplus funds shall disclose the disbursement of such funds in the same manner as expenditures are reported.

(2) "Deficit", for purposes of this Subsection, means debts or obligations owed by the candidate which are required to be reported by R.S. 18:1495.5(B)(14).

(3)(a) A report need not be filed under this Subsection if the candidate is not an elected public official and shows either a deficit or a surplus of less than five thousand dollars. However, if the candidate is not an elected public official and his deficit or surplus is equal to or greater than five thousand dollars, the candidate shall file supplemental reports with the supervisory committee of all information required in R.S. 18:1495.5. Such report shall be filed annually no later than February twenty-eighth and shall be complete through the preceding December thirty-first. Such report shall be filed each year for five years or until a report has been filed which shows no deficit or surplus.

(b) However, if after five years a candidate with a deficit receives any contribution or if any repayment occurs on an outstanding debt or loan, such candidate shall file a supplemental report by the following February fifteenth which shall be complete through the preceding December thirty-first.

(c) Any individual who was a candidate and who is elected to or is serving in any elected public office during the reporting period for any supplemental report required by this Paragraph shall be considered to be an elected public official for the purposes of this Paragraph whether or not the office to which he is elected is the office for which his candidacy resulted in the deficit or surplus for which a report is required.

(d) If the candidate or former candidate has surplus campaign funds, a report need not be filed under this Subsection if such candidate or former candidate files an annual report in accordance with Subsection E of this Section which includes such surplus campaign funds.

E. A report shall be filed for each candidate, as defined by R.S. 18:1483, of all information required in R.S. 18:1495.5 no later than February fifteenth of each year which shall be complete as of the preceding December thirty-first. The annual report required by this Subsection shall not be required:

(1) If under another provision of this Section the candidate has filed another report of the information required by R.S. 18:1495.5 at any time after the preceding December tenth and prior to February fifteenth due date, or

(2) If the candidate files a supplemental report as required by R.S. 18:1495.4(D) and has not otherwise, during the reporting period, become a candidate, as defined in R.S. 18:1483, or

(3) If the candidate has received no contributions, made no expenditures, and received or made no loans during the reporting period for such report.

F.(1) The reports required for any regularly scheduled election shall also be filed for any special election to the extent that the dates for filing reports occur after the proclamation setting the dates for the election.

(2) The reports required for any regularly scheduled election shall also be filed for any court-ordered election.

(3) For elections held pursuant to R.S. 18:512, the supervisory committee may require the filing of any reports, in addition to those filed pursuant to Subsections B, C, and D of this Section, that it deems necessary. Any such requirement shall be by rule.

(4) The supervisory committee may promulgate rules to effect the provisions of this Subsection. The rules may waive any report required to be filed within ten days after the proclamation setting the dates for a special election or judgment ordering a new election and any report that the supervisory committee deems redundant or burdensome because of the timing of the election.

G. The reporting period for all reports of candidates, except the first report for any election, shall be the period from the time through which the preceding report was complete through the closing date for the particular report. The reporting period for the first report of candidate for any election shall be the period from the time when the candidate becomes a candidate through the closing date for the report. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a candidate is required to file reports in connection with a previous candidacy, the reporting period for the first report for the election shall be the period from the time through which the latest report is complete through the closing date for the particular report.

H. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, the supervisory committee shall grant any candidate in service in the uniformed services at the time a report is due an automatic extension of thirty days past the deadlines otherwise required by law to file such report if the candidate gives written notice of such service to the supervisory committee prior to the due date of the report. The failure of such a candidate to give such prior notice shall not impair the ability of the candidate to obtain a waiver for good cause pursuant to R.S. 42:1157.2. For purposes of this Subsection, the terms "service in the uniformed services" and "uniformed services" shall have the same meaning as provided in R.S. 29:403.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 266, §1, eff. July 18, 1982; Acts 1984, No. 492, §1; Acts 1987, No. 757, §1; Acts 1988, No. 994, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 180, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1999, No. 862, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2004, No. 506, §1, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2006, No. 782, §1; Acts 2021, No. 381, §1, eff. June 17, 2021; Acts 2024, No. 136, §1; Acts 2024, No. 640, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §4, eff. June 20, 2025 ; Acts 2025, No. 398, §§ 1, 5, eff. June 20, 2025, §2, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:566.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 566.2
Tabulation and counting of provisional ballots for federal office
Status: in_force

A. Upon receipt of the "Provisional Ballot" envelope, the registrar of voters shall compile a list of the names of individuals who voted a provisional ballot, including the names of individuals who voted an early voting provisional ballot. On or before the date prescribed for the date of tabulation and counting of provisional ballots set forth in Subsection C of this Section, the registrar of voters, secretary of state, and other state and local agencies shall compile and provide available registration documentation to the parish board of election supervisors for the purposes of determining whether the individual casting a provisional ballot is a registered voter and eligible to vote in the election.

B. The parish board of election supervisors in each parish shall be responsible for the counting and tabulation of all provisional ballots for federal office. The board may utilize parish board commissioners to count the provisional ballots in the parish. If the board determines that parish board commissioners are necessary to count and tabulate the provisional ballots, it shall select parish board commissioners in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 18:1314(D). In a parish where no parish board commissioners are utilized during the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots, the board may utilize commissioners to count the provisional ballots. The selection and compensation of such commissioners to count and tabulate provisional ballots shall be in the same manner as parish board commissioners as provided for in R.S. 18:1314(D) and (E).

C. Provisional ballots shall be counted prior to the compilation of returns pursuant to R.S. 18:574 at the office of the registrar of voters or at a public facility within the parish designated by the parish board of election supervisors.

D. Candidates, their representatives, and qualified electors may be present during the counting and tabulation of provisional ballots.

E. The board shall count and announce the results of the provisional ballots as the total number of provisional votes cast in the election for each candidate for federal office.

F. The procedure for counting provisional ballots shall be as follows:

(1) A member of the board shall remove the envelopes containing the provisional ballots from the envelopes marked "Provisional Ballot" and "Early Voting Provisional Ballot".

(2) The board shall announce the name of each provisional voter and shall compare the name on the provisional ballot envelope with the name on the list of provisional voters.

(3) The board shall confirm each of the following with the registrar:

(a) The provisional voter is a registered voter in the parish.

(b) The provisional voter voted on the federal office or offices for which the provisional voter was eligible to vote.

(c) The provisional voter did not vote early, absentee by mail, or at his precinct on election day.

(4) If the board has determined that a provisional ballot shall be counted, a member of the board shall write the provisional ballot number and the word "counted" adjacent to the provisional voter's name on the list of provisional voters. A member of the board shall remove the certificate from the provisional ballot, attach the provisional voter's registration documentation to the certificate, and leave the ballot envelope sealed.

(5) If the board has determined that a provisional ballot shall not be counted, the members of the board shall not remove the certificate from the provisional ballot, leave the ballot envelope sealed, and shall write the word "rejected", together with the reason for rejecting the provisional ballot across the envelope containing the ballot. A member of the board shall write the provisional ballot number and the word "rejected" adjacent to the provisional voter's name, together with the reason for rejecting the provisional ballot, on the list of provisional voters. The rejected provisional ballots shall be placed in the special provisional ballot envelope. No rejected provisional ballot shall be counted.

