La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1505.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1505.2
Contributions; expenditures; certain prohibitions and limitations
Status: in_force

A.(1) No person shall give, furnish, or contribute monies, materials, supplies, or make loans to or in support of a candidate or to any committee, through or in the name of another, directly or indirectly. This prohibition shall not apply to dues or membership fees of any membership organization or corporation made by its members or stockholders, if such membership organization or corporation is not organized primarily for the purpose of supporting, opposing, or otherwise influencing the nomination for election, or election of any person to public office.

(2)(a) Any person who violates the provisions of this Subsection unknowingly shall be assessed a penalty equal to the amount of the contribution plus ten percent.

(b)(i) Any person who violates the provisions of this Subsection knowingly and willfully shall be assessed a penalty equal to twice the amount of the contribution.

(ii) "Knowing and willful" for the purposes of this Subsection means conduct which could have been avoided through the exercise of due diligence.

B.(1) No candidate or committee shall make any expenditure from funds the source of which is anonymous, and any contribution received by a candidate or committee from an anonymous source and deposited shall be reported as provided in R.S. 18:1491.7(B)(19) and 1495.5(B)(18) and shall escheat to the state and shall be paid over to the state by such candidate or committee.

(2) Any single transaction involving the sale of paraphernalia, which transaction is for not in excess of fifty dollars and in which transaction the purchaser is not known, shall not be deemed to constitute an anonymous contribution under the provisions of this Subsection.

C.(1) No person shall make a cash contribution to a candidate or a committee and no candidate or committee shall receive cash contributions in excess of two hundred dollars during any calendar year. Any contribution in excess of such two hundred dollar aggregate amount, other than an in-kind contribution, shall be made by an instrument containing the name of the contributor and the name of the payee.

(2) Upon receipt of a cash contribution of two hundred dollars or less, the candidate or committee receiving the contribution shall provide to the contributor a receipt for the exact amount of the contribution; such receipt shall contain the name and address of the contributor, shall be signed by the contributor, and the candidate or committee receiving the contribution shall retain a copy of the receipt. If the contributor refuses to furnish his name or address or refuses to sign the receipt, the contribution shall be immediately returned to said contributor. If the contributor is unable to write, he shall affix his mark to the receipt, and the person receiving the contribution shall affix the name of the incapacitated person to the receipt, provided he does so in the presence of a witness who shall also sign his name as witness to the mark. The copy of the receipt retained by the candidate or committee provided for in this Subsection shall be available to the supervisory committee for inspection. The supervisory committee shall promulgate rules and regulations relative to the receipt required by this Subsection.

D.(1) No person shall knowingly coerce or attempt to coerce another person to give or withhold a contribution.

(2) No person based on an individual's contribution, promise to make a contribution, or failure to make a contribution shall directly or indirectly affect an individual's employment by means of:

(a) Denial or deprivation or the threat of the denial or deprivation of any employment or position.

(b) Denial or deprivation or the threat of the denial or deprivation of the loss of any compensation, payment, benefit, or other emolument derived from or related to such employment or position.

(c) Discharge, promotion, degradation, or change in any manner in rank or classification, or the threat or promise to do so.

(3)(a) No person based on an individual's contribution, promise to make a contribution, or failure to make any contribution shall directly or indirectly affect an individual by means of:

(i) Denial or deprivation or the threat of the denial or deprivation of membership or participation in any organization.

(ii) Denial or deprivation or the threat of the denial or deprivation of the loss of any compensation, payment, benefit, or other emolument derived from or related to such membership or participation in any organization.

(iii) Discharge, promotion, degradation, or change in any manner in rank, status, or classification in any organization, or the threat or promise to do so.

(b)(i) No organization shall directly or indirectly have as a condition of membership or participation the requirement that a person make a contribution to such organization which will be used by such organization for the purpose of supporting, opposing, or otherwise influencing the nomination or election of any person to public office, for the purpose of supporting or opposing a proposition or question submitted to the voters, or for the purpose of supporting or opposing the recall of a public officer.

(ii) For the purposes of this Subparagraph, "contribution" shall have the same meaning as provided for in R.S. 18:1483 and shall also include any dues or membership fees of any organization.

(c) For the purposes of this Paragraph, "organization" shall mean a partnership, association, labor union, corporation, or other legal entity, including its subsidiaries. For purposes of this Paragraph, "organization" does not include a political committee or independent expenditure-only committee.

(4) No committee, candidate, or other person shall knowingly and willfully make a contribution or expenditure using funds which were obtained through practices prohibited in this Subsection.

(5) Any contribution received by a candidate, committee, or other person required to file reports under this Chapter which was obtained through practices prohibited in this Subsection shall be reported as provided in R.S. 18:1491.7(B)(21) and 1495.5(B)(20) and shall escheat to the state and shall be paid over to the state by such candidate, committee, or other such person.

E. No expenditure in excess of two hundred dollars shall be made from a petty cash fund, and no expenditure shall be made from a petty cash fund for any personal services, except for gratuities paid for the serving of food or drink. No expenditure shall be made from the petty cash fund in violation of R.S. 18:1531.

F. No profit or nonprofit corporation, labor organization, or trade, business, or professional association shall make any contribution or expenditure unless specifically authorized to do so whether: by the vote of the board of directors of the corporation, of the executive board of the labor organization or of the trade, business, or professional association at a regular or special meeting thereof; by the president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer of a corporation or labor organization whom the board has specifically empowered to authorize such contributions or expenditures, or, for a corporation, by any other person designated by resolution of the board of directors of a corporation to authorize contributions or expenditures; or by a vote of the membership of the labor organization. No profit or nonprofit corporation, labor organization or trade, business, or professional association shall make any contribution or expenditure, other than an in-kind contribution or expenditure, except by check.

G. No committee shall receive contributions or loans or make expenditures or loans, or make or receive a transfer of funds to or from another committee in the aggregate in excess of one thousand dollars during a calendar year until it has filed the annual statement of organization required by R.S. 18:1491.1. The chairman and the treasurer of any committee which violates the provisions of this Subsection shall be subject to the penalties provided in this Part. No candidate shall make a contribution to any committee required to file an annual statement of organization by the provisions of R.S. 18:1491.1 which has not filed such a statement.

H.(1)(a) The following contribution limits are established for contributions made to candidates or the principal campaign committee and any subsidiary committee of a candidate for the following offices:

(i) Major office - twelve thousand dollars.

(ii) District office - six thousand dollars.

(iii) Other office - two thousand dollars.

(b) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to contributions made to a candidate or the principal campaign committee or any subsidiary committee of a candidate by a recognized political party or a committee designated to receive such contributions on behalf of the state central committee of the political party by joint fundraising agreement or otherwise.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the contribution limit for contributions made to an unsuccessful major office candidate, or the principal campaign committee and any subsidiary committee of such unsuccessful candidate, who does not participate in the general election, or a party primary candidate who does not participate in either the second party primary, primary, or general election and for the time period for which such candidate has a deficit for expenditures made through the day of the primary election or closed party primary, shall be twenty thousand dollars.

(2)(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the following contribution limits are established for contributions by political committees or leadership committees supporting or opposing a candidate for the following offices:

(i) Major office - twelve thousand dollars.

(ii) District office - six thousand dollars.

(iii) Other office - two thousand dollars.

(b)(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the following campaign contribution limits are established for contributions by political committees supporting or opposing a candidate for the following offices, the membership of which political committee exceeds two hundred fifty members as of the December thirty-first of the preceding calendar year, and additionally, provided that at least two hundred fifty of the members have each contributed at least fifty dollars to the political committee during the preceding one-year period:

(aa) Major office - twenty-four thousand dollars.

(bb) District office - twelve thousand dollars.

(cc) Other office - four thousand dollars.

(ii) No contribution in excess of the limits contained in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be made by any political committee until such membership certification is made on the statement of organization form required by this Chapter and timely submitted to the supervisory committee by the applicable due date. Any political committee certified under this Paragraph shall notify the supported candidate in writing at the time that any contribution is made under this Paragraph.

(c) If the contribution is made to a leadership committee, political committee, or independent expenditure-only committee which is supporting or opposing candidates for different offices, the highest applicable limit shall apply.

(d) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to recognized political parties and their committees.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the contributions limit for contributions by political committees to an unsuccessful major office candidate, or the principal campaign committee and subsidiary committee of such unsuccessful candidate, who does not participate in the general election, or a party primary candidate who does not participate in either the second party primary, primary, or general election and for the time period for which such candidate has a deficit for expenditures made through the day of the primary election or closed party primary, shall be twenty thousand dollars.

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Paragraph, the contributions limit for contributions by political committees certified according to the provisions of Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph to an unsuccessful major office candidate, or the principal campaign committee and subsidiary committee of such unsuccessful candidate, who does not participate in a second party primary or the general election and for the time period for which such candidate has a deficit for expenditures made through the later of the day of the party primary or the second party primary election, shall be forty thousand dollars.

(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Paragraph, the contribution limit for contributions by a political committee, leadership committee, or a principal campaign committee to a recognized political party or any committee thereof designated to receive such contributions on behalf of the state central committee of the political party by joint fundraising agreement or otherwise shall be as provided in Subsection K of this Section.

(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Paragraph, the contribution limit for contributions by any committee to a leadership committee shall be twenty-five thousand dollars per calendar year.

(3)(a)(i) For purposes of this Subsection, a primary election and a general election shall constitute two separate elections, and, if held, an election held pursuant to R.S. 18:512 shall constitute a separate election. For a party primary office, a primary, a second party primary, and a general election shall constitute three separate elections.

(ii) For purposes of this Subsection, if a judgment orders a new primary election and general election, those elections shall constitute two separate elections, but if a judgment orders only a new general election, that election shall constitute a separate election.

(iii) For purposes of this Subsection, for candidates for a primary party office, principal campaign committees, political committees, and independent expenditure-only committees that participate in a second party primary, the reporting period for the second party primary election shall be deemed to begin the day following the primary election.

(iv) For purposes of this Subsection, for candidates, principal campaign committees, political committees, and independent expenditure-only committees that participate in a general election, the reporting period for the general election shall be deemed to begin the day following the primary election at which the candidate qualified for the general election, except that for a nonparty primary candidate, the reporting period for the general election shall be deemed to begin the day that the candidate became a candidate for a party primary office.

(v) For purposes of this Subsection, if a judgment orders only a new general election, for candidates, principal campaign committees, political committees, and independent expenditure-only committees that participate in the court-ordered general election, the reporting period shall be deemed to begin the day following the rendering of the judgment.

(vi) For purposes of this Subsection, for candidates, principal campaign committees, political committees, and independent expenditure-only committees that participate in an election held pursuant to R.S. 18:512, the reporting period for that election shall be deemed to begin the day following the general election.

(vii) A candidate or his principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee thereof may receive contributions that are designated in writing or made in accordance with a properly noticed joint fundraising agreement for use in connection with either the general election or primary election in a single election cycle or, for a party primary office, with either a party primary, the primary, or the general election, as provided in R.S. 18:1505.2.1.

(b) No person shall make a loan, transfer of funds, or contribution, including but not limited to funds for any purchase of campaign materials for more than fifty dollars, funds for the purchase of testimonial tickets, and any in-kind contribution, in the aggregate for all reporting periods for an election, as defined in this Paragraph, including reporting periods for any supplemental reports required, in excess of the contribution limits established in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Subsection.

(c) No candidate, including his principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee thereof or leadership committee, shall accept from the same contributor a loan, transfer of funds, or contribution, including but not limited to funds for any purchase of campaign materials for more than fifty dollars, funds for the purchase of testimonial tickets, and any in-kind contribution, in the aggregate for all reporting periods of an election, as defined in this Paragraph, including reporting periods for any supplemental reports, in excess of the contribution limits established in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Subsection, and except that the provisions of Paragraph (2) of this Subsection shall apply for contributions accepted from a leadership committee, political committee, or principal campaign committee. The provisions of this Subparagraph shall not apply to recognized political parties and their state central committees.

(d) No person shall make a loan, transfer of funds, or contribution to a candidate including his principal campaign committee or leadership committee with funds loaned to him without disclosing to the candidate or his committee the source of the funds. A candidate or his committee receiving such a loan, transfer of funds, or contribution shall not only report the name of the contributor, but also the source of the funds contributed.

(4) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit a transfer of funds between a candidate or his principal campaign committee and any subsidiary committee thereof, provided that all parties shall comply with applicable reporting requirements.

(5) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to any contributions or loans a candidate makes to his own campaign or leadership committee.

