La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1252 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1252
Qualifications
Status: in_force

A. No person shall be elected as a presidential elector who is not a qualified elector of the district for which he is chosen, unless he is elected at large, in which case he shall be a qualified elector of the state. A candidate for presidential elector may be registered to vote with or without a declaration of party affiliation.

B. No United States senator, representative in Congress, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States shall be elected a presidential elector.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 588, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1485 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1485
Filing; receipt by supervisory committee; special penalties
Status: in_force

A. For purposes of this Chapter, a report, statement, or any other paper or document required to be filed with the supervisory committee shall be deemed to be filed when it is received either physically or electronically, by facsimile or e-mail, in the office of the supervisory committee in Baton Rouge, at the time it is hand-delivered, at the time it is postmarked or is receipted on a return receipt requested form by the United States Postal Service, if it is subsequently received in the office of the supervisory committee in Baton Rouge, or at the time it is deposited for delivery with a commercial delivery service as indicated on the receipt or invoice provided by the commercial delivery service, if it is subsequently received in the office of the supervisory committee in Baton Rouge.

B. If the date on which a report is required to be filed occurs on a weekend or a federal or state holiday, the report shall be filed no later than the first working day after the date it would otherwise be due that is not a federal or state holiday.

C. Each candidate for a major or district office and each principal campaign committee of a candidate for a major or district office shall electronically file reports of contributions and expenditures with the supervisory committee through the Board of Ethics Computerized Data Management System as provided in R.S. 42:1158.

D. If a report that is required to be filed pursuant to this Chapter is determined by the supervisory committee to be illegible, the supervisory committee may require the person who has filed such report to resubmit a legible report; however, the report shall be deemed to be received by the supervisory committee on the date that the original, illegible report was received.

E.(1) Each person and committee required to file reports pursuant to this Chapter that receives contributions or loans in excess of fifty thousand dollars in a calendar year or which makes expenditures in excess of fifty thousand dollars in a calendar year, other than a candidate or principal campaign committee of a candidate or a subsidiary committee thereof or a political committee of a recognized political party, shall file all reports required by this Chapter electronically with the supervisory committee through the Board of Ethics Computerized Data Management System as provided in R.S. 42:1158.

(2) In addition to any other applicable penalties, the failure of a person or committee required by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection to file a report electronically shall subject such person or committee to penalties of five hundred dollars per day until the report is filed as required by this Subsection.

F.(1) If a person or committee required by this Section to electronically file a report through the Board of Ethics Computerized Data Management System is unable to do so because of a technical problem beyond the person's or committee's control, the person or committee shall file the report by the date the report is due via other means specified in Subsection A of this Section.

(2) The person or committee shall file with such report a certification detailing the technical problem that prevented the person or committee from electronically filing the report through the Board of Ethics Computerized Data Management System.

(3) The person or committee shall electronically file the report through the Board of Ethics Computerized Data Management System no later than five days after the date the report was originally due.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1984, No. 466, §1, §2; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 123, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 164, §1; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2008, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 17, §1, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2008, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 25, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2008, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 25, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2012; Acts 2010, No. 766, §1, eff. June 30, 2010; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1367.9 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1367.9
Actions by or against the state in connection with contracts
Status: in_force

A. Solicitation and award of contracts. The Nineteenth Judicial District Court shall have exclusive venue over an action between the state and a bidder, offeror, or contractor, prospective or actual, to determine whether a solicitation or award of a contract is in accordance with the constitution, statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the solicitation. Such actions shall extend to all kinds of actions, whether for monetary damages or for declaratory, injunctive, or other equitable relief.

B. Debarment or suspension. The Nineteenth Judicial District Court shall have exclusive venue over an action between the state and a person who is subject to a suspension or debarment proceeding, to determine whether the debarment or suspension is in accordance with the constitution, statutes, and regulations. Such actions shall extend to actions for declaratory, injunctive, or other equitable relief.