(6) After the validity of all provisional ballots has been determined, the members of the board shall place the original signed list of provisional voters, the certificates removed from the valid provisional ballots, and the attached registration documentation in the envelope provided for that purpose and seal the provided envelope. Two of the members of the board shall execute the certificate on the provided envelope and transmit the envelope to the registrar of voters.

(7) The members of the board shall open the envelopes containing the valid provisional ballots and remove the ballots.

(8) The provisional votes cast for a candidate for federal office shall be counted by hand, and the total number of provisional votes cast for a candidate shall be announced in the order the offices and candidates are listed on the provisional ballot. The members of the board shall enter the total number of votes on the final provisional ballot vote report and certify the results.

(9) The original of the final provisional ballot vote report prepared by the parish board of election supervisors shall be transmitted to the clerk of court upon completion of the tabulation of the provisional ballots.

(10) A copy of the signed list of provisional voters and a copy of the final provisional ballot vote report shall be transmitted immediately to the secretary of state.

G. When the certificates of the provisional ballots that were counted and the attached registration documentation have been returned to the registrar of voters, the registrar shall add the name of each provisional voter whose ballot was counted to the list of those who have voted.

H. Upon completion of the tabulation and counting of the provisional ballots, the parish board of election supervisors shall return the provisional ballots and a copy of the final provisional ballot vote report to the special provisional ballot envelope, shall seal the envelope, and shall deliver the envelope to the registrar of voters. The registrar shall preserve the envelope and its contents inviolate and, except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction, shall not allow the provisional ballot 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 envelope and its contents inviolate, subject to the orders of the court, until the final judgment in the action has become definitive.

Acts 2003, No. 423, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1505.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1505.5
Civil penalties; violations of Chapter
Status: in_force

A. Except as provided in R.S. 18:1505.4, any person who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of R.S. 18:1505.2 or 1505.3 or any other provision of this Chapter shall be assessed a civil penalty for each violation. "Knowingly and willfully", for purposes of this Subsection, means conduct which could have been avoided through the exercise of due diligence.

B. The amount of such penalty shall be:

(1) Not in excess of five hundred dollars for each candidate for a major office and any treasurer or chairman of any committee designated as a principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee of such a candidate.

(2) Not in excess of three hundred 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.

(3) Not in excess of one 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.

(4) Not in excess of one hundred dollars for any person or any treasurer or chairman of any committee, not supporting or opposing a candidate, but only supporting or opposing any proposition or question submitted to the voters or the recall of a public officer.

(5) Not in excess of one thousand dollars for the treasurer or chairman of any committee supporting or opposing a candidate, other than a candidate's principal or subsidiary campaign committee.

C.(1)(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 Paragraph (B)(1), (2), or (3) of this Section shall apply.

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

(2) Each day of violation, if applicable, shall constitute a separate offense. Maximum civil penalties imposed under this Section shall be as provided in R.S. 18:1505.4(A).

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 266, §1, eff. July 18, 1982; Acts 1995, No. 1046, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 352, §1; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:177 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 177
Reinstatement of registration after suspension
Status: in_force

A.(1) The registration of a person whose registration has been suspended by the registrar of voters pursuant to R.S. 18:176(A) shall be reinstated when the person appears in the office of the registrar and provides documentation from the appropriate correction official showing that such person is no longer under an order of imprisonment or, if the person is under such an order, that the person has not been incarcerated pursuant to the order within the last five years and the person is not under an order of imprisonment related to a felony conviction pursuant to election fraud or any other election offense pursuant to R.S. 18:1461.2.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, such documentation may be provided by mail, facsimile, commercial carrier, or hand delivery for the following:

(a) A person who has been approved by the 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.

(b) A person who has submitted to the registrar current proof of disability from a physician along with a certification from the physician indicating that by reason of the person's disability the person is unable to appear in person to vote either during early voting or at the polling place on election day.

B. The registration of a person who has been interdicted and judicially declared mentally incompetent and whose registration has been suspended by the registrar pursuant to R.S. 18:176 shall be reinstated upon receipt by the registrar of a certified copy of a definitive judgment revoking such interdiction.

Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 1381, §1; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2018, No. 636, §1, eff. March 1, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1277 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1277
Certification of votes cast for United States senator and representative in Congress
Status: in_force

Immediately after the results of the election for United States senator and representatives in Congress become official, the secretary of state shall separately certify the votes cast for United States senator and for each representative in Congress who was elected. Each such certificate shall be signed by the governor and by the secretary of state. Thus certifying the election of the persons determined to have been elected, the governor shall cause the seal of the state to be affixed to each certificate. One copy of the appropriate certificate shall be delivered to each person elected. Another copy of the certificate of the election of the United States senator shall be transmitted by the governor to the President of the United States Senate. A copy of each certificate of the election of representatives in Congress shall be transmitted by the governor to the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, directed to the clerk thereof.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:573 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 573
Evidence of election results
Status: in_force

A. Opening the voting machines. (1) The voting machines used in a primary or general election shall remain locked or otherwise secured and, if applicable, sealed until the third day after the election unless the election is in judicial controversy and a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered the machines opened at an earlier time. However, if the third day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, the machines shall be opened and, if applicable, the seals broken on the second day following the election.

(2) On the day immediately preceding the election, the clerk of court shall prominently post in his office a notice of the time and place where the election day voting machines will be opened after the election. If no order requiring an earlier opening has been issued, then at the time and place designated in the notice, the clerk of court, assisted by at least one member of the parish board of election supervisors, in the presence of the candidates or their representatives who desire to be present, shall open the voting machines and, if applicable, break the seals. Public and protective counter numbers shall be recorded. Verification of the election results on each machine, as provided for in Subsection B and subject to Subsection C of this Section, shall be completed before another machine is opened.

(3) Each election day voting machine shall be relocked or otherwise secured and, if applicable, resealed after the candidates or their representatives have had a reasonable opportunity to inspect the machine, which shall not be less than thirty minutes after the time designated for opening the machines by the clerk of court in the notice posted in his office. The clerk of court, in the presence of a majority of the parish board of election supervisors, shall reopen any voting machine for reinspection by a candidate or his representative after receipt of a written request for reinspection by the candidate. All reinspections shall be held at a time set by the secretary of state, in conjunction with the registrar of voters and the clerk of court, 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 reinspection shall be held at a time set by the secretary of state, in conjunction with the registrar of voters and the clerk of court, on the next working day. Any written request for reinspection of voting machines shall be filed with the clerk of court. The deadline for filing a request for reinspection 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 voting machines will be reopened and the name of the candidate requesting that the machines be reopened. The candidate requesting the reinspection shall be responsible for all reasonable costs associated with such reinspection, including technical support by the secretary of state's technicians, which shall be payable to the clerk of court. The costs shall be estimated and paid at the time the written request for reinspection of voting machines 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. The parish board of election supervisors shall be entitled to reimbursement for attending the reinspection at the rate established in R.S. 18:423(E); however, such reimbursement shall not be counted toward the six-day limitation provided in R.S. 18:423(E). If it is necessary to reopen a voting machine which has been relocked or otherwise secured and, if applicable, resealed to conduct a reinspection thereof, the clerk of court shall relock or otherwise secure and, if applicable, reseal the machine after the reinspection is completed.