(6)(a) For purposes of this Subsection, "loan" shall not include any loan of money by a state bank, a federally chartered depository institution, or a depository institution the deposits or accounts of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration, any licensed lender under the Louisiana Consumer Credit Law, or an insurance company, other than any overdraft made with respect to a checking or savings account, made in accordance with applicable law and in the ordinary course of business, but such loan:

(i) Shall be considered a loan by each endorser or guarantor, in that proportion of the unpaid balance that each endorser or guarantor bears to the total number of endorsers or guarantors, and such loan by each endorser and guarantor shall be subject to the contribution limits provided in this Subsection;

(ii) Shall be made on a basis which assures repayment, evidenced by a written instrument, and subject to a due date or amortization schedule; and

(iii) Shall bear the usual and customary interest rate of the lending institution.

(7) An independent expenditure-only committee may receive unlimited contributions from any person not otherwise prohibited from making a contribution pursuant to 52 U.S.C. 30121 or this Chapter.

I.(1)(a) Contributions received by a candidate or committee may be expended for any lawful purpose related to any of the following:

(i) Supporting or opposing a proposition or question submitted to the voters.

(ii) Supporting or opposing the recall of a public officer.

(iii) Contributions to a gubernatorial transition and inauguration.

(iv) Contributions to an independent expenditure-only committee.

(v) Donations to an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(vi) Lobbying.

(vii) Social and issue advocacy.

(viii) The administrative costs or operating expenses of the committee making the expenditure, including costs and expense related to legal services and costs, accounting services, and fundraising.

(b)(i) In addition to the permitted expenditures provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, contributions received by a candidate or a candidate's principal campaign committee, or any subsidiary committee thereof, may also be expended for any lawful purpose related to any of the following:

(aa) Supporting or nominating the candidate for election to a public office.

(bb) Supporting or opposing or otherwise influencing the nomination or election of a person to public office.

(cc) Contributions to another candidate's principal campaign committee, to a political committee, or to a leadership committee.

(dd) The holding of public office or party position.

(ee) The payment of fines, fees, or penalties assessed for a violation of this Chapter.

(ii) Contributions received by a candidate or candidate's principal campaign committee, or any subsidiary committee thereof, may not be used, loaned, or pledged by any person for any personal use of the candidate or a member of his immediate family.

(iii) Excess campaign contributions received by a candidate or a candidate's principal campaign committee and not expended during a party primary, primary, or general election may be maintained in a segregated fund or a fund of the candidate's principal campaign committee for use in future political campaigns, activity related to preparing for future candidacy to elective office, or for any lawful purpose provided for in this Subparagraph and Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph. Any excess campaign contributions received from a contributor deposited in a segregated fund shall be considered a contribution from the contributor for the candidate's next campaign.

(c)(i) Contributions received by a leadership committee shall not be used, loaned, or pledged by any person for any personal use unrelated to any of the following:

(aa) Holding of the elected official's public office or party position.

(bb) Contributions to another candidate or another candidate's principal campaign committee, or any subsidiary committee thereof.

(cc) Contributions to another elected official's leadership committee.

(dd) The payment of fines, fees, or penalties assessed for a violation of this Chapter.

(ii) Notwithstanding Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, contributions received by a leadership committee may not be used, loaned, or pledged by any person for any personal use of the elected official or a member of his immediate family or for making expenditures in support of the elected official's campaign, to oppose the recall of the elected official, or to oppose an opponent of the elected official.

(iii) For purposes of this Subparagraph, use of funds by a leadership committee to replace articles lost, stolen, or damaged in connection with the operations of the leadership committee or the holding of public office or party position by the public officer shall not be considered personal use.

(d)(i) In addition to the permitted expenditures provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, contributions received by a political committee may be expended for any lawful purpose, including any lawful purpose related to any of the following:

(aa) Supporting, opposing, or otherwise influencing the nomination or election of any person to public office.

(bb) Contributions to any candidate's principal campaign committee, any other political committee, or any leadership committee.

(ii) Contributions received by a political committee may not be used for the personal use of any candidate or elected official, or his immediate family, or for coordinated expenditures with a candidate or candidate's principal campaign committee.

(e)(i) In addition to the permitted expenditures provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, contributions received by an independent expenditure-only committee may be expended for any lawful purpose, including any lawful purpose related to any of the following:

(aa) Supporting, opposing, or otherwise influencing the nomination or election of any person to public office.

(bb) Contributions to any leadership committee.

(ii) Contributions received by an independent expenditure-only committee may not be used, loaned, or pledged by any person for any of the following:

(aa) The personal use of any candidate or elected official, or a member of his immediate family.

(bb) Contributions to any candidate or a candidate's principal campaign committee, or a subsidiary committee thereof.

(cc) Coordinated expenditures with any candidate or candidate's principal campaign committee.

(2)(a) The following expenditures shall not be considered to be personal use by the candidate or his principal campaign committee or a subsidiary committee thereof, or by an elected official or his leadership committee:

(i) Expenses related to the attendance at political or professional events by the candidate and any accompanying spouse and children, including:

(aa) Events related to the Mardi Gras celebration held in Washington, D.C.

(bb) Political party conventions, caucuses, and conferences.

(cc) Conventions and conferences of professional associations for officeholders or governmental officials.

(dd) Conventions and conferences of issue or social advocacy groups.

(ii) Reasonable costs of security measures for a candidate, elected official, member of their family, or campaign employees, including but not limited to:

(aa) Nonstructural security devices, such as security hardware, locks, alarm systems, motion detectors, and security camera systems.

(bb) Structural security devices, such as wiring, lighting, gates, doors, and fencing, so long as such devices are intended solely to provide security and not to improve property or increase its value.

(cc) Security personnel and services that are bona fide, legitimate, and professional.

(dd) Cybersecurity software, devices, and services.

(iii) If a candidate or committee is required by state or federal law to pay taxes on the interest earned by campaign funds of the candidate or the funds of any committee, the use of the interest by the candidate or committee on which such tax is paid to pay such taxes.

(iv) Any interest payments made to a candidate from campaign funds of such candidate or any principal campaign committee or leadership committee of such candidate on loans made by the candidate to his campaign, his principal campaign committee, or his leadership committee, to the extent that the interest charged on such loans does not exceed the judicial interest rate at the time the loan was made.

(v) Reasonable costs to replace articles lost, stolen, or damaged in connection with the campaign.

(vi) Reimbursement by the candidate or his principal or subsidiary committee paid to the candidate for expenses related to his political campaign or his holding of a public office or party position.

(b) The following expenditures shall be presumed to be made for the personal use of the candidate or his principal campaign committee or a subsidiary committee thereof or an elected official or his leadership committee and shall be prohibited unless the candidate, elected official, or committee overcomes the presumption by showing by a preponderance of the evidence that the expenditure was not for personal use:

(i) Expenditures for household food items or supplies.

(ii) Funeral, cremation, or burial expenses of the candidate or his immediate family, except those expenses incurred for a candidate or an employee or volunteer of an authorized committee whose death arises out of, or in the course of, campaign activity.

(iii) Clothing expenses, except for items of de minimis value that are used in the campaign, such as campaign shirts or hats, or specialized apparel necessary to attend a specific fundraising event or event related to the holding of office.

(iv) Tuition payments, other than those associated with training campaign staff.

(v) Dues, fees, or gratuities at a private club, social organization, recreational facility, or other nonpolitical organization, unless any of the following apply:

(aa) The dues, fees, and gratuities are part of the cost of a specific fundraising event that takes place on the facility's or organization's premises.

(bb) The dues, fees, and gratuities are part of the cost of meetings or activities of the campaign, principal campaign committee, or leadership committee.

(cc) The membership or attendance at the facility or organization facilitates interactions with constituents, colleagues or former colleagues in an elective or deliberative body, other elected officials, voters, electors, contributors, or potential contributors.

(3)(a) A candidate or his principal or subsidiary campaign committee shall not make an expenditure of funds derived from contributions for any purpose so long as the candidate owes a fine, fee, or penalty imposed by a final order of a court or the supervisory committee pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter and against which all appeal delays have lapsed. This Paragraph shall apply to all contributions regardless of the date received by the candidate or committee.

(b) Any person who makes an expenditure in violation of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph may be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed two hundred percent of the expenditure or one thousand dollars, whichever is greater.

(4) No candidate, committee, person required to file reports under this Chapter, nor any other person shall use a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to pay a fine, fee, or penalty imposed pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 15 of Title 42 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

(5)(a) No candidate nor the principal or any subsidiary political committee of a candidate, nor any elected official or the leadership committee of an elected official shall use a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds received by such candidate or committee to make any payment or expenditure to any immediate family member of the candidate or elected official.

(b) This Paragraph shall not prohibit a payment or expenditure to a business in which an immediate family member has any ownership interest, provided that all of the following apply:

(i) The business is a bona fide business that is doing business and has been doing business regularly in the state for at least twelve months at the time of the payment or expenditure and the business either:

(aa) Has been registered and in good standing with the secretary of state for at least twelve months at that time and provides goods or services related to the payment or expenditure.

(bb) Holds and has held an occupational license for at least twelve months at that time for a business which provides goods or services related to the payment or expenditure and which license was duly issued by the appropriate local governmental subdivision.

(ii) The payment or expenditure is made solely for purposes provided for in Subparagraphs (1)(a) through (c) of this Subsection.

(iii) The payment or expenditure is made through an arm's length transaction in which the value of the goods or services furnished is commensurate with the consideration provided.

(c) This Paragraph shall not prohibit a candidate nor the principal or any subsidiary political committee of a candidate, nor any elected official or the leadership committee of an elected official, from using a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds received by such candidate, elected official, or committee to make a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to any immediate family member who is a candidate or elected official or to any principal or subsidiary political committee or leadership committee of such family member who is a candidate or elected official.

(d) For purposes of this Paragraph, "immediate family member" shall mean the candidate's or elected official's children, the spouses of his children, his brothers and their spouses, his sisters and their spouses, his parents, his spouse, and the parents of his spouse.

(e) Any candidate or elected official who violates the provisions of this Paragraph or whose principal campaign committee, subsidiary committee, or leadership committee violates the provisions of this Paragraph shall be subject to the penalties provided in Subsection J of this Section, and the supervisory committee shall enforce the provisions of this Paragraph as provided in Subsection J of this Section and as otherwise provided in this Chapter.

(6) No candidate, political committee, principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee thereof, or leadership committee shall use a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds received by such candidate or committee to purchase immovable property or a motor vehicle. For purposes of this Paragraph, "motor vehicle" shall have the same meaning as provided in R.S. 32:781, except that "motor vehicle" shall not include a "trailer" as that term is defined in R.S. 32:1252.

(7) Contributions made in excess of the limits provided in this Section to a candidate, principal campaign committee, political committee, or leadership committee shall be returned by the candidate or committee to the contributor by check drawn on the campaign account. If the check is not negotiated within twelve months of the date of the check, the excess amount shall be presumed abandoned and shall be paid, transferred, or caused to be paid or transferred in accordance with the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act of 1997 by the candidate or committee not later than February twenty-eighth of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the excess amount was presumed abandoned.

(8) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to campaign funds received prior to July 15, 1988.

J.(1) Any candidate, treasurer, or chairman of a committee who violates any provision of Subsection H or I of this Section shall be assessed a penalty of not more than five thousand dollars or the amount of the violation, whichever is greater, except that the penalty for a knowing and willful violation shall not be more than ten thousand dollars or two hundred percent of the violation, whichever is greater. "Knowing and willful", for purposes of this Subsection, means conduct which could have been avoided through the exercise of due diligence. The civil penalties provided for in R.S. 18:1505.5 shall be inapplicable to violations of Subsection H or I of this Section. Enforcement of Subsections H and I of this Section shall be in the same manner provided for in Part VI of this Chapter.

(2) The supervisory committee shall institute civil proceedings to collect the civil penalties provided for in this Subsection as soon as the supervisory committee determines, as a result of its review and investigation of any sworn complaint or other document or information received by the supervisory committee, that a violation of Subsection H or I of this Section has occurred. If the supervisory committee makes a determination of such violation at least ten days prior to the election in which the candidate, treasurer, or chairman of a committee in apparent violation is participating, the supervisory committee shall institute such civil proceedings at least by the fourth calendar day prior to the election.

K.(1) No person shall contribute more than one hundred thousand dollars per calendar year to any leadership committee or any political committee or any subsidiary committee of such political committee. Such limitation on a contribution shall not apply to any contribution from a national political party committee to an affiliated regional or state political committee designated to received such contributions on behalf of the state central committee of a political party by joint fundraising agreement or otherwise. However, during any four-year calendar period commencing January 1, 2023, and every fourth year thereafter, no leadership committee or political committee or subsidiary of such political committee shall accept more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars from any person.