C. Actions under contracts or for breach of contract. The Nineteenth Judicial District Court shall have exclusive venue over an action between the state and a contractor who contracts with the state, for any cause of action which arises under or by virtue of the contract, whether the action is on the contract or for a breach of the contract or whether the action is for declaratory, injunctive, or other equitable relief.

D. Limited finality for administrative determinations. In any judicial action under this Section, factual or legal determination by employees, agents, or other persons appointed by the state shall have no finality and shall not be conclusive, notwithstanding any contract provision, regulation, or rule of law to the contrary, except to the extent provided in R.S. 18:1367.2(E), 1367.3(F), 1367.4(E), 1367.6(E), 1367.7(E), and 1367.8(E).

E. Writs or appeals; district court decisions. Any party aggrieved by a final judgment or interlocutory order or ruling of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court may appeal or seek review thereof, as the case may be, to the Court of Appeal, First Circuit or the Supreme Court of Louisiana, as otherwise permitted in civil cases by law and the constitution.

Acts 2025, No. 208, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1462.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1462.1
Registration of persons conducting exit polling during early voting or on election day; penalties
Status: in_force

A. The Legislature of Louisiana recognizes that the right to vote is a right that is essential to the effective operation of a democratic government and that voters should be free from intimidation, harassment, confusion, obstruction, and undue influence in the campaign-free zone provided in R.S. 18:1462(A) by individuals conducting exit polling who have not registered with the secretary of state.

B. (1) No person shall conduct an exit poll between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. within any polling place being used in an election on election day or during early voting, or within a radius of six hundred feet of the entrance to any polling place being used in an election on election day or during early voting, unless the person conducting the polling has filed a registration statement with the secretary of state prior to the start of early voting or election day, as applicable. The registration statement may be filed in person, by facsimile, or by electronic mail.

(2) The exit poll shall be conducted in a nondisruptive manner.

C. Whoever violates this Section shall be fined one hundred dollars or be imprisoned for ten days, or both, for the first offense. For a second offense, the penalty shall be a fine of two hundred dollars or imprisonment for ten days, or both. For a third or subsequent offense, the penalty shall be a fine of five hundred dollars or imprisonment for ten days, or both.

D.(1) "Exit poll" as used in this Section shall mean a poll of voters by a bona fide news gathering organization as defined in R.S. 44:3.1.1 leaving a polling place to gather basic demographic information and determine how voters voted on candidates and propositions in an election.

(2) The term "exit poll" shall not be construed to include polls about races, propositions, or issues not on the ballot, or dissemination of information to voters.

Acts 2021, No. 13, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2022; Acts 2025, No. 37, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:575 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 575
Official results of a primary or general election
Status: in_force

A. Uncontested elections. The election returns compiled and promulgated by the secretary of state shall be the official results of a primary or general election for an office if an action contesting the election for that office is not commenced timely.

B. Contested elections. If an action contesting a primary or general election is commenced timely, the final judgment in the action contesting the election shall determine the result of the election for that office. The result of a contested election shall not be official until the final judgment in the action contesting the election becomes definitive. The secretary of state shall promulgate results of a contested election in accordance with the final judgment of the court as soon as practicable after the final judgment becomes definitive.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1403 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1403
Jurisdiction
Status: in_force

The district courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of actions objecting to candidacy, objecting to the calling of a special election, contesting the certification of a recall petition, and contesting elections. In a judicial district wherein there is a criminal and a civil district court, the civil district court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2010, No. 621, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:448 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 448
Vacancies in the state central committee or parish executive committee of a recognized political party
Status: in_force

A. A vacancy in the membership of the state central committee shall be filled as follows:

(1) For membership elected pursuant to R.S. 18:443, the chairman of the state central committee shall appoint a member.

(2) For membership elected pursuant to R.S. 18:443.2, the state central committee shall appoint a member.