(4) The vote totals shown on the machines shall be retained as provided in R.S. 18:1376.

B. Verification of election results. After the machines are opened, the clerk of court, in the presence of the parish board of election supervisors or the members of the board selected by the board as its representatives and the candidates or their representatives, shall immediately verify the total votes cast for each candidate and the total votes cast for and against each proposition as shown on the election day voting machines or voting machine official election results reports and the total number of absentee by mail and early voting votes cast for each candidate and the total number of absentee by mail and early voting votes cast for and against each proposition as shown by the final absentee by mail and early voting report filed with the clerk by the parish board of election supervisors. The machine votes cast shall be shown separately by each precinct. The absentee by mail and early voting votes cast for each candidate and the total number of absentee by mail and early voting votes cast for and against each proposition as shown by the final absentee by mail and early voting report filed with the clerk of court by the parish board of election supervisors on election night shall be shown separately from the precinct totals as the final absentee vote report with the total number of votes cast for each candidate and the total number of votes cast for and against each proposition.

C. Use of employees. The clerk of court may utilize deputy clerks and other employees of his office to assist him in opening the voting machines and verifying the election results as required in Subsections A and B of this Section. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the clerk from utilizing more than one team of his deputies or employees to perform the duties required of him. To facilitate the verification of election results, two or more voting machines may be opened simultaneously and the results thereon verified.

D. Repealed by Acts 2019, No. 374, §3, eff. June 19, 2019.

E. Transmission and disposition of original challenges, duplicate voters' affidavits, and address confirmation notices. (1) At the opening of the voting machines, the sealed precinct registers shall be immediately returned to the registrar of voters. Upon receipt of the sealed precinct registers, the registrar shall remove any attached original record of challenges of voters made during the election, any precinct register correction affidavits, any voter identification affidavits made pursuant to R.S. 18:562, any address confirmation notices, any voter assistance forms, any certificates, any copies of disability documentation, and any completed voter registration applications.

(2) The registrar shall utilize the procedures set forth in Part V of Chapter 4 of this Code to determine the validity of the registration of each challenged voter who did not submit an address confirmation notice. In any instance where an address confirmation notice was received that stated an address different from the address on file in the registrar's office for a registrant, the registrar shall change the registrant’s address to the address on the address confirmation notice if the change of address is in the parish; transfer the registrant’s registration to another parish if the address on the address confirmation notice is in another parish; or cancel the registration if the address on the address confirmation notice is in another state. If an address confirmation notice was received that affirmed the address on file in the registrar's office, the registrar shall reinstate the registrant to the official list of voters if the registrant appears on the inactive list of voters. If the address confirmation notice was a result of a valid challenge, the registrar shall so inform the district attorney and shall transmit to him the address confirmation notice of that person.

(3) The registrar also shall proceed to determine if each voter submitting a voter identification affidavit made pursuant to R.S. 18:562 attesting that he is a qualified registered voter is in fact a registered voter qualified to vote in the election by comparing the information provided by the voter with the information on file in the registrar's office and by reasonably comparing the signature on the affidavit with any signature on file for the voter in the registrar's office. If the registrar determines that any person who has voted in the election by virtue of his submission of such an affidavit was not a registered voter qualified to vote in the election, the registrar shall so inform the elections compliance unit and shall transmit to it the affidavit of that person.

(4) The registrar shall scan the address confirmation notice, voter identification affidavit, voter assistance form, or voter registration application and add it to the voter's record in the state voter registration computer system after processing.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978, Amended by Acts 1977, No. 523, §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 1984, No. 712, §1, eff. July 13, 1984; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014; Acts 2018, No. 584, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2019; Acts 2019, No. 374, §§1, 3, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020; Acts 2020, No. 360, §1, eff. June 12, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 381, §1, eff. June 17, 2021; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1531 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1531
Transportation of voters
Status: in_force

A. No person or political committee shall accept or agree to accept, either directly or indirectly, from a candidate, a political committee, or a person required to file reports pursuant to R.S. 18:1501.1, or from a person on behalf of a candidate, a political committee, or a person so required to file reports, anything of economic value, including any reimbursement of costs, for the purpose of conveying an elector or causing an elector to be conveyed in a motor vehicle to a polling place for the purpose of voting in an election or to any place where early voting is being conducted for the purpose of early voting, or for driving or being in charge of any motor vehicle being so used.

B. No candidate, political committee, or person required to file reports pursuant to R.S. 18:1501.1, and no person on behalf of a candidate, a political committee, or a person so required to file reports, shall pay, or agree or offer to pay, anything of economic value, including any reimbursement of costs, to any person or political committee for the purpose of conveying an elector or causing an elector to be conveyed in a motor vehicle to a polling place for the purpose of voting in an election or to any place where early voting is being conducted for the purpose of early voting, or for driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle being so used.

C. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be assessed a civil fine of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars. On a second violation, or any succeeding violation, the penalty shall be a civil fine of not more than five thousand dollars. The provisions of R.S. 18:1505.6 shall not apply to violations of this Section.

D.(1) The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to any person who gratuitously transports voters to the polls on election day or who gratuitously transports voters to vote during early voting.

(2) The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit paying or offering or agreeing to pay any bona fide bus, taxi, or transportation service, which holds a license or permit duly issued by the appropriate governmental entity and which regularly does business in the area, to convey an elector to vote or vote during early voting, nor shall this Section prohibit any such bus, taxi, or transportation service from accepting or agreeing to accept such a payment.

Added by Acts 1981, No. 716, §1, eff. July 23, 1981; Acts 1993, No. 199, §1, eff. June 1, 1993; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:433 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 433
Commissioners-in-charge; course of instruction; selection; commission; disqualification; replacement
Status: in_force

A. Course of instruction. (1) The clerk of court shall conduct a course of instruction for commissioners-in-charge during the period beginning August first through the end of December of each year. However, if the governor declares a state of emergency between August first and December thirty-first of any year, the deadline to complete the course is January thirty-first of the year following the gubernatorially declared state of emergency. The course shall be open to any certified commissioner who meets the qualifications set forth in R.S. 18:424(B).

(2) Repealed by Acts 2009, No. 369, §3.

(3) During the week prior to the date scheduled for the course of instruction, the clerk shall notify each commissioner of the date, time, and place where he will conduct the course of instruction. The course of instruction shall include but shall not necessarily be restricted to instruction in the operating of voting machines, relevant laws and regulations concerning the conduct of elections, and matters pertaining to the powers and duties of commissioners-in-charge. The clerk shall instruct the commissioners-in-charge that it is their duty to offer any voter who does not have picture identification as provided in R.S. 18:562(A) an affidavit to sign to that effect.

(4) The clerk shall issue a certificate to each person who successfully completes the course of instruction by being present for the entire period of the course.

(5) On or before the deadline specified in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection but after the date of the course of instruction, the clerk of court shall file with the parish board of election supervisors a certified list containing the name of each person to whom he has issued a certificate, together with the social security number, the party affiliation, the mailing address, and the ward in which each such person is registered to vote. As soon as possible thereafter, the clerk of court shall enter the list in the state voter registration computer system.