(2) No person shall contribute more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars per calendar year to a recognized political party or any committee thereof designated to receive such contributions on behalf of the state central committee of the political party by joint fundraising agreement or otherwise. However, during any four-year calendar period commencing January 1, 2023, and every fourth year thereafter, no recognized political party or any committee thereof designated to receive such contributions on behalf of the state central committee of the political party by joint fundraising agreement or otherwise shall accept more than four hundred thousand dollars from any person.

(3) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to contributions made by a recognized political party or any committee thereof designated to make such contributions on behalf of the state central committee of the political party by joint fundraising agreement or otherwise.

L.(1) The legislature recognizes that it is essential to the operation of effective democratic government in this state that citizens have confidence in the electoral process and that elections be conducted so as to prevent influence and the appearance of influence of candidates for public office and of the election process by special interests, particularly by persons substantially interested in the gaming industry in this state.

(2) No person to whom this Subsection is applicable as provided in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection shall make a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds, including but not limited to any in-kind contribution, as defined in this Chapter, to any candidate, any principal campaign committee of any such candidate, or any subsidiary committee thereof, any leadership committee, or to any other political committee which supports or opposes any candidate. This Section shall not prohibit contributions made to any account of a political committee affiliated with a recognized political party organized under the laws of another jurisdiction, where the account is segregated and no funds from such segregated account are used to support or oppose any candidate in this state or any political committee of any candidate in this state, provided that any person to whom this Section applies shall expressly request, prior to making a contribution, that such political committee shall not use such funds to support or oppose any candidate or any political committee of any candidate in Louisiana.

(3) This Subsection shall be applicable to all of the following:

(a)(i) Any person who holds a license or permit as a distributor of gaming devices, who holds a license or permit as a manufacturer of gaming devices, who holds a license or permit as a device service entity, and any person who owns a truck stop or a licensed pari-mutuel or off-track wagering facility which is a licensed device establishment, all pursuant to the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law. 1

(ii) Any person who holds a license to conduct gaming activities on a riverboat, who holds a license or permit as a distributor or supplier of gaming devices or gaming equipment including slot machines, or who holds a license or permit as a manufacturer of gaming devices or gaming equipment including slot machines issued pursuant to the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, 2 and any person who owns a riverboat upon which gaming activities are licensed to be conducted.

(iii) Any person who holds a license or entered into a contract for the conduct of casino gaming operations, who holds a license or permit as a distributor of gaming devices or gaming equipment including slot machines, or who holds a license or permit as a manufacturer of gaming devices or gaming equipment including slot machines issued pursuant to the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act, 3 and any person who owns a casino where such gaming operations are licensed.

(b)(i) Any person who has an interest, directly or indirectly, in any legal entity included in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph. "Interest", as used in this Subparagraph, means ownership by an individual or his spouse, either individually or collectively, of an interest which exceeds ten percent of any legal entity. An indirect interest is ownership through any number of layers of legal entities when twenty-five percent or more of each legal entity is owned by the legal entity ownership beneath it.

(ii) Any holding, intermediary, or subsidiary company of any person included in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph and any officer, director, trustee, or partner thereof.

(c) Any officer, director, trustee, partner, or senior management level employee or key employee as defined in R.S. 27:205(19) of any person included in Subparagraph (a) or (b) of this Paragraph.

(d) Any person subject to the provisions of R.S. 27:63(C)(4), 226(C)(4), or 261(D).

(e) The spouse of any person to whom this Subsection is made applicable by this Paragraph.

(4) This Subsection shall not prohibit an expenditure by a candidate for his own campaign or a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds by a candidate to his own principal campaign committee or by an elected official to his own leadership committee.

(5)(a)(i) Any person who makes a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds in violation of this Subsection shall be assessed a civil penalty in the same amounts as provided in Paragraph (J)(1) of this Section. The penalties provided in R.S. 18:1505.5 shall not be applicable to any violation of this Subsection.

(ii) If a candidate, committee, or person required to file reports is notified by the supervisory committee that a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to such candidate, committee, or person was made in violation of this Subsection, such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds shall escheat to the state. Any such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds, or an amount equal thereto, shall be paid over to the state by the recipient candidate, committee, or other person required to file reports within ten business days after the recipient candidate, committee, or person required to file reports is notified by the supervisory committee that the contribution, loan, or transfer of funds was made by a person prohibited by this Subsection from making such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds.

(b) The supervisory committee shall institute civil proceedings to collect the civil penalties provided for in this Subsection as provided in Paragraph (J)(2) of this Section.

(c) The criminal penalties provided in R.S. 18:1505.6(C) shall be applicable to any violation of this Subsection.

(d)(i) In addition to all other applicable penalties, the violation of this Subsection by any person to whom the Subsection is applicable pursuant to Paragraph (3) of this Subsection shall be reported by the supervisory committee to the gaming division of the office of state police, the Riverboat Gaming Commission 4 and the board of directors of the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation.

(ii) Such a violation of this Subsection shall be prohibited conduct under the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act, and the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law that renders the violator unsuitable to hold the license which made him subject to the provisions of this Subsection.

(6)(a) The gaming enforcement section of the office of state police of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, with the technical assistance of the supervisory committee, shall provide written notification of the provisions of this Subsection to each person issued or granted a permit, license, or contract as provided in Paragraph (3)(a)(i) and (ii) of this Subsection.

(b) The Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation, with the technical assistance of the supervisory committee, shall provide written notification of the provisions of this Subsection to each person issued or granted a permit, license, or contract as provided in Paragraph (3)(a)(iii) of this Subsection.

M.(1) No foreign national shall, directly or through any other person, make or promise to make, expressly or impliedly, any contribution of money or other thing of value as follows:

(a) In connection with an election to any political office or in connection with any election, convention, or caucus held to select candidates for any political office.

(b) In connection with a proposition or question submitted to the voters.

(c) In connection with the recall of a public officer.

(d) To any committee.

(e) To a gubernatorial transition or inauguration.

(2) No person shall solicit, accept, or receive any contribution provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection from such foreign national.

(3) As used in this Subsection, "foreign national" means:

(a) A foreign principal such as a government of a foreign country or a foreign political party, except that "foreign national" shall not mean any individual except an individual described in Subparagraph (c), (d), or (e) of this Paragraph.

(b) A partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country, unless authorized and qualified to do business in Louisiana.

(c) An individual who meets any of the following:

(i) Who is not a citizen of the United States and who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence and accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States as an immigrant.

(ii) Who is a citizen of a foreign government identified as a foreign adversary in 15 CFR 7.4.

(iii) Who is a citizen of a foreign government designated a state sponsor of terrorism under Section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act.

(d) Any foreign non-government person, including an individual, identified as a foreign adversary in 15 CFR 7.4.

(e) Any foreign terrorist organization as designated by the United States secretary of state in accordance with Section 219 of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 40 of the United States Arms Export Control Act, or Section 620(A) of the United States Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

(f) A partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other entity organized under the laws of a foreign government identified as a foreign adversary in 15 CFR 7.4 or Section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act, or organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country designated pursuant to Section 620(A) of the United States Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

(4) No organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code, which having received more than one hundred thousand dollars in contributions from a foreign national in the current or prior calendar year, or having received more than twenty percent of its total contributions from a foreign national in the current or prior year, shall, directly or through any other person, make or promise to make, expressly or impliedly, any contribution of money or other thing of value specified for a contribution to any committee or specified for any expenditure as follows, nor shall make any expenditure as follows:

(a) In connection with an election to any political office or in connection with any primary election, convention, or caucus held to select candidates for any political office.

(b) In connection with a proposition or question submitted to the voters.

(c) In connection with the recall of a public officer.

(5)(a) Any person who makes a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds in violation of this Subsection shall be subject to the penalties provided in R.S. 18:1505.5 and 1505.6.

(b) If a candidate, committee, or person required to file reports is notified by the supervisory committee that a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to such candidate, committee, or person was made in violation of this Subsection, such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds shall escheat to the state. Any such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds, or an amount equal thereto, shall be paid over to the state by the recipient candidate, committee, or other person required to file reports within ten business days after the recipient candidate, committee, or person required to file reports is notified by the supervisory committee that the contribution, loan, or transfer of funds was made by a person prohibited by this Subsection from making such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds.

N. Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 398, eff. June 20, 2025.

O.(1) A fine, fee, or penalty assessed for a violation of this Chapter shall be paid only by the person against whom the fine, fee, or penalty was assessed. All such fines, fees, or penalties may be paid only with the personal funds of such person or with contributions made to the candidate, the candidate's principal campaign committee, or an elected official's leadership committee in accordance with Subsection I of this Section; however, the supervisory committee may prohibit a candidate or elected official from using contributions received by, or other campaign funds of, such candidate or elected official or the principal or a subsidiary campaign committee or leadership committee of such candidate or elected official to pay a fine, fee, or penalty, assessed for a violation of this Chapter upon a finding that the violation was intentional or egregious.

(2) "Intentional" for the purposes of this Subsection shall mean actions which, in the considered opinion of the supervisory committee, were designed to avoid full and accurate compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. "Egregious" for the purposes of this Subsection shall mean actions which, in the considered opinion of the supervisory committee, significantly injured the public's right to full and accurate disclosure of the financing of election campaigns.

P. No funds contributed which are subject to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, to or for a person who seeks election to an office subject to the provisions of said Act shall be transferred, loaned, or contributed by a candidate, his agent, or his federal campaign committee to the candidate, any principal campaign committee of such candidate, or to any other political committee which supports the election of the candidate; nor shall the candidate, his federal campaign committee, or his agent use such funds to otherwise support his candidacy.

Q.(1) No legislator or his principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee thereof shall accept or deposit a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or accept and use any in-kind contribution, as defined in this Chapter, for his own campaign during a regular legislative session.

(2) If a legislator or his principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee thereof accepts or deposits a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds during a regular legislative session in violation of this Subsection, the legislator shall return such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to the contributor within ten days after the acceptance or deposit of such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds. Any contribution, loan, or transfer of funds so returned shall not be deemed to be accepted or deposited.

(3)(a)(i) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit an expenditure by a legislator for his own campaign or a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds by a legislator to his own principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee thereof or leadership committee.

(ii) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit a legislator from obtaining a loan for his own campaign from a state bank, a federally chartered depository institution, or a depository institution the deposits or accounts of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration, any licensed lender under the Louisiana Consumer Credit Law, or an insurance company, made in accordance with applicable law and in the ordinary course of business, provided that the legislator is the sole endorser or guarantor of the loan and that the loan is made on a basis which assures repayment evidenced by a written instrument, is subject to a due date or amortization schedule, and bears the usual and customary interest rate of the lending institution.

(b) The provisions of Paragraphs (Q)(1) and (2) of this Subsection shall not apply to any legislator who is a candidate for the office of United States senator; the office of United States representative; an office which is to be filled by an election which occurs during the regular legislative session during which the contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or in-kind contribution is accepted or within sixty days after such regular legislative session adjourns; or an office other than that of a member of the state legislature. However, if a legislator accepts a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or in-kind contribution during a regular legislative session for a state or local office to which the prohibition in this Subsection does not apply and the legislator chooses not to seek said office or fails to qualify for said office, such legislator shall return, in the manner prescribed by the supervisory committee, each such contribution, loan, transfer of funds, or in-kind contribution which remains unexpended or unencumbered for expenses directly related to the campaign for said office.

R.(1) Neither the governor nor any principal or subsidiary committee of the governor shall accept or deposit a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or accept and use any in-kind contribution, as defined in this Chapter, for his own campaign during a regular legislative session or within thirty days after such regular legislative session adjourns.

(2) If the governor or his principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee thereof accepts or deposits a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds in violation of this Subsection, the governor shall return such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds to the contributor within ten days after the acceptance or deposit of such contribution, loan, or transfer of funds. Any contribution, loan, or transfer of funds so returned shall not be deemed to be accepted or deposited.

(3)(a)(i) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit an expenditure by the governor for his own campaign or a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds by the governor to his own principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee thereof.

(ii) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit the governor from obtaining a loan for his own campaign from a state bank, a federally chartered depository institution, or a depository institution the deposits or accounts of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration, any licensed lender under the Louisiana Consumer Credit Law, or an insurance company, made in accordance with applicable law and in the ordinary course of business, provided that the governor is the sole endorser or guarantor of the loan and that the loan is made on a basis which assures repayment evidenced by a written instrument, is subject to a due date or amortization schedule, and bears the usual and customary interest rate of the lending institution.