B. A vacancy in the membership of a parish executive committee of a recognized political party shall be filled as follows:

(1) For a vacancy in an at-large position, the parish executive committee shall appoint a qualified resident of the parish. If there are not enough members of the parish executive committee to fill the vacancy, the chairman of the state central committee of that political party may appoint a qualified resident of the parish to fill the vacancy.

(2)(a) For a vacancy left by a representative of a district, the parish executive committee shall appoint a qualified resident of the district. If no qualified resident of the district will accept the membership, the committee may appoint any qualified resident of the parish.

(b) If there are not enough members of the parish executive committee to fill the vacancy, the chairman of the state central committee of that political party may appoint a qualified resident of the district to fill the vacancy. If no qualified resident of the district will accept the membership, the chairman of the state central committee of that political party may appoint any qualified resident of the parish to fill the vacancy.

C. The state central committee or parish executive committee shall notify the secretary of state any time a vacancy is filled on the respective committee. The notice shall include the name of the appointed member, the address of his domicile, and the effective date of his appointment.

D. The provisions of Subpart E of Part VI of this Chapter do not apply to the filling of vacancies pursuant to this Part. However, for the purposes of this Part, vacancy has the same meaning as provided in R.S.18:581.

Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1461.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1461.4
Election offenses involving threats or intimidation of voters; penalties
Status: in_force

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

(1) Intimidate, deceive, or misinform, directly or indirectly, any voter or prospective voter in matters concerning voting or nonvoting or voter registration or nonregistration, or the signing or not signing of a petition, including but not limited to any matter concerning the voluntary affiliation or nonaffiliation of a voter with any political party.

(2) While in the voting booth assisting another person in voting, coerce, compel, or otherwise influence the assisted voter to cast his vote in a certain way.

(3) Intimidate a person by the use of violence, force, or threats with the intent to influence that person's decision to vote or to impede such person's ingress or egress from a polling place.

(4) Without lawful authority, obstruct, hinder, or delay any voter on his way to or while returning home from any polling place where an election is being held or on his way to or while returning home from a place where he can legally exercise a vote concerning candidate representation of his party.

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.

Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:621 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 621
Vacancy in office of judge
Status: in_force

A.(1) Within twenty-four hours after having knowledge of a vacancy in the office of a judge, including a vacancy by reason of a newly created judgeship, the supreme court shall give written notice to the governor that the vacancy exists, the date on which it occurred, and the cause thereof.

(2) If more than twelve months of the term remain unexpired, then within ten days after being notified of the vacancy, the governor shall determine the dates on which the special elections to fill the vacancy shall be held and the dates of the qualifying period and shall issue his proclamation ordering a special election and specifying the dates on which the primary and general elections will be held and the dates of the qualifying period for the 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.

(3) The governor shall call any special election to fill a newly created judgeship or a vacancy in an existing judgeship in accordance with the dates for elections set forth in R.S. 18:402, if such dates can be utilized to fill a newly created judgeship or fill a vacancy in an existing judgeship within the period of time prescribed in Article V, Section 22(B) of the Louisiana Constitution. In selecting the dates for such special elections, the governor shall first choose a gubernatorial or congressional election date; if no such date is available during the constitutionally prescribed time period, the governor shall then select another election date, as provided for in R.S. 18:402.

B. Immediately after issuance of the proclamation, the secretary of state shall publish the proclamation in the official journal of each parish in which the election is to be held. Within twenty-four hours after its issuance, the governor shall send a copy of the proclamation to the secretary of state. Within twenty-four hours after he receives the copy, the secretary of state shall notify all election officials having any duty to perform in connection with a special election to fill such vacancy, including the parish boards of election supervisors for the parish or parishes in which the vacancy occurred.