(6) A person who receives a certificate for attending a course of instruction for commissioners-in-charge may be selected as hereafter provided to serve in any precinct of the ward where he is registered to vote.

B. Selection. (1)(a) The parish board of election supervisors shall meet at 10:00 a.m. by the second Friday in January of each year to select a commissioner-in-charge to serve at each precinct in the parish. The meeting shall be open to the public. The board shall have previously posted a notice on the front door of the courthouse stating the location within the courthouse where the meeting is to be held. The selection of commissioners-in-charge shall be made from the certified list furnished by the clerk as required by Paragraph (A)(5) of this Section and in the manner provided for in this Subsection.

(b) If the course of instruction for commissioners-in-charge is delayed due to a gubernatorially declared state of emergency as provided by Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section, the parish board of election supervisors shall meet at 10:00 a.m. on or before the fifth day after completion of the course of instruction.

(2) For any precinct in which only one qualified person on the list resides, that person shall be appointed commissioner-in-charge.

(3) For any precinct in which more than one qualified person on the list resides, the names of all such persons shall be compiled on one list, in alphabetical order according to surnames, and numbered consecutively from first to last. The parish board of election supervisors shall select a person to conduct a drawing. A ball made of plastic or similar material with a number corresponding to each of the numbers on the compiled list of qualified commissioners-in-charge for each precinct shall be placed in a receptacle and thoroughly mixed. The members of the board may participate in the mixing. The person conducting the drawing shall draw one ball from the receptacle and shall announce and publicly display the number on the ball. The person whose number on the compiled list of qualified commissioners-in-charge corresponds with the number on the ball drawn from the receptacle shall be the commissioner-in-charge for the precinct.

(4) For any precinct in which no qualified person on the list resides, the parish board of election supervisors shall select a qualified person whose name is on the list and who resides in the ward in which the precinct is located. The selection shall be by drawing in the same manner as is provided in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection.

(5) If the number of persons eligible to serve as commissioners-in-charge who reside in the ward is insufficient to provide a commissioner-in-charge for each precinct, the parish board of election supervisors shall select a qualified person on the list within the parish. If the number of persons eligible to serve as commissioner-in-charge within the parish is insufficient to provide a commissioner-in-charge for each precinct, the parish board of election supervisors shall appoint sufficient additional persons who have attended a general course of instruction for commissioners and have received a certificate of instruction within the preceding year to provide a commissioner-in-charge for each precinct in each ward.

(6) The parish board of election supervisors may opt to select the commissioner-in-charge for any precinct from the lists of all persons qualified to serve as a commissioner-in-charge in the entire parish without utilizing the selection process set forth in Paragraphs (2) through (5) of this Subsection. The parish board of election supervisors must vote unanimously to make such a selection.

(7) Any person on the list of qualified persons furnished by the clerk who is not chosen as a commissioner-in-charge shall be eligible to serve as a commissioner.

(8) After the commissioners-in-charge are selected, the parish board of election supervisors shall compile a list containing the name, social security number, party affiliation, and mailing address of each, and the clerk of court shall enter the list in the state voter registration computer system.

C. Commission. Immediately after the commissioners-in-charge are selected, the parish board of election supervisors shall issue a commission to each commissioner-in-charge.

D. Term of office. A commissioner-in-charge shall serve a term of office of one year, commencing on the third Monday in January of the year of selection or, if applicable, on the date of his selection during a meeting held in accordance with Subparagraph (B)(1)(b) of this Section, provided that the commissioner-in-charge remains on the list of certified commissioners during his term of office.

E.(1) Removal. The parish board of election supervisors may remove any commissioner-in-charge for cause.

(2) Disqualification. Upon a finding by the parish board of election supervisors that a commissioner-in-charge has performed his duties in a negligent manner, after appropriate hearing and opportunity for the commissioner-in-charge to be heard, the board shall disqualify him from service as a commissioner-in-charge. Such disqualification shall continue until the commissioner-in-charge has been recertified as having again attended the entirety of the course of instruction for commissioners-in-charge conducted pursuant to R.S. 18:433(A). Performance of duties in a negligent manner shall include failure to perform any of the duties of commissioner-in-charge or performance of any of the duties of commissioner-in-charge incorrectly.

F. Vacancy. A vacancy in office caused by the removal for cause, death, disqualification, or resignation of a commissioner-in-charge shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term of office in the same manner as the original appointment.

G. Replacement. (1) Except as provided in Subsection H of this Section, if it becomes certain that a commissioner-in-charge will not be able to serve for a primary election, or if a commissioner-in-charge fails to attend a course of instruction held immediately prior to a primary election as provided in R.S. 18:431(B), the parish board of election supervisors shall select a replacement commissioner-in-charge who shall serve for both the primary and general elections. Except as provided in Subsection H of this Section, if it becomes certain that a commissioner-in-charge will not be able to serve for a general election, or if a commissioner-in-charge fails to attend the course of instruction held prior to a general election, the parish board of election supervisors shall select a replacement commissioner-in-charge who shall serve for the general election.

(2) The selection of a replacement commissioner-in-charge as required by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall be made promptly upon receipt by the board of the list prepared by the clerk of court of all persons who have successfully completed the course of instruction for a particular election. The replacement commissioner-in-charge shall be selected at random from the following categories in the order of priority listed:

(a) A commissioner or alternate commissioner who has received a certificate of instruction from a course of instruction for commissioners-in-charge and who has successfully completed the course of instruction held immediately prior to the particular election, or, if none,

(b) A commissioner who has received a certificate of instruction from a general course of instruction for commissioners and who has successfully completed the course of instruction held immediately prior to the particular election, or, if none,

(c) An alternate commissioner who has received a certificate of instruction from a general course of instruction for commissioners and who has successfully completed the course of instruction held immediately prior to the particular election.

H. Replacement for failing to appear. (1) If a commissioner-in-charge fails to appear at the polling place at least thirty minutes before the time when the polls are to open on election day, the commissioners in attendance at the polling place shall immediately notify the clerk of court of the absence. Immediately upon receipt of the notice, the clerk of court shall select a replacement commissioner-in-charge for that precinct. Subject to the provisions of Subsection G of this Section, a replacement commissioner-in-charge selected for a primary election also shall serve for the general election. The replacement commissioner-in-charge shall be selected from the following categories in the order of priority listed:

(a) A commissioner serving at the polling place who has attended a course of instruction for commissioners-in-charge and the course of instruction for the particular election.

(b) A person who has attended both a course of instruction for commissioners-in-charge and the course of instruction for the particular election.

(c) A commissioner serving at the polls who has attended the course of instruction for the particular election.

(d) An alternate commissioner serving at the polls who has attended a course of instruction for the particular election.

(2) A commissioner-in-charge who fails to appear at the polling place at least thirty minutes before the opening of the polls on election day is disqualified for the remainder of his term unless he establishes to the satisfaction of the parish board of election supervisors that his absence was for just cause.