(b) The provisions of Paragraphs (R)(1) and (2) of this Subsection shall not apply if the governor is a candidate for the office of United States senator; the office of United States representative; an office which is to be filled by an election which occurs during the regular legislative session during which the contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or in-kind contribution is accepted or within sixty days after such regular legislative session adjourns; or an office other than that of governor. However, if the governor accepts a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or in-kind contribution during a regular legislative session or within thirty days after such a regular legislative session adjourns for a state or local office to which the prohibition in this Subsection does not apply and the governor chooses not to seek said office or fails to qualify for said office, the governor shall return, in the manner prescribed by the supervisory committee, each such contribution, loan, transfer of funds, or in-kind contribution which remains unexpended or unencumbered for expenses directly related to such campaign for said office.

S.(1) No candidate for the office of the commissioner of insurance shall accept any campaign contribution, loan, or transfer of funds or accept and use any in-kind contribution for his or her campaign from any service provider who has contracted with the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and which service provider subcontracts with insurance adjusters to adjust claims for the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.

(2) Any contribution, loan, transfer of funds, or any in-kind contribution prohibited under Paragraph (1) of this Subsection made on or after January 1, 2006, shall be returned or refunded to the contributor by the candidate.

(3) As used in this Subsection, the term "service provider" shall include any of the following entities:

(a) An individual.

(b) A person, whether or not incorporated.

(c) A partnership, including the individual partners or members of the partnership.

(d) A corporation, including its individual officers and members of the board of directors.

(e) A limited liability company, or any of its owners, members, or officers.

(f) Any other legal entity which contracts or subcontracts to provide services beneficial to the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.

T.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, loans a candidate makes to his own campaign, as provided for in this Section, may be repaid from any campaign contributions received.

(2) The provisions of this Subsection shall apply only to those candidates who have terminated their public service as an elected official for at least one year from the date of their last day in office.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 266, §1, eff. July 18, 1982; Acts 1988, No. 994, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 180, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1990, No. 997, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 949, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 199, §§1 and 2, eff. June 1, 1993; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 67, §1, eff. July 1, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 542, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1164, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 62, §1; Acts 1999, No. 830, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 958, §1; Acts 2001, No. 294, §1; Acts 2001, No. 340, §1, eff. June 8, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 800, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1208, §1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 126, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 935, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 115, §1, eff. June 2, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 760, §1, eff. July 6, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 783, §1; Acts 2006, No. 128, §1, eff. June 2, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 849, §1, eff. July 10, 2006; Acts 2008, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 26, §1, eff. April 26, 2008; Acts 2008, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 27, §1, eff. March 30, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 821, §1, eff. July 8, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2010, No. 848, §1, eff. June 30, 2010; Acts 2013, No. 220, §29, eff. June 11, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 613, §1; Acts 2016, No. 450, §1; Acts 2020, No. 161, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2021; Acts 2020, No. 314, §1; Acts 2021, No. 428, §1; Acts 2023, No. 330, §1; Acts 2024, No. 136, §1; Acts 2024, No. 615, §2; Acts 2024, No. 640, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2024, No. 664, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 386, §4, eff. June 20, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 398, §§1, 4, 5, eff. June 20, 2025, §2, eff. See Act.

1 R.S. 27:401 et seq.

2 R.S. 27:41 et seq.

3 R.S. 27:201 et seq.

4 Abolished May 1, 1996. See R.S. 27:31(A)(2).

NOTE: R.S. 18:1505.2(L) - The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the LA Supreme Court decision in Penn v. Foster, 99-2337 La. 10/29/99, 751 So.2d 823 which held that the prohibitions of R.S. 18:1505.2(L) as applied to those persons set forth in R.S. 18:1505.2(L)(3)(a)(i) (certain licensees under the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law) are unconstitutional. On June 21, 2002, the La. Supreme Court, in the matter of Casino Association of Louisiana, Inc, et al. v. State of Louisiana , 820 So.2d 494, upheld the constitutionality of the prohibitions of R.S. 18:1505.2(L) as applied to certain licensees under the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act and the La. Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1313 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1313
Tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots
Status: in_force

A. The parish board of election supervisors may conduct the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots in accordance with this Section. The parish board shall notify the secretary of state in writing no later than five days prior to a primary or general election that the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots will be conducted pursuant to this Section or pursuant to R.S. 18:1313.1.

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

(2) If an insufficient number of parish board commissioners was selected pursuant to R.S. 18:1314 to count the absentee by mail and early voting ballots, the board, through the registrar of voters, shall request approval from the commissioner of elections to select a sufficient number of parish board commissioners on election day to assist in the counting of the ballots.

C.(1) Absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be counted at a public facility within the parish designated by the registrar of voters at a time fixed by the parish board of election supervisors, which time shall be on election day no later than 8:00 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

G. The procedure for the preparation, verification, counting, and tabulation of absentee by mail ballots shall be as follows:

(1) A member of the board shall remove all certificates, envelopes, and ballots from the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container.

(2) The board shall announce the name of each absentee by mail voter and the ward and precinct where he is registered to vote and shall compare the name on the certificate with the names on the absentee by mail voter report.

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

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

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

(6) After the validity of all absentee by mail ballots has been determined, the members of the board shall place the valid certificates in the container provided for that purpose and seal the container. Two of the members shall execute the certificate on the container.

(7) The members shall open the envelopes containing the valid absentee by mail ballots and remove the ballots.

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

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

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

H. The procedure for counting early voting machine ballots and paper ballots voted during early voting shall be as follows:

(1) A member of the board shall remove the early voting verification forms, early voting machine public counter logs, early voting confirmation sheets, paper ballots voted during early voting, early voter report, and all early voting machine results reports from the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container.

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

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

(4) For each paper ballot voted during early voting, the board shall announce the name of the person who voted by paper ballot during early voting and the ward and precinct where the person is registered to vote and shall compare the name on the certificate with the names on the early voter report.

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

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

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

(8) After the validity of all paper ballots voted during early voting has been determined, the members of the board shall place the valid early voting confirmation sheets and certificates in the container provided for that purpose and seal the container. Two of the members shall execute the certificate on the container.

(9) The members shall open the envelopes containing the valid paper ballots voted during early voting and remove the ballots.

(10) The board shall, in accordance with the requirements of R.S. 18:1316, reject any ballot which contains a distinguishing mark or feature making the ballot susceptible of identification.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

L. Any absentee by mail or early voting ballot cast by a voter who dies prior to election day shall be tabulated and counted in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 166, §1, eff. July 14, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 1985, No. 755, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 220, §§1, 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2007, No. 240, §1; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 624, §1, eff. June 25, 2010; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2013, No. 395, §§1, 2, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 615, §1; Acts 2016, No. 281, §1, eff. May 31, 2016, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2017; Acts 2017, No. 176, §§1, 5, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2020, No. 354, §1, eff. June 12, 2020; Acts 2020, No. 360, §1, eff. June 12, 2020; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 325, §1; Acts 2024, No. 754, §1; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1410 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1410
Judgments in objection to candidacy, election contest, or contest of certification of recall petition; transmittal of certified copy to secretary of state
Status: in_force

A certified copy of the judgment rendered in an action objecting to the calling of a special election, objecting to candidacy, contesting the certification of a recall petition, or contesting an election shall be transmitted by the clerk of court to the secretary of state. Upon receipt of a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction disqualifying a candidate, the secretary of state shall remove the candidate's name from the ballot if the ballot has not been printed. If the ballot has been printed with the disqualified candidate's name, any votes received by the disqualified candidate shall be void and shall not be counted for any purpose whatsoever.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2010, No. 621, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1251 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1251
Election; time of electing
Status: in_force

A. In every fourth year after an election of a president and vice president of the United States, the electors of president and vice president of the United States, hereinafter referred to as "presidential electors," shall be chosen by election by the qualified electors of the state. The election shall be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November and shall be conducted and the returns made in accordance with the provisions of this Title, except insofar as such provisions may conflict with the provisions of this Part.

B. One presidential elector shall be chosen from among the qualified electors of each congressional district and two presidential electors shall be chosen from among the qualified electors of the state at large.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 588, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1351 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1351
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this Chapter, unless otherwise specified, the following terms shall have the meanings herein ascribed to each:

(1) "Absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment" means a device capable of counting and producing results of votes cast on paper absentee by mail and early voting ballots.

(2) "Cast ballot" means a ballot in which the voter has taken final action after reviewing his selections and irrevocably confirmed his intent to vote, either by activating the cast vote mechanism or by scanning the voter-verified paper record into a vote capture device.

(3) "Election" means and includes all elections held in Louisiana, whether primary, general, or special.

(4) "Official ballot" means the list of candidates, offices, amendments, questions, or propositions on the voting machine or paper ballot as certified by the secretary of state.

(5) "Parish custodian" refers to the parish custodian of voting machines and means the persons designated as such by R.S. 18:1354.

(6) "Protective counter" means a counter, tabulator, or protective device that will register each time the machine is voted during the life of the machine.

(7) "Public counter" means a counter, tabulator, or protective device that shall incrementally record and indicate each time votes have been cast on a machine during an election.

(8) "Question" means an amendment, proposition, or like matter to be voted on in an election.

(9) "Vote-capture device" means a component of the voting system, including hardware which may include a voter-facing scanner, software, and firmware, that captures and counts voter ballot selections.

(10) "Vote indicator" means the device on a voting machine with which votes upon a candidate or question are indicated.

(11) "Voter-facing scanner" means a vote-capture device used for in-person voting that captures a voter's selections on a secure paper ballot one sheet at a time, whether hand-marked or produced by a ballot-marking device.

(12) "Voter-verified paper record" means a paper document or a secure hand-marked paper ballot produced by a voting system that the voter can review and verify before officially casting his ballot. The voter-verified paper record shall be printed on individual sheets of paper for each voter and shall not be printed on a continuous paper roll. The voter-verified paper record shall be independent of any software or electronic device and temporarily available to the voter for verification prior to casting his ballot upon the vote capture device.

(13) "Voting machine" means the enclosure occupied by the voter when voting, as formed by the voter-facing vote-capture device, including its screen and privacy shield. Tabulation of the vote may occur on the voting machine or on another component of the voting system.

(14) "Voting system" means the total combination of equipment, hardware, firmware, software, materials, and documentation used to cast and count votes or to perform any of the support functions to enable the casting or counting of votes.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2007, No. 240, §1; Acts 2019, No. 374, §§1, 3, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2021, No. 480, §1, eff. July 1, 2021.

NOTE: See Acts 2021, No. 481, §3, regarding repeal of §1351(5).
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1307 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1307
Application by mail
Status: in_force

A. A person qualified to vote absentee by mail under this Chapter may make application therefor to the registrar by letter; over his signature or mark if the voter is unable to sign his name, signed by two witnesses who witnessed the applicant's mark; setting forth:

(1) The election or elections for which he requests an absentee ballot.

(2) The reason for his request to vote absentee by mail and attaching any documents in support thereof that are required by law. Any person who is or expects to be temporarily outside the territorial limits of the state or absent from the parish in which he is qualified to vote during the early voting period and on election day and who requests an absentee ballot be mailed to an address within the parish shall indicate in his application the dates he will be outside the territorial limits of the state or absent from the parish.

(3) The address to which the absentee ballot or ballots shall be sent. If the address is within the parish or an adjacent parish, such address shall only be the address at which the applicant is registered to vote, his mailing address on file with the registrar of voters, or an address at which he regularly receives mail.

(4) Notwithstanding Paragraph (3) of this Subsection, the absentee by mail ballots shall not be sent to the following addresses:

(a) The address of a political party.

(b) The residential, business, or campaign address of a candidate, unless the address is for the candidate's ballot or a ballot of an immediate family member of the candidate.

(c) A business address, unless the business address is the mailing address on file with the registrar of voters or an address at which the person regularly receives mail.

(d) The address of a political organization as defined in 26 U.S.C. 527.

(e) The address of an organization which has tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code, unless the organization address is the mailing address on file with the registrar of voters or an address at which the person regularly receives mail.

(5) The ward and precinct in which the person is qualified to vote, if known.

(6) The date of birth of the voter.

(7) The maiden name of the voter's mother or other identifying information provided in the voter's application for registration pursuant to R.S. 18:104.

(8) The street address in the parish where the voter resides. A post office box is insufficient.