Added by Acts 1978, No. 38, §1, eff. May 31, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 792, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 76, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 778, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 152, §1, eff. as per Section 2, see note; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:603 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 603
Persons designated to assume duties of vacant offices; salary and emoluments; power to appoint
Status: in_force

When a vacancy occurs in an office covered by R.S. 18:602(C), the person designated to assume the duties of the office shall receive the salary and other emoluments of the vacated office until a successor is elected and takes office. A person designated to assume the duties of an office shall take the oath of office and file any bond required for the vacated office. The person who assumes the duties of an office may appoint a person to perform the duties of the office or position he formerly held and the person so appointed shall receive the salary and other emoluments of that office or position.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:105 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 105
Establishment of identity; proof of naturalization of foreign-born applicant
Status: in_force

A. Except as otherwise provided by the laws governing absentee registration, electronic registration, and mail registration, each applicant shall establish his identity, age, and residency. The registrar or any person authorized to accept voter registration applications shall require the applicant to submit his current Louisiana driver's license, if he has one, or his birth certificate, or other documentation which reasonably and sufficiently establishes the applicant's identity, age, and residency. A birth certificate shall be used only to establish the applicant's identity and age. For the purposes of this Subsection, a short-form birth certification card shall be acceptable as a birth certificate. If the registrar or any person authorized to accept voter registration applications has good reason to believe that the applicant is not the person he represents himself to be or is not qualified to register as provided in R.S. 18:101, he shall require the applicant to produce two witnesses who reside in his precinct to make oath to establish his identity, age, and residency.

B, C. Repealed by Acts 2016, No. 281, §3, eff. May 31, 2016.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 29, §1, eff. July 9, 1982; Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 1992, No. 949, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 118, §3, eff. April 19, 2000; Acts 2009, No. 187, §1, eff. April 1, 2010; Acts 2016, No. 281, §3, eff. May 31, 2016.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1300.32 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1300.32
Certification of registrar of voters; addition or withdrawal of signatures; form of names
Status: in_force

A. The registrar of the parish shall certify on the petition within fifteen working days after it is presented to him for that purpose, the number of names appearing thereon, the number of qualified electors of the voting area within the parish whose handwritten signatures appear on the petition, and also the total number of electors of the voting area within the parish as of the date of the filing of the petition with the appropriate local governing authority. If the final day for the registrar to certify the petition falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for certifying the petition. The registrar also shall indicate on the petition the names appearing thereon who are not electors of the voting area. Each person who participates in the review of the names on the petition for certification by the registrar as required in this Section shall initial each of those portions of the petition which he reviews for certification by the registrar.

B.(1) The registrar of voters shall honor the written request of any voter who either desires to have his handwritten signature stricken from the petition or desires to have his handwritten signature added to the petition at any time after receipt of the signed petition as provided in R.S. 18:1300.31(D) but prior to certification of the petition or within five days after receipt of such signed petition, whichever is earlier. If the deadline for removing or adding a signature to the petition falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the deadline for removing or adding a signature to the petition. The written request of the voter shall include the name and address of the voter, the signature of the voter, the date of birth of the voter, and the date.

(2) Upon the signature of the voter, the written request of the voter to have his signature stricken or added to the petition shall be a public record. Any person in possession of such a written request shall be the custodian thereof. The voter or any other person who is the custodian of the written request shall transmit the written request to the registrar of voters for each parish within the voting area by mail or directly by hand, immediately upon signature of the voter or upon receipt of the signed, written request.

C. When there is no registrar of voters, or deputy registrar of voters in any parish, or in case of the absence or inability of that officer, the clerk of the district court of the parish shall execute the certificate. Immediately after the petition is certified a copy of the petition shall be made and the original petition shall be sent to the appropriate local governing authority by the officer executing the certificate. Such copy shall be retained in the office of the registrar of voters and shall be a public record.

D. When any officer designated in this Chapter refuses to execute the certificates provided for, any signer of a petition, or the chairman or vice chairman designated to represent the signers, may compel the execution of the certificates by summary process in the district court having jurisdiction over the officer.

E. The registrar of voters shall comply with the provisions of R.S. 18:3(C) when determining the number of qualified electors of the voting area who signed the petition.