I. Commission and oath. The president, or in his absence or inability the secretary, of the parish board of election supervisors shall promptly issue a commission to a replacement commissioner-in-charge selected under the provisions of Subsection G or H of this Section. The commissioners present at the polling place shall administer the constitutional oath or affirmation to the replacement commissioners-in-charge.

J. Powers, duties, and functions. A replacement commissioner-in-charge selected under the provisions of Subsection F, G, or H of this Section shall exercise the same powers, duties, and functions and shall receive the compensation of a commissioner-in-charge.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 471, §1; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1980; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 374, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 363, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2009, No. 369, §§1, 3; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014; Acts 2018, No. 584, §1, eff. May 28, 2018; Acts 2022, No. 274, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1491.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1491.1
Registration of committees
Status: in_force

A. Each committee, including a subsidiary committee, which knows or anticipates that it will receive contributions or loans, make expenditures or loans, or make a transfer of funds to or receive a transfer of funds from another committee during a calendar year in the aggregate amount exceeding one thousand dollars shall file a statement of organization with the supervisory committee annually after January first and no later than January thirty-first of each calendar year. Any such committee organized after January thirty-first shall file the required statement of organization no later than the tenth day after its organization. Any committee which, after January thirty-first, knows or anticipates that it will receive contributions, loans, or transfers of funds or make expenditures, loans, or transfers of funds in the aggregate in excess of one thousand dollars during the calendar year shall file the required statement of organization within ten days after the date on which it has information which causes it to know or anticipate that it will receive such contributions, loans, or transfers of funds or make such expenditures, loans, or transfers of funds. If a committee which knows or anticipates that it will receive contributions, loans, or transfers of funds or make expenditures, loans, or transfers of funds in the aggregate in excess of one thousand dollars during a calendar year, is organized within ten days prior to any election, it shall file the statement of organization required by this Section no later than the third day after such organizing. Any committee required to file supplemental reports under the provisions of R.S. 18:1491.6 shall file the annual statement of organization. The supervisory committee shall issue a certificate of registration to each committee which submits the statement required by this Subsection.

B. The statement of organization shall include:

(1) The name of the committee, and the address of the committee, or of its chairman if the committee has no address.

(2) The names, addresses, and relationships of affiliated organizations.

(3) The name and address of the treasurer of the committee, if any, and of any deputy treasurers of the committee.

(4) The name and address of the committee chairman and the name, address, and position of other principal officers and directors of the committee, if any.

(5)(a) A statement, if applicable, that the committee is a principal campaign committee and the candidate by whom it is designated as a principal campaign committee, if any, or a statement, if applicable, that the committee is a subsidiary committee and the committee or candidate by whom it is designated as a subsidiary committee.

(b) A statement, if the committee is organized to support a single candidate and if applicable, that the committee is not the principal or subsidiary committee of the candidate and a certification by the committee that the committee is not working and will not work in coordination, consultation, or cooperation with the candidate.

(c) A statement, if applicable, that the committee is organized solely to make independent expenditures and a certification by the committee that the committee is not and will not make contributions, whether direct or in-kind as defined in R.S. 18:1483, in contravention of provisions of this Chapter.

(d) A statement, if applicable, that the committee is organized as a leadership committee, an identification of the elected official with whom the committee is affiliated, and a certification by the committee that the committee is not making and will not make contributions, whether direct or in-kind, to the principal campaign committee of the elected official with which it is affiliated, or any subsidiary committee thereof, or expenditures for the purpose of supporting the election to public office of the elected official with which it is affiliated, or opposing the election to public office of any opponent of the elected official with which it is affiliated.

(e) A statement, if applicable, that the committee is organized as a joint fundraising committee pursuant to R.S. 18:1491.9 and the name and mailing address of each committee and organization participating in the joint fundraising agreement that designates the committee as the joint fundraising committee.

(6) A listing of all banks, safety deposit boxes, or other depositories used for committee funds.

(7) The estimated number of members of the committee.

(8) Certification of membership as required by R.S. 18:1505.2(H)(2)(b), if applicable.

(9) A statement, if applicable, that the committee has elected to file monthly reports pursuant to R.S. 18:1491.6(I).

C. Any change in information previously submitted in the annual statement of organization shall be reported to the supervisory committee within ten days following the change.

D. No committee shall receive contributions or loans, make expenditures or loans or make a transfer of funds to or receive a transfer of funds from another committee in the aggregate in excess of one thousand dollars in any calendar year until it has filed the annual statement of organization required by this Section. Any committee which violates the provisions of this Subsection shall be subject to the penalties provided in R.S. 18:1505.5 and 1505.6.

E.(1) The supervisory committee may impose a fee not to exceed the amount of one hundred dollars for each statement required to be filed under this Section to be remitted to the supervisory committee together with the statement on or before the time that the statement is required to be filed. Any statement submitted without the proper fee shall be deemed as not being properly submitted to the supervisory committee. All fees collected hereunder shall be used solely by the supervisory committee for the enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter, as appropriated by the legislature.

(2) The supervisory committee shall accept payment via electronic funds transfer for filing fees associated with filing a statement of organization. The supervisory committee may charge an electronic processing fee not to exceed five percent of the filing fee.

F. If the supervisory committee receives a statement pursuant to Subparagraph (B)(5)(b) of this Section, the supervisory committee shall immediately notify the affected candidate of his obligations pursuant to R.S. 18:1491.3(C).

G. Statements of organization and other documents required to be filed with the supervisory committee pursuant to this Section, including electronic filing affidavits, 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. Documents may be notarized as provided by R.S. 35:621 et seq.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Acts 1988, No. 994, §2, eff. July 27, 1988; Acts 2003, No. 935, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2022, No. 728, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 664, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:133 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 133
Branch offices; mobile registration units; mandatory registration drives
Status: in_force

A. All branch offices, whether temporary or permanent, shall be located in permanent buildings, except mobile registration units. However, if a branch office of a registrar is destroyed, inaccessible, or unsafe during or following a gubernatorially declared state of emergency, the registrar may utilize a temporary building as a branch office until an office that meets the requirements of this Section becomes available. Such branch office shall be located within the parish, or if there is no appropriate location within the parish due to the emergency, then in an immediately adjacent parish, or if there is no appropriate location in any immediately adjacent parish due to the emergency, then in the nearest parish in which there is an appropriate location.

B. Any or all branch offices, whether permanent or temporary, and any or all mobile registration units, in operation on December 31, 1977, may be continued in operation by the governing authority heretofore responsible therefor, and those continued in operation shall continue to be funded by the state or local authorities heretofore made responsible therefor.

C. In addition to the offices continued in Subsection B of this Section, the registrar of each parish, with prior approval and at the expense of the parish governing authority, may provide permanent branch offices at sites selected by, and operated by the registrar.

D. In addition to the offices required or authorized by this Section, the registrar of each parish, with prior approval of the parish governing authority, may establish, maintain and operate additional temporary branch offices for the registration of voters. The location of these offices shall be determined by the registrar.

E. In each parish, the parish governing authority may provide for one or more mobile registration units for the registration of voters within the parish, which shall be at the expense of the parish governing authority. The registration books shall not be carried in any such mobile unit. In each of these parishes the registrar shall activate the mobile registration units whenever he deems it necessary in order to afford maximum registration service to the residents of the parish. The locations of these units shall be determined by the registrar. Each mobile unit shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher.