(9) If the person requests that a ballot for a general election be sent in addition to a ballot for the primary, he shall declare in writing to the registrar that he will be eligible to vote absentee by mail in the general election.

B.(1)(a)(i) An application to vote by mail may be delivered to the registrar by any means, including the United States Postal Service, commercial delivery service, hand delivery, or facsimile. No person except the immediate family member 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 application per election to the registrar of voters.

(ii) If hand delivered by other than a commercial delivery service or the United States Postal Service, the registrar shall require that the person making such delivery sign the application. No person, except the immediate family of any voter, shall hand deliver more than one voter's application to vote by mail to the registrar of voters.

(iii) If sent by facsimile, the person sending the application by facsimile shall sign the application to indicate that he is the sender and shall include the facsimile number from where the facsimile was sent. No person, except the immediate family of any voter, shall send by facsimile more than one voter's application to vote by mail to the registrar of voters. However, the provisions of this Item shall not apply to an application by a person who is entitled to vote pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

(b) An application to vote by mail transmitted by facsimile to the registrar of voters shall not be sent on a facsimile machine that is owned, operated, or under the control of a candidate or agent of a party or campaign in the election, unless the application is for the candidate.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, with respect to members of the United States Service and persons residing outside the United States who are registered to vote, an application to vote by mail may be delivered to the registrar by electronic transmission.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, with respect to applicants who have a valid Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana special identification card issued pursuant to R.S. 40:1321 who are registered to vote, an application to vote by mail may be made by completing and submitting an electronic application to vote by mail on the secretary of state's website.

(2) Except as provided in Subsections C and D of this Section and R.S. 18:1333(D)(1), an application must be received by the registrar not later than 4:30 p.m. on the fourth day prior to the election for which it is requested, and the date received shall be noted thereon. However, if the deadline 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 of the deadline.

C. If the applicant is a member of the United States Service or resides outside the United States, he may use the federal postcard application or an application electronically transmitted by the registrar or secretary of state, and the application shall be received by the registrar no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day before the election. Such application shall be valid for a period extending at least one year from the date the application is received in the office of the registrar of voters; such period shall include at least one regularly scheduled federal general election. If the registrar rejects the application of an applicant who is a member of the United States Service or resides outside the United States, the registrar shall provide the applicant with written reasons for the rejection.

D. If the applicant is eligible to vote absentee by mail pursuant to R.S. 18:1303(D)(1) and submits with his application documentation showing his hospitalization from his physician or the hospital, the application shall be received by the registrar of voters no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day before the election.

E. A person entitled to vote absentee by mail may request in his application for an absentee ballot for a primary election that an absentee ballot for the succeeding general election be sent to him when such ballots become available for distribution; however, in such case, the applicant shall declare in writing to the registrar that he will be eligible to vote absentee by mail in the general election. For purposes of this Subsection, a party primary election and the succeeding general election for a party primary office are two separate elections. Separate requests shall be made to vote absentee by mail for the party primary election and for the succeeding general election.

F. The registrar shall not send an absentee ballot to an applicant whose application for an absentee ballot does not meet the requirements of Subsection A or B of this Section. If the registrar rejects an application for an absentee ballot, the registrar shall provide the applicant with written reasons for the rejection.

G.(1)(a) If the applicant is eligible to vote absentee by mail pursuant to R.S. 18:1303(I), his application, if such application meets the requirements of this Section, may remain valid indefinitely upon request of the applicant.

(b) If the applicant is eligible to vote absentee by mail pursuant to R.S. 18:1303(F) or (J), his application, if such application meets the requirements of this Section, may remain valid from the date that the application is received in the office of the registrar of voters until December thirty-first of the fourth year after the application is received by the registrar. If the applicant's application was received by the office of the registrar of voters before January 1, 2025, his application shall expire December 31, 2029.

(2) If an absentee by mail ballot that has been sent to the applicant is returned to the registrar as undeliverable, the applicant's application shall no longer be valid, and the registrar shall send notice by forwardable mail to such applicant that his application will no longer be valid. The applicant shall be required to submit a new application to the registrar that meets the requirements of this Section and provide a current address before the applicant will be eligible to vote absentee by mail again pursuant to this Section.

H. If the applicant is eligible to vote absentee by mail pursuant to R.S. 18:1303(H), his application, if such application meets the requirements of this Section, shall remain valid as long as the applicant is a program participant in the Department of State Address Confidentiality Program pursuant to Part III of Chapter 1 of Title 44 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. When the applicant ceases participation in the program, the Department of State shall notify the registrar of the parish where the applicant is registered to vote that the applicant is no longer a participant in the program. Upon receipt of the notification from the Department of State, the registrar shall send notice by forwardable mail to the applicant that his application will no longer be valid, and the applicant shall be required to submit a new application to the registrar that meets the requirements of this Section and provide a current address before the applicant will be eligible to vote absentee by mail again pursuant to this Section.

I. If the registrar of voters has reason to believe that the eligibility of a voter to vote absentee by mail pursuant to R.S. 18:1303(I) is based upon false or fraudulent information, he shall immediately notify the parish board of election supervisors. If, after appropriate hearing and opportunity for the voter to be heard, the parish board of election supervisors finds that the voter's eligibility to vote absentee by mail was based upon false or fraudulent information, the board shall inform the appropriate district attorney and the registrar of voters who shall not allow the voter to vote absentee by mail pursuant to R.S. 18:1303(I).

J. Except as otherwise authorized by law, no person, organization, or entity shall distribute an application form for an absentee by mail ballot to any person who has not requested the application under the provisions of this Section.

K.(1) If a gubernatorially declared state of disaster or emergency occurs within forty-five days of an election, the secretary of state shall determine if the distribution of absentee by mail ballot applications is necessary for voters displaced by the gubernatorially declared state of disaster or emergency.

(2) Upon the determination by the secretary of state of the need for the limited distribution of absentee by mail ballot applications, the secretary shall provide notice to the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs within ten days of the distribution.

L. The registrar shall not send an absentee ballot for a closed party primary election for which the voter is not eligible.

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 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §§1 and 3, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 339, §1, eff. June 13, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §2, eff. July 3, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 526, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2007, No. 124, §1; Acts 2007, No. 240, §1; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 599, §1; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2009, No. 436, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2011, No. 195, §1, eff. June 24, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2016, No. 281, §1, eff. May 31, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2020, No. 210, §1, eff. June 11, 2020; Acts 2024, No. 317, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 386, §2, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:111 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 111
Change of name or signature; married persons
Status: in_force

A. In order to remain a legal registrant, a person who changes his name by virtue of a judgment of court shall produce in the presence of or, if required, file with the registrar or any person authorized to accept voter registration applications a certified copy of the judgment, his Louisiana driver's license number, Louisiana special identification card number, or social security number, or his attestation setting forth the pertinent facts containing the change of name.

B. A married person may be registered using the surname of either or both spouses as a surname, or in a hyphenated combination thereof. If divorced, widowed, or remarried, the applicant may be registered using his surname, in the surname of the deceased or former or present spouse, or in a hyphenated combination thereof. A person who changes his name by virtue of marriage shall submit a voter registration application to the registrar or other person authorized to accept voter registration applications that contains the applicant's social security number, valid Louisiana driver's license number or Louisiana special identification card number, or attestation setting forth the name under which the applicant desires to be registered as allowed by this Section.

C. If a registered voter, subsequent to his registration, is no longer capable of signing his name without using a mark, he shall file an attestation with the registrar of voters attesting to that fact and stating the reason for such a change in signature.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1988, No. 317, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1469 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1469
Bribery of a candidate; crime defined; penalty
Status: in_force

A. Bribery of a candidate is the giving, promising or offering to give, directly or indirectly, a campaign contribution to a candidate, political committee, or other person, or the accepting, soliciting, offering to accept, directly or indirectly, a campaign contribution, by a candidate, political committee or other person, with the intention that the candidate will provide or influence another to provide the contributor or another person a position of public employment, an appointive governmental position, a public contract, or anything of apparent present or prospective value.

B. The definitions of terms in Chapter 11 of the Louisiana Election Code shall be applicable to this Section.

C. Whoever commits the crime of bribery of a candidate shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 786, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:25 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 25
Annual reports
Status: in_force

A. The board shall regularly review all election laws and all procedures used in the conducting of elections in this state.

B. The board shall annually report to the House and Governmental Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee of the Senate its findings, observations, and recommendations concerning all aspects of elections in this state. The report shall be submitted no later than forty-five days prior to the start of each regular session of the legislature and shall include but shall not be limited to the following subjects: election laws in general, registration procedures, election procedures, election officials, voting machines, tabulation and transmission of election returns, procedures used for casting and counting absentee by mail and early voting ballots, and any other aspect of elections the board deems appropriate.

Acts 1980, No. 681, §1, eff. July 24, 1980; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:401.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 401.3
Emergency plan by secretary of state; gubernatorial and legislative approval
Status: in_force

A. Due to the occurrence of a gubernatorially declared emergency or disaster occurring before or during a regularly scheduled or special election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote, minimize to whatever degree possible a person's exposure to danger during declared states of emergency, and protect the integrity of the electoral process, it is hereby declared to be necessary to provide a procedure for the development of an emergency plan for the holding of elections impaired as a result of such an emergency or disaster.

B.(1)(a) After the issuance of an executive order by the governor declaring a state of emergency or disaster and if the secretary of state determines that such emergency or disaster impairs an election that may otherwise be held except for technical, mechanical, or logistical problems with respect to the relocation or consolidation of polling places within the parish, potential shortages of commissioners and absentee commissioners, shortages of voting machines, or other impairments that affect participation in or the integrity of the electoral process, the secretary of state shall certify such facts and the reasons therefor to the governor, the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs, and the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

(b)(i) The Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs shall meet and function as a joint committee for all purposes pursuant to this Section. No action shall be taken by the joint committee except by the favorable vote of a majority of the members thereof from each house present and voting, each house voting separately.

(ii) The joint committee shall meet no later than ten days following receipt of the certification.

(c) If the governor and a majority of the members of each committee concur that such an emergency plan is necessary, the secretary of state shall develop an emergency plan in writing that proposes a resolution to technical, mechanical, or logistical problems impairing the holding of the election with respect to the relocation or consolidation of polling places within the parish, potential shortages of commissioners and absentee commissioners, shortages of voting machines, or other impairments that affect participation in or the integrity of the electoral process. The secretary of state may also present alternative written emergency plans at the same time.

(2) If, in addition to the resolution of the problems as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the secretary of state determines that it is necessary and feasible to conduct early voting to enable affected voters to vote, the secretary of state may include in the emergency plan a proposal to conduct early voting at times and locations which are accessible to affected voters.

C.(1) The written emergency plan and any alternatives shall be submitted by the secretary of state to the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs, the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs, and the governor either at the same time as he submits the certification or as soon as practicable following the joint committee's and the governor's concurrence with his certification. The joint committee shall meet no later than ten days following receipt of the emergency plan. The secretary of state may incorporate changes suggested and approved by the joint committee into the emergency plan. If a majority of the members of the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and of the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs approve the emergency plan or an alternative emergency plan, the approved plan shall be submitted to the members of each house of the legislature for approval by mail ballot as provided in this Section. If a majority of the members of each house of the legislature and the governor approve the emergency plan or if the legislature overrides the governor's disapproval of the emergency plan as provided in Subsection E of this Section, the secretary of state shall take all steps necessary to implement the plan and all officials of the state and of any political subdivision thereof shall cooperate with and provide assistance to the secretary of state as necessary to implement the plan.

(2) The joint committee shall send notice to the governor of each meeting held pursuant to this Section. The governor or his designee may attend each joint meeting held pursuant to this Section and may provide recommendations to the joint committee regarding the emergency plan.

D.(1) In order to obtain the approval of a majority of the elected members of each house of the legislature, the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives shall jointly prepare and transmit a ballot to each member of the legislature by certified mail with return receipt requested unless the legislature is in session and the ballots may be distributed and returned during the session as soon as possible in the manner provided in this Subsection.

(2)(a) The ballot shall be uniform and the materials sent with the ballot shall include:

(i) A copy of the secretary of state's certification that the emergency or disaster impairs an election that may otherwise be held and the reasons therefor.

(ii) A copy of the emergency plan approved by the joint committee.

(iii) A copy of the roll call votes of the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs on the approval of the emergency plan.

(iv) The date and time on which the ballot may be returned to the secretary of the Senate or the clerk of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, in order for the ballot to be valid.

(b) Each ballot shall contain the name of the member to whom it is to be mailed or delivered, and the member shall sign the ballot after casting his vote.