Acts 2008, No. 930, §1, eff. July 15, 2008; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1951 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1951
Maps of reapportioned districts; Department of Transportation and Development
Status: in_force

The Department of Transportation and Development is authorized to prepare maps of the Louisiana congressional districts, legislative districts, Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education districts, and Louisiana Public Service Commission districts following reapportionment of the districts as otherwise provided by law.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 519, §2, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1991, No. 330, §1, eff. July 6, 1991.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1481 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1481
Short title
Status: in_force

This Chapter may be cited as the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:410.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 410.1
Party primary elections
Status: in_force

Party primary elections for party primary offices as defined in R.S. 18:2 shall be held pursuant to this Part, and any provision of this Code in conflict with these provisions shall not be applicable to elections for party primary offices. Any provision of this Code that is not in conflict with these provisions shall be applicable to these elections unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For purposes of this Part, the phrase "major political party" shall mean a political party recognized pursuant to R.S. 18:441(C).

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. § 18:1300.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1300.6
Reason for recall stated in petition
Status: in_force

The petition shall contain a clear statement of the reason or reasons for the recall.

Acts 2018, No. 257, §1, eff. May 15, 2018.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:470 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 470
Disposition of notices of candidacy; qualifying fees; nomination petitions
Status: in_force

A. Notices of candidacy. (1) Upon receipt and acceptance of a notice of candidacy that meets the requirements of R.S. 18:463, the secretary of state or the clerk of court, as the case may be, shall endorse upon it the date and time of filing and either the amount of the qualifying fee paid by the candidate or a statement that a nominating petition was filed by the candidate. The acceptance of a notice of candidacy that meets the requirements of R.S. 18:463 by the secretary of state or the clerk of court is mandatory and ministerial and the secretary of state or the clerk of court shall not have discretion to verify the qualifications of a potential candidate. If a candidate qualifies in person, a certified copy of the original notice of candidacy shall be furnished to the candidate at the time he qualifies with the qualifying official but after the date and time have been endorsed thereon. If a candidate qualifies by submitting his notice of candidacy by certified mail, commercial carrier, or agent, the qualifying official shall mail a certified copy of the original notice of candidacy after the date and time have been endorsed thereon to the candidate at the address of his domicile as set forth in the notice of candidacy within forty-eight hours after receipt of the notice of candidacy.

(2) At the time a candidate files his notice of candidacy with the clerk of court it shall become a public record and shall be recorded by the clerk of court in the same manner as sales of immovables and the recordation of mortgages and miscellaneous acts are recorded with him. The clerk of court shall place all notices of candidacy for each election in a separate book which he shall keep in his office, and each such notice of candidacy shall be the official document and the official public record. The clerk of court shall daily post a list of all the candidates, and the offices for which they qualify, whose notices of candidacy have been filed with his office.

(3)(a) After the close of the qualifying period, the secretary of state shall transmit a list of the candidates who have qualified with him to the clerk of court in each parish in which the office is to be voted on. After the close of the qualifying period for candidates in a primary election, the clerk of court shall immediately transmit to the secretary of state a certified list of the candidates for each office who have qualified with him. This list shall include the name of each candidate as said candidate designated his name to appear on the ballot on his notice of candidacy form. The clerk shall also immediately forward qualifying fees for candidates to the secretary of state.

(b) If a notice of candidacy, together with the qualifying fee or a nominating petition, is not filed timely or is filed with the wrong official, the official receiving the papers shall endorse the date and time of receipt upon them and shall return them forthwith, either personally or by registered or certified mail, to the candidate filing them.

B. Qualifying fees. The secretary of state shall deliver all qualifying fees to the state treasurer, who shall remit all funds to the state treasury in accordance with law.

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. 786, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 1st E.S., No. 1, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 2001, No. 47, §1; Acts 2016, No. 281, §1, eff. May 31, 2016; Acts 2020, No. 208, §1, eff. June 11, 2020.