The provisions of this Subsection shall not be construed to allow house-to-house registration of voters.

F. Repealed by Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1988, No. 661, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1317 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1317
Curing absentee by mail ballot deficiencies; rejection of deficient ballots
Status: in_force

The secretary of state shall promulgate and adopt rules as necessary to effectuate uniform and standardized processes for the review and curing or rejection of deficient absentee by mail ballots by the parish board of election supervisors, shall maintain records of all ballots rejected pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 18:1315(D)(3)(a), and shall include information detailing the total number of ballots rejected per parish and the reasons for their rejection in the post-election statistical data published to the website of the secretary of state.

Acts 2022, No. 639, §1, eff. June 18, 2022; Acts 2024, No. 521, §1, eff. July 1, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1491.8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1491.8
Small campaigns; affidavit in lieu of reports
Status: in_force

Any committee which did not receive a contribution in excess of five hundred dollars and which did not make expenditures totaling in excess of ten thousand dollars in the aggregate during the aggregating period may file an affidavit setting out such facts, in lieu of any report required by R.S. 18:1491.6; but a separate affidavit shall be required in lieu of any such report.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Acts 1988, No. 994, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1495.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1495.3
Maintenance of records; valuation of in-kind contributions and expenditures
Status: in_force

A. The candidate and the campaign treasurer, if the candidate does not act as campaign treasurer, shall be responsible for providing and maintaining such records of campaign finances 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 campaign treasurer for each candidate shall keep such records of campaign contributions received and accepted by him as shall be necessary to comply with the provisions of this Part, including the names and addresses of all contributors, 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 campaign paraphernalia, other than expenditures made by a candidate for his 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 candidate, no record need be kept by the campaign treasurer for such recipient candidate, 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 campaign 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, R.S. 18:1505.5, and R.S. 18:1505.6.

(3)(a) Each campaign treasurer for a candidate shall also keep records of the amounts of all expenditures made by the candidate from his own funds.

(b) The campaign treasurer of each candidate 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 or expended.

D. A record shall be kept of all expenditures made from the petty cash fund for which provision is made in R.S. 18:1495.2, 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 candidate 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 debts and obligations.

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

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

(5) 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 candidate, shall be considered expenditures of the candidate, and must be specifically reported as required by this Part. Each such firm, agency, or agent shall timely furnish to such candidate 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 candidate such information required for compliance with this Part shall be grounds for a civil action for damages.

I. A campaign treasurer shall preserve records required by this Part 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 campaign 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. § 18:101.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 101.1
Verification of registration information
Status: in_force

The voter registration information provided by the applicant shall be verified as follows:

A. Applicants who have a Louisiana driver's license, Louisiana special identification card, or social security number:

(1) The registration information provided by the applicant shall be verified to ensure that the Louisiana driver's license number, Louisiana special identification card number, or the last four digits of the social security number provided by the applicant match the information maintained by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections or the Social Security Administration.

(a) If a match is made, the registrar of voters shall add the applicant to the official list of voters and the registrar shall send a notice of registration to the applicant.

(b) If a match cannot be made, the registrar of voters shall notify the applicant in writing and inform him that he has ten days from the date on which the verification letter was mailed to respond to the verification letter. If the applicant responds to the verification letter and the registrar determines that the registration information can be verified and that he is eligible to register, the applicant shall be added to the official list of voters and the registrar shall send a notice of registration to the applicant. In the event the applicant does not respond to the verification letter within ten days, the application shall be rejected and the registrar shall so advise the applicant in writing. If the registrar's verification letter is returned by the United States Postal Service, the application shall be rejected and the registrar shall attempt to notify the applicant of such action.

(c) In the event the applicant responds to the verification letter and the registrar determines that the registration information cannot be verified, the registrar shall notify the applicant in writing and inform him that he has ten days from the date on which the final verification letter was mailed to appear in person at the registrar of voters office to prove his identity. If the applicant appears in person and the registrar determines that the applicant is able to prove his identity and that he is eligible to register, the applicant shall be added to the official list of voters and the registrar shall send a notice of registration to the applicant. If the applicant fails to appear in person at the registrar of voters office or fails to prove his identity, the application shall be rejected and the registrar shall so advise the applicant in writing. If the registrar's final verification letter is returned by the United States Postal Service, the application shall be rejected and the registrar shall attempt to notify the applicant of such action.

B. Applicants who do not have a Louisiana driver's license, Louisiana special identification card, or social security number:

(1) The registration information provided by an applicant who does not have a Louisiana driver's license, Louisiana special identification card, or social security number shall be verified with one of the following:

(a) A copy of a current and valid photo identification.

(b) A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the applicant.

(2) If the applicant has not provided the registration information required in this Subsection, the registrar of voters shall notify the applicant in writing of the missing information and inform him that he has ten days from the date on which the notice was mailed to provide the information. If the applicant provides the information and the registrar determines that he is eligible to register, the applicant shall be added to the official list of voters and the registrar shall send a notice of registration to the applicant. In the event the applicant does not respond to the request for the missing information within ten days, the application shall be rejected and the registrar shall so advise the applicant in writing. If the registrar's request for missing information is returned by the United States Postal Service, the application shall be rejected and the registrar shall attempt to notify the applicant of such action.

Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1371 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1371
Delivery and return of machines and supplies; contract; time of delivery
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a) The secretary of state shall contract for the delivery to the voting precincts of the election day machines and other election equipment and supplies for which he is responsible and for their return to the storage warehouses. The specifications for the contract shall be prepared by the secretary of state after consultation with and approval by the parish custodian of the parish in which the contract is to be performed. The contract shall be advertised and let in accordance with the Louisiana Procurement Code. The governing authority of the parish or municipality in which the voting machines are to be used may submit bids and be awarded contracts for the drayage of the voting machines.

(b) The secretary of state may contract for delivery the week prior to the beginning of early voting until no later than 11:59 p.m. on the day before early voting begins for an election, in the parishes that have three or more early voting locations, of the voting machines and other election equipment and supplies for which he is responsible and for their return to the offices of the registrars of voters or the location designated by the registrar of voters within twenty-four hours of the end of early voting. The specifications for the contract shall be prepared by the secretary of state after consultation with and approval by the registrar of voters of the parish in which the contract is to be performed. The contract shall be advertised and let in accordance with the Louisiana Procurement Code. The governing authority of the parish or municipality in which the voting machines are to be used may submit bids and be awarded contracts for the drayage of the early voting machines.

(2) In addition to all other notices and advertisements for bids required, the secretary of state shall furnish notice of the invitation for bids at least thirty days prior to the opening of bids for each contract for the delivery of machines to the early voting locations or voting precincts for a parish in the following manner:

(a) Publish notice of the invitation for bids in a newspaper of general circulation printed in such parish or, if there is no newspaper printed in such parish, in a newspaper printed in the nearest parish that has a general circulation in the parish covered by the contract.

(b) Send such notice to the clerk of court for such parish who shall prominently post such notice in his office.

(c) Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 386, §6.