(3)(a) The ballots mailed to all members shall be postmarked on the same day and shall be returned to the secretary of the Senate or the clerk of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, within fifteen days after the postmarked date; or, when such ballots are delivered to the members of the legislature while in session, the ballots shall be returned to the secretary of the Senate or the clerk of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, within five days after the date the ballots were delivered to members. No ballot received after five o'clock p.m. on the fifth day after the date on which the ballots were delivered to the members during session or after five o'clock p.m. on the fifteenth day after the date on which the ballots were mailed shall be valid or counted, and the date and time received shall be marked on each such ballot and the ballot shall be marked "Invalid." Prior to five o'clock p.m. on the fifth day after the date when delivered to the members of the legislature while in session or prior to five o'clock p.m. on the fifteenth day after the postmarked date if mailed to the members of the legislature, a member may withdraw his ballot or change his vote upon his written request.

(b) If the emergency is declared within sixty days prior to the date of the election when the legislature is not in session, the joint committee may require that ballots be returned within five days. The secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives shall utilize any method necessary to deliver the ballots, including commercial delivery, electronic transmission, or hand delivery, and shall keep a record of the manner of delivery utilized to deliver the ballot to each member and the date the ballot was so transmitted to each member. When such ballots are delivered to the members of the legislature while in session, the ballots shall be returned to the secretary of the Senate or the clerk of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, within five days after the date the ballots were delivered to members.

(4) At any time after the deadline for submitting the ballots as provided in Subparagraph (3)(a) of this Subsection, but prior to the eighteenth day after the date on which the ballots were mailed, or prior to the eighth day after the date on which the ballots were delivered to the members of the legislature in session or delivered pursuant to Subparagraph (3)(b) of this Subsection, the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives shall jointly open and tabulate the vote in roll call order for each house of the legislature. The clerk and the secretary shall hold such ballots unopened and shall not disclose the contents to any person until the day when such ballots are opened and tabulated. The tabulation sheet shall indicate by name each member who voted in favor of the plan, each member who voted against the plan, each member who did not return the ballot by the deadline, and each member whose ballot was invalid because it was not marked or signed by the member. The secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives shall each sign the tabulation sheet and cause a certified copy thereof to be transmitted to the secretary of state, the governor, and the chairmen of the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

(5) The tabulation sheet shall be a public record.

(6) If regular mail service is impaired, the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives shall utilize any method necessary to deliver the ballots, including commercial delivery, electronic transmission, or hand delivery, and shall keep a record of the manner of delivery utilized to deliver the ballot to each member and the date the ballot was so transmitted to each member. For the purposes of this Subsection, if such an alternative delivery method is so required, the date on which the ballot was so transmitted shall be considered to be the date postmarked.

E. If a majority of the elected members of each house of the legislature approve the emergency plan, the governor shall either approve or disapprove the plan no later than five days after he receives the certified tabulation sheet. If the governor approves the plan, he shall immediately send a written message of approval to the secretary of state and the chairmen of the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs. If the governor disapproves of the plan, he shall immediately send a written message of disapproval to the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives. The secretary and the clerk shall immediately and jointly prepare and transmit a ballot to each member of the legislature utilizing the same procedures and deadlines provided in Subsection D of this Section. The ballot shall contain a question phrased to allow each member to cast his vote for or against overriding the governor's disapproval of the emergency election plan. If two-thirds of the elected members of each house vote to override the governor's disapproval of the emergency election plan, the secretary of state shall implement the plan in the manner provided by Subsection C of this Section.

Acts 2005, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 40, §1, eff. Dec. 6, 2005; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 504, §1, eff. June 22, 2006; Acts 2022, No. 286, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1300.14 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1300.14
Failure of recall
Status: in_force

In case any election is called and held for the purpose of deciding upon whether or not any public officer shall be recalled, and at the election the effort to recall fails, then no election shall be held to recall the same officer within eighteen months from date of the election at which the recall failed to carry.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1495.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1495.2
Campaign treasurers; campaign depositories; expenditures; petty cash fund
Status: in_force

A. The candidate shall be his own campaign treasurer, unless he appoints a campaign treasurer. The name and address of the campaign treasurer shall be filed with the supervisory committee at the time of the first report following appointment. Changes in appointment shall be reported in the first report after such change.

B.(1) Any person may solicit contributions for or on behalf of a candidate or sell paraphernalia or tickets to a testimonial or other fundraising event, provided that all contribution(s) or proceeds are transmitted directly to the candidate or his designated treasurer together with such information as may be required by this Chapter. No candidate or designated treasurer shall accept such funds without such information and they shall be responsible under the provisions of this Chapter for any errors and omissions in records or reports for such funds. Any contribution received by a candidate who has appointed a campaign treasurer shall be transferred to the campaign treasurer.

(2) When any person who is not the campaign treasurer of a candidate makes any expenditure for the candidate, he shall transmit directly to the campaign treasurer all information concerning the expenditure required by this Chapter. The candidate and his campaign treasurer, if any, shall be responsible under the provisions of this Chapter for any errors or omissions in the records or reports of such expenditures.

(3) For purposes of all reports required by this Chapter, all contributions received by or transferred to a campaign treasurer of a candidate and all expenditures made by a campaign treasurer or by any other person on behalf of the candidate shall be considered contributions or expenditures of the candidate.

C.(1) The candidate shall designate one or more national or state banks or state or federally chartered savings and loan associations or savings banks, or state or federally chartered credit unions, as his campaign depositories and may invest in a money market mutual fund and designate such fund as a campaign depository. The candidate and his campaign treasurer shall deposit any contributions received by them into an account or accounts maintained at such depository or depositories. No expenditure shall be made by any candidate, campaign treasurer, or any other person on behalf of the candidate, except by check drawn on such account or accounts, except as specifically provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection and Subsection D of this Section. Each check drawn on any such account shall be made payable to a specific person, except a check made payable to petty cash. Each check drawn on such an account shall indicate the objects or services for which such check is drawn and such check shall be maintained as part of the records required by R.S. 18:1495.3. The name and address of each campaign depository so designated shall be filed with the supervisory committee in the first report after such designation. If any additional depositories are designated, they shall be reported in the first report following such designation.

(2) An expenditure may be made by the candidate, campaign treasurer, or other authorized person on behalf of the candidate by electronic funds transfer provided that the transfer of funds is to a specific person and that records are maintained as to the objects or services for which such transfer of funds was made. Detailed records of each electronic fund transfer shall be maintained as part of the records required by R.S. 18:1495.3.

D. A candidate may maintain a petty cash fund or funds. A petty cash fund shall be maintained on an imprest system, that is, expenditures may be made in cash from the fund, and the fund shall from time to time be restored to its original amount by a transfer of funds from other funds of the candidate of a sum equal to the aggregate of the sums expended from the fund. No expenditure in excess of two hundred dollars shall be made from the petty cash fund, and no expenditure shall be made from the petty cash fund for any personal services, except for gratuities paid for the serving of food or drink. No expenditure shall be made from the petty cash fund in violation of R.S. 18:1531. A complete record of petty cash expenditures shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 18:1495.3(D).

E. Any person not prohibited by law from doing so, including any candidate or elected official, may solicit contributions on behalf of any committee. Any such contributions shall be considered contributions made to the committee and reported by the respective committee pursuant to R.S. 18:1491.6 and 1491.7.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1985, No. 550, §1, eff. July 12, 1985; Acts 1993, No. 199, §1, eff. June 1, 1993; Acts 1997, No. 863, §1; Acts 2010, No. 577, §1, eff. June 25, 2010; Acts 2024, No. 664, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:115.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 115.1
Electronic registration
Status: in_force

A. A person who has a valid Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana special identification card issued pursuant to R.S. 40:1321 may apply to register to vote or make changes to his existing registration by completing and submitting an electronic voter registration application on the secretary of state's website.

B. The secretary of state shall design and implement a system to allow for electronic voter registration as provided in this Section.

C.(1) The electronic voter registration application shall contain spaces for the information required pursuant to R.S. 18:104, except that the applicant shall attest that the facts given by him on the application are true to the best of his knowledge and belief, and such attestation shall take the place of the affidavit required pursuant to R.S. 18:104.

(2) The applicant shall assent to the use of his Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana special identification card signature for voter registration purposes.

(3) The applicant shall not be allowed to submit the application unless it is complete.

(4)(a) Immediately upon submission of the application, the information submitted by the applicant shall be checked to ensure that the Louisiana driver's license number or Louisiana special identification card number submitted by the applicant matches the information maintained by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

(b) If a match is made, the secretary of state shall electronically forward the information provided in the application, along with a digital copy of the applicant's signature obtained from the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, to the appropriate registrar of voters to determine the eligibility of the applicant in accordance with Chapter 4 of this Title. The applicant shall be immediately informed that his application has been electronically forwarded to the appropriate registrar of voters, but that the applicant will not be officially registered to vote or that changes to his existing registration will not be made until his application is received and approved by the registrar of voters.

(c) If a match cannot be made, the secretary of state shall not electronically forward the application. The applicant shall be immediately informed that his application cannot be processed, and he shall be instructed to print his completed application and mail it to the registrar of voters for the parish in which the applicant resides.

D. An electronic voter registration application shall be deemed to have been made as of the date the applicant is informed pursuant to Subparagraph (C)(4)(b) of this Section that his application has been electronically forwarded to the appropriate registrar of voters by the secretary of state.

E. The secretary of state may employ additional security measures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of electronic voter registration applications.

F. The provisions of R.S. 18:115(F) shall apply to a person who has registered to vote pursuant to this Section and who has not previously voted in the parish in which he is registered.

G. Each registrar of voters shall maintain such statistical records on electronic voter registration applications as requested by the secretary of state.

Acts 2009, No. 187, §1, eff. April 1, 2010; Acts 2013, No. 383, §2; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1300.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1300.4
Signature to recall petition
Status: in_force

No person may sign any name to a recall petition other than his own, except in a case where a person is unable to write, in which case the incapacitated person shall affix his mark to the petition and the person circulating the petition shall affix the name and address of the incapacitated person, as well as the date on which the incapacitated person affixed his mark to the petition, provided he does so in the presence of two witnesses who shall also sign their names as witnesses to the mark.

Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1491.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1491.6
Reports required; reporting times and periods
Status: in_force

A. The chairman of a committee and the treasurer of the committee, if any, shall be responsible for filing a report of all information required in this Section and R.S. 18:1491.7 with the supervisory committee at the times required in this Section. The committee chairman and 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 committee for each regularly scheduled election in which the committee participates according to the following schedule:

(1) Each committee which is participating in the election of a 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 committee which is participating in the election of a 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 committee 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 committee 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 is held, each committee participating in the second party primary election 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 committee participating in an election 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. This shall be the final report for the election for any committee 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 committee participating in the general election for a party primary election shall file a report no later than the thirtieth day before the general election for a party primary election, which shall be complete through the fortieth day prior to the general election for a party primary office.

(5) Each committee 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 committee which does not participate in the general election, unless supplemental reports are required as provided in Subsection D of this Section.

(6) Each committee 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 committee which participated in the general election, unless supplemental reports are required as provided in Subsection D of this Section.

(7) The final report of a committee that supports or opposes only one 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 a 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 political committee, principal campaign committee, or independent expenditure-only committee which is participating in the election shall file a report with the supervisory committee of:

(1)(a) The full name and address of each person from whom the committee has received and accepted a contribution, loan, or transfer of funds during such period in excess of the following amounts: a committee participating in the election of a candidate for any major office, two thousand dollars; a committee participating in the election of a candidate for district office, one thousand dollars; a committee participating in the election of a candidate for any other office, five hundred dollars. If the committee is participating in the election of candidates for offices with different reporting amounts, the amount shall be the lowest for any candidate in whose election the committee is participating or in which any committee is participating to which it makes or from which it receives a transfer of funds.

(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 committee for an election, as required by Paragraph (B)(5), (6), or (7) of this Section, or the most recent monthly report of such committee pursuant to Subsection I of this Section shows a deficit or a surplus, the chairman and treasurer of the committee, if any, shall file supplemental reports with the supervisory committee of all information required in R.S. 18:1491.7. 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) A "deficit", for purposes of this Subsection, means debts or obligations owed by the committee which are required to be reported by R.S. 18:1491.7(B)(14).

(3)(a) A report need not be filed under this Subsection if the committee is dissolved and shows a deficit of less than five thousand dollars. However, if the committee is dissolved and its deficit is equal to or greater than five thousand dollars, the committee shall file supplemental reports with the supervisory committee of all information required in R.S. 18:1491.7. 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 committee with a deficit receives any contribution or if any repayment occurs on an outstanding debt or loan, such committee shall file a supplemental report by the following February twenty-eighth which shall be complete through the preceding December thirty-first.

(c) If the committee has surplus campaign funds, a report need not be filed under this Subsection if such committee 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 committee of all information required in R.S. 18:1491.7 no later than February twenty-eighth 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 committee has filed another report of the information required by R.S. 18:1491.7 at any time after the preceding December tenth and prior to the February fifteenth due date, or

(2) If during the preceding year the committee has filed a supplemental report required by Subsection D of this Section and has not otherwise, during the reporting period, supported or opposed a candidate, as such term is defined in R.S. 18:1483, or

(3) If the committee has received no contributions, made no expenditures, received or made no loans, and received or made no transfers of funds 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 committees, except the first report of a committee, 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 a committee shall be the period from the time when the committee was organized through the closing date for the particular report.

H. Principal campaign committees shall file consolidated reports for subsidiary committees as more specifically provided in R.S. 18:1491.3.

I.(1) A political committee or an independent expenditure-only committee may file monthly reports due no later than the fifteenth day of the month following a month in which the committee accepts a contribution or some other receipt or makes an expenditure or some other disbursement rather than file the reports otherwise required by Subsections B and F and Paragraph (C)(1) of this Section.

(2) Such monthly reports shall include all of the information required to be included in a report pursuant to R.S. 18:1491.7.

(3) A political committee or an independent expenditure-only committee wishing to file monthly reports may do so upon written notification to the supervisory committee of its intention to do so delivered to the supervisory committee no less than forty-five days prior to the due date for the next report the committee would otherwise be required to file. The committee shall file its first monthly report no later than the month following the month in which such notification is so delivered. Such report shall include all information required for reports pursuant to R.S. 18:1491.7 for the period since the committee's last report.

(4) Nothing in this Subsection shall exempt a political committee or an independent expenditure-only committee from filing the reports required by Paragraphs (C)(2) and (3) of this Section.

J. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to reports filed by a leadership committee.

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 2001, No. 651, §1; Acts 2004, No. 506, §1, eff. June 25, 2004; 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. § 18:1367.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1367.3
Authority to debar or suspend
Status: in_force

A. Applicability. This Section applies to a debarment, as defined in R.S. 39:1556, for cause from consideration for award of contracts or a suspension from such consideration during an investigation where there is probable cause for such a debarment.

B. Authority. After reasonable notice to the person involved and reasonable opportunity for that person to be heard, the chief procurement officer shall have authority to suspend or debar a person for cause from consideration for award of contracts, provided that doing so is in the best interests of the state. The causes for debarment are set forth in Subsection C of this Section. The chief procurement officer may suspend a person from consideration for award of contracts if he determines that there is probable cause to believe that such person has engaged in any activity which might lead to debarment. The suspension shall not be for a period exceeding six months. The authority to debar or suspend shall be exercised in accordance with regulations as provided in R.S. 39:1673(B).

C. Causes for debarment. The causes for debarment include the following:

(1) Conviction for commission of a criminal offense as an incident to obtaining or attempting to obtain a public or private contract or subcontract, or in the performance of such contract or subcontract.

(2) Conviction under state or federal statutes of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property, or any other offense indicating a lack of business integrity or business honesty which currently, seriously, and directly affects responsibility as a contractor.

(3) Conviction under state or federal antitrust statutes arising out of the submission of bids or proposals.

(4) Violation of contract provisions, as set forth below, of a character which is regarded by the chief procurement officer to be so serious as to justify debarment action:

(a) Deliberate failure without good cause to perform in accordance with the specifications or within the time limit provided in the contract.

(b) A recent record of failure to perform or of unsatisfactory performance in accordance with the terms of one or more contracts; provided that failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance caused by acts beyond the control of the contractor shall not be considered to be a basis for debarment.

(5) Any other cause the chief procurement officer determines to be so serious and compelling as to affect responsibility as a state contractor, including debarment by another governmental entity for any cause listed in regulations.

(6) Violation of the ethical standards set forth in Chapter 15 of Title 42 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

D. Decision. The chief procurement officer shall issue a written decision to debar or suspend. The decision shall:

(1) State the reasons for the action taken.

(2) Inform the debarred or suspended person involved of its rights to administrative and judicial review as provided in this Subpart.

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

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

(1) The decision is fraudulent.

(2) The debarred or suspended person has timely appealed administratively to the commissioner in accordance with R.S. 18:1367.7.

Acts 2025, No. 208, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:513 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 513
Certification of candidates elected
Status: in_force

A. Certification of candidates elected for a full term. Within thirty days after the date on which a general election is scheduled to be held, the secretary of state shall certify the name of each candidate elected for a full term to the appropriate official in the following manner:

(1) The name of a candidate elected to the state legislature and the district from which he was elected shall be certified to the appropriate house of the state legislature, and the name of the candidate shall be entered on the rolls of the appropriate house by the secretary of the Senate or the clerk of the House of Representatives.

(2) The name of a candidate elected to Congress and the election results shall be certified as provided by R.S. 18:1277.

(3) The name of a candidate elected as a presidential elector and the election results shall be certified as provided by R.S. 18:1261.

(4) The name of the candidate elected to membership on a political party committee shall be certified to the chairman of the political party committee to which the candidate was elected.

(5) The name of a candidate elected to any other office, except governor or lieutenant governor, shall be certified to the governor, who shall issue a commission to the elected official on the date the term begins as provided by law or the home rule charter or plan of government. If the date the term begins for an official of a municipality elected in accordance with R.S. 18:402 is not provided for, the term shall begin July first following the election. If the date the term begins for any other elected official is not provided by law or home rule charter or plan of government, the governor shall issue a commission:

(a) To an official elected for a full term at the gubernatorial election, within thirty days after the date on which the governor is inaugurated.

(b) To an official elected for a full term at the congressional election, within thirty days after the name of the official has been certified to the governor by the secretary of state.

(c) To an official elected for a full term at a municipal election not held at the time of a congressional or gubernatorial election, within thirty days after the name of the official has been certified to the governor by the secretary of state.

(d) To an official elected at a special election to fill an unexpired term, within thirty days after the name of the official has been certified to the governor by the secretary of state.

(e) Repealed by Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 23, §2.

(6) The name of a candidate elected to the office of parish president for the parish of Jefferson or to the Jefferson Parish Council shall be certified by the secretary of state to the governor who shall issue a commission to the elected official which shall not become effective until the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January following the election.

B. Certification of candidates elected for an unexpired term. If a candidate is elected at a special primary or general election for an unexpired term or if he is elected at such an election by the people without opposition, the secretary of state shall promptly certify the name of the candidate elected to the appropriate official named in Paragraphs (1) through (6) of Subsection A of this Section.

C. Certification of candidates elected to a reduced term due to a postponed election. When a reapportionment or redistricting plan fails to receive preclearance pursuant to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by the deadline set forth in R.S. 18:1941 or 1942 and there is a postponement of the election, the secretary of state shall certify the name of each candidate elected at the postponed election to the appropriate official named in Subsection A of this Section. The certification shall be made within thirty days of the date that every candidate to be elected at the election pursuant to the reapportionment or redistricting plan has been elected.

D. If the secretary of state receives a proclamation calling a special election in accordance with the provision of R.S. 18:583(A), prior to certifying a candidate's name as required by this Section, the secretary of state shall not be required to certify the name of the candidate as being elected to the office.

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 1978, No. 630, §1; Acts 1978, No. 720, §2, eff. July 17, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 444, eff. July 21, 1980; Acts 1986, No. 815, §1; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 23, §§1, 2; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2025, No. 386, §8(B).
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1285 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1285
Notice of election
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a)(i) Notice of the election shall be given and shall embrace substantially all matters required to be set forth in the resolution ordering the election, including a list of precincts where the proposition will be voted on and an indication for each precinct as to whether or not all registered voters in the precinct will be eligible to vote on the proposition, unless the proposition is to be voted on parishwide.

(ii) If the notice is relative to the increase of a special tax, the notice shall also state the proposed increase in the millage rate of a property tax or percentage rate of sales tax.

(iii) If the notice is relative to an election which affects ad valorem taxation, the notice shall also state that a portion of the monies collected shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law.

(iv) The notice shall also state that the governing authority of the political subdivision ordering the election will, in open session, at the hour and place named, proceed to canvass the returns and declare the result of the election.

(v) The notice shall also state the estimated cost of the election as determined by the secretary of state based upon the provisions of Chapter 8-A of this Title and actual costs of similar elections.

(b) The list of commissioners for an election called in accordance with R.S. 18:1286(A) is not required to be set forth in the notice of election.

(2) The notice shall be published once a week for four consecutive weeks in the official journal of the political subdivision, or, if there is none, then in a newspaper of general circulation in the parish or, if there is no newspaper of general circulation in the parish, then in a newspaper of general circulation in an adjoining parish. Not less than forty-five days nor more than ninety days shall intervene between the date of the first publication and the date of the election.

B.(1)(a) Written notice of the election and the certificate required by Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph shall be transmitted to the secretary of state and each clerk of court and registrar of voters in the area affected by the election. If the election is to be held on a primary election date, then such notice and certificate shall be received by the secretary of state at least four weeks prior to the opening of the qualifying period for the primary election. If this deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline shall be the following day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. If the election is not to be held on a primary election date, then the notice and certificate shall be received by the secretary of state on or before the sixty-first day prior to the election. The secretary of state shall not accept any revisions to propositions, including but not limited to changes in title, text, or numerical designations, after the last day for submission of the notice and certificate to the secretary of state, unless prior to the printing of the ballots, the revision will correct a typographical error and the revision has been approved by the governing authority that called the proposition election.

(b) The secretary of state shall not prepare or certify the ballot with respect to any election for bond, debt, or tax propositions, conducted pursuant to this Chapter, or in respect to any other election where the proposition is subject to approval by the Louisiana State Bond Commission, including but not limited to any proposition to adopt, amend, or repeal a home rule charter which is subject to such approval, until he receives certification in writing from the chairman of that commission that the commission has considered and approved the proposition.

(2) The secretary of state shall not include any proposition on any ballot of any election if such notice and certificate required by Subparagraph (1)(b) of this Subsection are not timely received by the secretary of state. The failure of the clerk of court or registrar of voters to timely receive notice and the certificate, as provided for herein, shall not prevent the secretary of state from including the proposition on the ballot. Any elector who is eligible to vote in the election may apply for injunctive relief to prohibit the placing of a proposition on the ballot if notice and the certificate are not timely received by the secretary of state. Venue for such application shall be in any parish in which the election is called, and the secretary of state shall be a proper party defendant.

Acts 1977, No. 545, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1980, No. 792, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 76, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; S.C.R. No. 8 of 1981 1st Ex. Sess; Acts 1984, No. 589, §1, eff. July 12, 1984; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989, Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1992, No. 949, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, No. 1114, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2010, No. 591, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 139, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Acts 2012, No. 283, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Acts 2016, No. 281, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2017; Acts 2019, No. 205, §1; Acts 2021, No. 381, §1, eff. June 17, 2021; Acts 2024, No. 640, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §§ 1, 2, 4, and 5, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1362.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1362.1
Voting System Commission; creation and organization; duties and responsibilities
Status: in_force

A.(1) The Voting System Commission is created and established within the Department of State for the purpose of evaluating and recommending the type of voting system that shall be procured to replace the voting system in use as necessary.

(2) The purpose of this commission is to further the preservation of democracy by strengthening the state's commitment to maintaining the faith, integrity, and trust in election, voting, and ballot-counting processes, to provide the highest level of election security and functionality, and to provide greater clarity, public transparency, and objectivity with respect to the selection of voting equipment.

B. The Voting System Commission shall be comprised of the following members:

(1) The commissioner of elections, or his designee.

(2) Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a member affiliated with the Republican Party and one of whom shall be a member affiliated with the Democratic Party.

(3) Two members of the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate, one of whom shall be a member affiliated with the Republican Party and one of whom shall be a member affiliated with the Democratic Party.

(4) Two Louisiana registered voters appointed by the governor, one of whom shall represent the disabled community.

(5) The secretary of state, or his designee.

(6) Two Louisiana registered voters appointed by the attorney general.

(7) The executive director of the Cyber Innovation Center, or his designee.

(8) The president of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association, or his designee.

(9) The president of the Louisiana Registrars of Voters Association, or his designee.

C. The chair of the commission shall be elected by a majority vote of the members and shall set the date, time, and place for all meetings. The secretary of state shall convene the initial meeting of the commission not later than September 1, 2021, and shall serve as the initial chair until a chairman is elected.