(3) Contracts for the delivery of voting machines to the early voting locations or voting precincts in a parish may be entered into on a parish or regional basis. If a single contract provides for the delivery of voting machines to the early voting locations or voting precincts in more than one parish then the notices required by this Subsection shall be provided in each parish covered by such contract in accordance with this Subsection.

B.(1) No later than 11:59 p.m. on the day before an election, the contractor, under the supervision of the parish custodian or his representative, shall deliver the proper number of voting machines, a seal for sealing each voting machine after termination of voting, and other election equipment, supplies, and paraphernalia to the polling places of each precinct and shall place the machines in the polling place for use in voting. Each machine shall remain sealed until examined by or under the supervision of the commissioner-in-charge immediately before the polls are opened as required by R.S. 18:553.

(2) No later than 11:59 p.m. on the day before early voting begins for an election, the contractor, under the supervision of the parish registrar of voters or his representative, shall deliver the proper number of early voting machines and other election equipment, supplies, and paraphernalia to the early voting locations and shall place the machines in the early voting location for use in early voting. Each early voting machine shall remain sealed until examined by or under the supervision of the registrar or his deputy immediately before the early voting locations are opened.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1997, No. 873, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2007, No. 240, §1; Acts 2022, No. 274, §2; Acts 2025, No. 386, §6.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1413 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1413
Computation of time
Status: in_force

Computation of all time intervals in this Chapter 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 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:43 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 43
Investigations and hearings; certain elections
Status: in_force

A. The board may investigate any aspect of any election, except as provided in R.S. 18:45. The board may initiate such an investigation upon the receipt of a sworn statement by any registered voter of this state alleging error, fraud, irregularity, or other unlawful activity in the conduct of an election.

B. The board may convene in any location in the state for the purpose of conducting hearings and receiving testimony concerning any irregularity, error, or apparent violation of law in any election. It may convene upon the receipt by the board of a sworn statement by any registered voter of this state alleging error, fraud, irregularity, or other unlawful activity in the conduct of an election.

C. The board shall have the power and authority to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, compel the production of books, documents, records, and papers, public and private, and to do all other things necessary in carrying out its duties and responsibilities.

D. Failure to comply with any order of the board, issued in accordance with or under authority hereof, refusal to testify, or any act of disrespect or of disorderly or contemptuous behavior before the board shall constitute contempt of the board, and the board shall have the power and authority to institute proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction for the punishment thereof as provided by the constitution and laws. False swearing or perjury before the board shall in like manner be punished in accordance with the laws of the state.

E. All proceedings in connection with any investigation by the board shall be conducted in closed session, and for that purpose, such proceedings shall be exempt from the provisions of the Public Meetings Law. All records pertaining to such proceedings shall be exempt from the provisions of the Public Records Law. They shall remain confidential and not be open for public inspection unless and until they are entered into the record of any court, except as specifically provided in R.S. 18:44(C). However, the records and findings of the board pertaining to any such proceedings shall be made available to the attorney general, to any district attorney having jurisdiction of the matter contained in such records or findings upon formal written request, or in response to the order of any court having jurisdiction of the matter contained in such records or findings. Any person appearing before the board shall be entitled to the right to counsel.

Acts 1989, No. 45, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1280 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1280
Contests
Status: in_force

Except as may be otherwise provided by the constitution and laws of the United States, contests of elections under this Part shall be made as provided in this Title for state candidates.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1400.21 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1400.21
Help Louisiana Vote Fund
Status: in_force

A. The Help Louisiana Vote Fund is established as a special fund in the state treasury, hereinafter referred to as the "fund", for purposes of improving Louisiana's elections in accordance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002, hereinafter referred to as "HAVA".

B. The sources of money deposited into the fund shall be any federal monies received by the state pursuant to HAVA and any monies appropriated to the fund. State monies appropriated to the fund may be deposited in any account designated in the appropriation. After compliance with the requirements of the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, federal monies shall be deposited into the fund and allocated by the state treasurer to one of the following five accounts. Within ten days of receipt of any federal monies by the state treasurer, the secretary of state shall provide written instructions to the state treasurer with respect to the specific account into which such monies shall be deposited.

(1) The Election Administration Account is established within the fund, into which the state treasurer shall deposit monies received pursuant to Section 101 of Title I of HAVA with respect to improving administration of elections. Monies in this account shall be appropriated only for improving the administration of elections, acquisition of equipment and voting system technologies, and other requirements of Title III of HAVA with respect to uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration.

(2) The Voting Systems Account is established within the fund, into which the state treasurer shall deposit monies received pursuant to Section 102 of Title I of HAVA with respect to replacement of punch card and lever voting systems or to reimburse the state for expenditures made after January 1, 2001, for replacement of such systems. Reimbursement monies received under Section 102 of Title I of HAVA which are deposited into this account shall be appropriated only for the replacement of lever voting systems or to satisfy the state's responsibilities under Title II of HAVA. All other monies in this account shall be appropriated only for the replacement of lever voting systems.

(3) The HAVA Requirements Account is established within the fund, into which the state treasurer shall deposit monies received pursuant to Title II of HAVA designated as requirements payments. Monies in this account shall be appropriated only to meet the requirements of Title III of HAVA with respect to uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration requirements, after which any residual amounts available may be used for improving administration of federal elections.

(4) The Voting Access Account is established within the fund, into which the state treasurer shall deposit monies received pursuant to Title II of HAVA with respect to assuring voting access for individuals with disabilities. Monies in this account shall be appropriated only for (a) improvement of polling places to ensure accessibility to individuals with disabilities in a manner that provides the same opportunity for participation, privacy, and independence as for other voters; and (b) providing individuals with disabilities with information about accessible polling places, including outreach programs and training for election officials.

(5) The College Program Account is established within the fund, into which the state treasurer shall deposit monies received pursuant to Title V of HAVA with respect to the Help America Vote College Program. Monies in this account shall be appropriated only for activities and programs to encourage students enrolled at institutions of higher education to assist state and local governments in the administration of elections by serving as nonpartisan poll workers or assistants and to encourage state and local governments to use the services of such students.

C.(1) All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Such monies shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund, and interest earned on the investment of these monies shall be credited to the fund after compliance with the requirements of the Bond Security and Redemption Fund. The state treasurer shall annually allocate investment earnings among the five accounts proportionally based on the fund balance of each account at the time of the allocation.

(2) Prior to the expenditure of any monies from the fund for the acquisition, including a lease, of any element or component of a voting system as defined in R.S. 18:1351, the secretary of state shall submit the details of any such expenditure, including any related contract or proposed contract, to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget for review and approval.

Acts 2003, No. 142, §1, eff. May 28, 2003; Acts 2014, No. 811, §9, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2021, No. 480, §1, eff. July 1, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:421 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 421
Secretary of state; first assistant and other employees of the secretary of state
Status: in_force

A. The secretary of state is the chief election officer of the state. Except as otherwise provided by law, the first assistant appointed by the secretary of state possesses all the powers and authority granted by law to the secretary of state and may perform any of the duties and exercise any of the functions of the secretary of state. The first assistant and other employees of the secretary of state are subject to his direction and supervision and shall perform the duties assigned to them by law and by the secretary of state. The secretary of state is responsible for the performance or nonperformance of their official duties by his first assistant and other employees.

B. The secretary of state shall develop and print the voters' bill of rights posters for voters and commissioners, which shall not be inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States or of this state and which shall be approved by the attorney general.

C. The secretary of state shall develop an informational pamphlet for the use of commissioners-in-charge and commissioners on election day, which shall contain instructions concerning the procedures to be used in conducting the election at the polls, counting and tabulating the votes, and transmitting the election returns and other election records. The pamphlet shall explain the powers and duties of commissioners-in-charge, commissioners, and watchers.

D. The secretary of state shall prepare examinations for commissioners and commissioners-in-charge as required in R.S. 18:431.1.

E. The informational pamphlet and examinations provided for in Subsections C and D of this Section shall be subject to approval as to content by the attorney general.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 523, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1988, No. 831, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1294 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1294
Contests
Status: in_force

For sixty days after promulgation of the results of an election held under this Chapter to incur debt, issue bonds, levy or increase a tax or assume debt, any person in interest may contest the legality of the election, the bond issue provided for, the tax authorized, or the assumption of indebtedness for any cause. After that time no one shall have any cause or right of action to contest the regularity, formality, or legality of the election, tax provisions, or bond authorization, for any cause whatsoever. If the validity of any election, tax, debt assumption, or bond issue authorized or provided for is not raised within the sixty days, the authority to incur or assume debt, levy the tax, or issue the bonds, the legality thereof, and the taxes and other revenues necessary to pay the same shall be conclusively presumed to be valid, and no court shall have authority to inquire into such matters.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 545, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1281 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1281
Statement of purpose
Status: in_force

The purpose of this Chapter is to implement Article VI, Section 22 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 by establishing a uniform procedure for the conduct of elections to authorize the issuance of bonds, the assumption of indebtedness, and the imposition or increase of taxes by political subdivisions. The procedure for elections set forth in this Chapter shall apply to and shall supersede those provisions of the Louisiana Constitution of 1921 which were continued as statutes under authority of Part II of Article XIV of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 and existing laws of the state of Louisiana, notwithstanding any contrary provisions contained therein. However, nothing contained in this Chapter shall repeal the limitations in effect on January 1, 1975 on the authority of political subdivisions to impose or increase taxes.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 545, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:533 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 533
Establishment and location of polling places; responsibility for acts or omissions
Status: in_force

A. Establishment. (1) The governing authority of each parish shall establish one polling place for each precinct. Each polling place shall be equipped with proper electric current, fixtures, and outlets necessary to properly operate the voting machines and otherwise to conduct the election. Each polling place shall have sanitary facilities available. The governing authority shall complete a survey form prepared by the secretary of state for each polling place in its parish and shall certify to the secretary of state that each polling place meets the accessibility standards for individuals with disabilities adopted by the secretary of state.

(2) The parish governing authority shall, to the extent possible, locate the polling place of multiple precincts in the same polling location, if it determines after due consideration that to locate the polling places of multiple precincts within the same polling location would be efficient, cost-effective, and convenient to voters.

B. Location. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, the polling place for a precinct shall be located in the precinct in a suitable public building and all public bodies are hereby required to allow the use of public buildings as polling places without cost or charge when the parish governing authority requires it. If no public building is available, then a polling place may be located on private property. The parish governing authority shall inform the secretary of state as to whether the parish polling places are located in public buildings or on private property.

(2) When, after the exercise of due diligence, the governing authority of a parish is unable to secure a location for a polling place within a precinct, the governing authority may select a location for the polling place which is within the nearest precinct having proper facilities. All other laws relating to the establishment and location of a polling place shall be complied with. The governing authority shall take all reasonable steps to notify the residents of the precinct of the location of the polling place.

C. Prohibited locations. A polling place shall not be located in or on the grounds of:

(1) A place where beverages of high or low alcoholic content are dispensed to the public, but this prohibition shall not prevent the location of a polling place on premises housing a nonprofit organization whose principal business is not the dispensing of beverages of high or low alcoholic content, but no such alcoholic beverages shall be dispensed on such premises during election day or for three hours before the polls open.

(2) A jail, penitentiary, or other penal institution.

(3) A mental hospital or a mental health center.

(4) An eleemosynary institution where wards of the state are confined or housed at state expense, except educational institutions and the United States Marine Hospital No. 88 at Carville.

(5) Private property owned, occupied, or leased by a candidate in the election or the spouse of any such candidate, or an officer or employee of the state or any of its political subdivisions.

D. Payment for use of private property. When it is necessary to pay for the use of private property as a polling place, the payment shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars for each election unless written approval is received from the secretary of state or his designee.

E. Lease. Prior to the designation by the governing authority of any polling place to be located on private property, the governing authority shall enter into a written lease for such property which lease shall state that the property is to be used as a polling place for a specified precinct and that the polling place is not owned, occupied, or leased by a candidate in the election, or a spouse of any such candidate, or an officer or employee of the state or any of its political subdivisions. Such lease shall be recorded in the office of the clerk of court for the parish wherein such property is located. After July 1, 1986, the lease shall also be filed with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall not pay precinct rental for a polling place if a copy of the lease thereon has not been properly filed at least thirty days prior to the election, unless a change in the location of the polling place was necessitated immediately prior to the election and the governing authority lacked sufficient time to transmit a copy of the lease to the secretary of state prior to the election. Lease contracts entered into immediately prior to the election shall be filed with the secretary of state not later than ten days after the election for payment to be made by the secretary of state. Payments on leases filed later than ten days following an election will not be made by the secretary of state except for subsequent elections.

F. Responsibility for acts or omissions. (1) An owner, lessee, or occupant of a premises to be used by any person as a polling place on any election day shall not be liable to such person for injury to person or property which occurs on the premises while it is being used as a polling place on any election day.

(2) This Subsection does not exclude any liability which would otherwise exist for willful or malicious injury to persons or property or liability imposed on the owner, lessee, or occupant of the premises pursuant to Civil Code Articles 2317 and 2322.

(3) Nothing in this Subsection shall be construed to relieve any person using the premises of another as a polling place from any obligation which he may have in the absence of this Subsection to exercise care in his use of such premises, or from the legal consequences of failure to employ such care.

(4) The word "premises" as used in this Subsection includes lands, private ways, buildings, and structures which are being used as a polling place, or used as access to a polling place, on any election day.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 580, §1; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Acts 1984, No. 426, §1; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1995, No. 715, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2009, No. 436, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2018, No. 584, §1, eff. May 28, 2018; Acts 2018, No. 584, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2019; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1319 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1319
Use of Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot; presidential preference primary, presidential, and congressional elections
Status: in_force

A member of the United States Service or a person residing outside the United States who made a timely application to vote absentee by mail as provided in R.S. 18:1307(C) and who did not receive absentee by mail ballots may use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot to vote for candidates for presidential nominee, presidential candidates, and congressional candidates. The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot shall be submitted, processed, and counted in the manner provided in this Chapter.

Acts 2010, No. 624, §2, eff. Dec. 31, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 195, §1, eff. June 24, 2011.