D. A majority of the members serving on the commission shall constitute a quorum to conduct official business. All actions of the commission shall require a majority vote of the quorum. A majority of the meetings of the commission shall be held at the state capitol, and all meetings held at the state capitol shall be streamed live on the internet.

E. Members of the commission shall serve terms concurrent with the governor. Members shall serve without compensation; however, legislative members of the commission shall receive the per diem and expenses as provided for legislators during attendance at legislative committees and from the same source.

F. The Department of State and office of state procurement shall provide administrative staff and resources to the commission upon request.

G. The commission may request from the secretary of state or any other source any information it considers necessary to assist in making a recommendation regarding voting systems.

H. The commission shall consider only a voting system that utilizes a voter-verified paper record to replace the state's inventory of direct recording equipment. For the replacement of subsequent voting systems, the commission shall conduct a preliminary analysis of available voting systems and select up to three options for discussion during each public hearing held for the evaluation of which voting systems are most advantageous to the state based on functionality.

I.(1) After complying with the provisions of Subsection H of this Section, the commission shall determine the type of voting system to recommend to the secretary of state to submit for procurement in accordance with the provisions of the Louisiana Procurement Code.

(2) The recommendation of the Voting System Commission pursuant to this Subsection shall not be a valid basis for a protest pursuant to Part VI of the Louisiana Procurement Code relative to a procurement of voting systems. Any protest asserting that the recommendation of the Voting System Commission was erroneous shall be null and disregarded.

J. The commission shall submit a report of its findings and conclusions to the governor, the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs, the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs, the secretary of state, and the division of administration no later than January 31, 2022, and annually thereafter.

K. Upon receipt of the report, the secretary of state, working in conjunction with the office of state procurement, shall develop the best method of procurement taking into consideration the commission's recommendations. No later than thirty days prior to the issuance of the request for proposals or the issuance of an invitation to negotiate, the secretary shall promulgate certification standards for the type of voting system to be procured in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 18:1353.

L. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the secretary of state shall award no contract for voting systems unless the awarded proposer has provided a sworn affidavit stating that the proposer is not subject to significant ownership or control by a foreign power, and that the proposer is aware that a false statement will be subject to the provisions of R.S. 39:1678 and 1679. For purposes of this Subsection, "significant ownership or control by a foreign power" means ownership, equity, or control which equals or exceeds twenty-five percent of the total outstanding ownership, equity, or control of the proposer, and which is exercised directly or indirectly by, or for the express benefit of, the government of a foreign nation, state, or principality, or any instrumentality or subsidiary thereof. The sworn affidavit required pursuant to this Subsection, and all related information, shall be a public record.

Acts 2021, No. 480, §1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2025, No. 208, §1, eff. June 8, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1495.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1495.1
Report through committee
Status: in_force

A. Each candidate may designate a principal campaign committee as provided in R.S. 18:1491.3. If a candidate designates a principal campaign committee, the candidate shall maintain all records required by this Part and furnish them on a timely basis to his principal campaign committee. Each principal campaign committee shall receive all records furnished to it by the candidate, shall consolidate them with its own reports and shall file a consolidated report for reports required by this Chapter for candidates and committees as otherwise provided in this Chapter. In such case, the candidate shall not be required to file separate reports.

B. Each candidate may designate subsidiary committees as provided in R.S. 18:1491.3, and shall designate such subsidiary committees as required in said Section. Any candidate who designates subsidiary committees and who does not designate a principal campaign committee shall receive all records of the subsidiary committees, consolidate them with his own records, and file a consolidated report for reports required by this Chapter for candidates and committees.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:27 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 27
Political activities prohibited
Status: in_force

A. No employee of the board who is in the unclassified state service shall participate or engage in political activity, including his own or any other candidacy for election to public office; membership on any national, state, or local committee of a political party or faction; making or soliciting contributions for any political party, faction, or candidate; taking active part in the management of the affairs of a political party, faction, candidate, or any political campaign, except to exercise his right as a citizen to express his opinion privately and to cast his vote as he desires.

B. As used herein, the term "political activity" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Article X, Section 9(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 778, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1904 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1904
Cooperation of state agencies and officials
Status: in_force

All state agencies and officials shall cooperate with the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives in carrying out the purposes of this Chapter and shall furnish the secretary and clerk all such statistical information, maps, and other data as they may request to comply with requirements of the Bureau of the Census.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 626, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1976. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 559, §1, eff. July 22, 1982; Acts 1985, No. 670, §1, eff. July 16, 1985; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §2, eff. July 1, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1511.10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1511.10
False complaints
Status: in_force

Any person who knowingly and willfully files a false complaint with the supervisory committee, any person who knowingly and willfully discloses the contents of any complaint, any person who knowingly and willfully discloses any information forwarded to the appropriate officials with such a complaint, or any person who knowingly and willfully discloses any proceedings of the supervisory committee before any action with which the supervisory committee or district attorney has proceeded or, in the case of criminal actions relating to campaigns for district attorney, any action with which the attorney general has proceeded, becomes a public record, or before the prescriptive period has elapsed or the matter is otherwise finally disposed of, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not in excess of five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not in excess of six months, or both. The supervisory committee, district attorney or the attorney general investigating any complaint filed with the supervisory committee or any matter under their review or investigation under the provisions of this Chapter may concurrently investigate such complaint with a view to determining if there has been any violation of this Chapter, or if the complainant has knowingly and willfully filed a false complaint.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1300.9 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1300.9
Recall elections, conduct in accordance with Election Code
Status: in_force

Elections for the recall of any public officer shall be held under and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Louisiana Election Code, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Chapter.

Amended by Acts 1978, No. 292, §2, eff. July 6, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:566 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 566
Provisional voting for federal office; polling place and early voting
Status: in_force

A. In an election for federal office, when an applicant's name does not appear on the precinct register and the registrar of voters or secretary of state has not authorized the applicant to vote by precinct register correction affidavit as provided in R.S. 18:562, or the commissioners assert that the applicant is not eligible to vote, and the applicant declares himself to be a registered voter and eligible to vote in the election for federal office, the applicant may cast a provisional ballot for candidates for federal office.

B. The procedure for provisional voting for federal office at a polling place shall be as follows:

(1) The applicant shall first fill in the blanks on the provisional ballot envelope and sign the included certificate in the presence of a commissioner attesting that the applicant is a registered voter in the parish and is eligible to vote in the election for federal office. The applicant shall then sign the precinct register on the page marked "Provisional Voters". The commissioner shall record the provisional ballot number on the certificate and then shall provide the applicant the provisional ballot envelope and the provisional ballot listing the federal offices. The applicant shall then mark the provisional ballot according to the printed instructions on its face, place the ballot in the provisional ballot envelope, seal the envelope, and return the provisional ballot envelope to the commissioner. The applicant shall be allowed to mark the provisional ballot in an area and in a manner that protects the secrecy of his vote. The commissioner shall place the provisional ballot envelope inside the envelope marked "Provisional Ballot". The "Provisional Ballot" envelope shall be returned to the registrar of voters, in care of the clerk of court, on election night.

(2) The commissioner shall provide an applicant who casts a provisional ballot with written instructions for how the applicant may ascertain whether the provisional vote was counted, and, if the provisional vote was not counted, the reason the vote was not counted.

C. In an election for federal office during the period of early voting, when an applicant's name does not appear on the precinct register and the registrar of voters has not authorized the applicant to vote, or the registrar or deputy registrar asserts that the applicant is not eligible to vote, and the applicant declares himself to be a registered voter and eligible to vote in the election for federal office, the applicant shall be permitted to cast an early voting provisional ballot for candidates for federal office.

D. The procedure for provisional voting for federal office during the period of early voting shall be as follows:

(1) The applicant shall first fill in the blanks on the provisional ballot envelope and sign the included certificate in the presence of the registrar or deputy registrar attesting that the applicant is a registered voter in the parish and is eligible to vote in the election for federal office. The applicant shall then sign the precinct register on the page marked "Provisional Voters". If the applicant is voting at a branch office of the registrar, the applicant shall be required to sign and date a register for early voting provisional voters kept by the registrar prior to voting by provisional ballot. The registrar or deputy registrar shall record the provisional ballot number on the certificate and then shall provide the applicant the provisional ballot envelope and the provisional ballot listing the federal offices. The applicant shall then mark the provisional ballot according to the printed instructions on its face, place the ballot in the provisional ballot envelope, seal the envelope, and return the provisional ballot envelope to the registrar or deputy registrar. The applicant shall be allowed to mark the provisional ballot in an area and in a manner that protects the secrecy of his vote. The registrar or deputy registrar shall place the provisional ballot envelope inside the envelope marked "Early Voting Provisional Ballot".

(2) The registrar or deputy registrar shall provide an applicant who casts an early voting provisional ballot with written instructions for how the applicant may ascertain whether the provisional vote was counted, and, if the provisional vote was not counted, the reason the vote was not counted.

Acts 2003, No. 423, §1, eff. Jan 1, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2018, No. 584, §2; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1400.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1400.3
Election expenses incurred by clerks of court and registrars of voters; payment by secretary of state; payment by governing authorities
Status: in_force

A. Election expenses incurred by clerks of court and registrars of voters 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 clerks of court and registrars of voters 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 clerks of court and registrars of voters 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 registrars of voters" is defined and limited to the following:

(1) Expenses incurred by a registrar of voters to pay for one or more temporary part-time clerical employees to perform election duties and responsibilities associated with his office as provided in this Title. Such employees shall be paid at an hourly rate established by the registrar not to exceed that of the minimum pay rate associated with pay level 607 in the Administrative Schedule as specified in the classification and pay plan of the Louisiana Department of Civil Service.

(2) Expenses incurred by a registrar of voters to pay a permanent employee below the level of chief deputy and confidential assistant to perform election duties and responsibilities associated with his office during other than normal hours of operation of his office.

(3) Expenses incurred by a registrar of voters to pay postage for absentee by mail ballots.

(4) Expenses of an extraordinary nature incurred by a registrar of voters for an election which have received prior approval of the secretary of state or his designee.

(5) Expenses incurred by a registrar of voters to pay for law enforcement officers to maintain order during early voting.

E. For the purposes of this Section, "election expenses incurred by clerks of court" is defined and limited to the following:

(1) Actual expenses incurred by a clerk of court to publish notices required by law in the official journal of the parish and, to insure maximum coverage, in any other journal of the parish or political subdivision thereof. Information contained in such notices shall be limited to that required by law. The secretary of state shall prescribe the size of such notices which shall be uniform throughout the state.

(2) Itemized expenses incurred by a clerk of court to conduct the general courses of instruction for commissioners as provided in R.S. 18:431(A) and the course of instruction for commissioners-in-charge as provided in R.S. 18:433(A).

(3)(a) Documented expenses incurred by a clerk of court to perform or fulfill election duties imposed by law. For the purpose of this Paragraph, such expenses shall include the following:

(i) Expenses for postage and office supplies used in connection with an election or used to fulfill an election duty imposed by law.

(ii) Expenses for rental space and instructional paraphernalia to conduct schools of instruction for commissioners and commissioners-in-charge.

(iii) Expenses for personnel used in connection with an election or used to fulfill an election duty imposed by law. Such expenses shall be itemized and reimbursement shall be authorized only for work not performed during regular office hours of the clerk of court.

(iv) Incidental expenses incurred in conducting the general courses of instruction for commissioners and the course of instruction for commissioners-in-charge. Reimbursement for such expenses shall be limited to one hundred dollars per general commissioner school and one hundred dollars for the commissioner-in-charge school. Maximum reimbursement to a clerk of court for conducting such schools shall be limited to three hundred dollars per calendar year and all reimbursements shall be deposited in the general fund of the clerk of court.

(b) The secretary of state shall establish rules and regulations governing reimbursement for expenses set forth herein and may establish rules and regulations to add other categories of reimbursable expenses. All reimbursements shall be deposited in the general fund of the clerk.

(4) Expenses of an extraordinary nature incurred by a clerk of court for an election which have received prior approval of the secretary of state or his designee.

(5) Expenses incurred by a clerk of court to pay for law enforcement officers in accordance with R.S. 18:1354(B)(5).

(6) Expenses incurred by a clerk of court to pay for law enforcement officers to maintain order during tabulation and counting of votes at the office of the clerk of court.

(7) Expenses incurred by a clerk of court to pay for law enforcement officers to control traffic on election day to the extent permitted by R.S. 18:428.

F. Election expenses incurred by the registrars of voters and election expenses incurred by clerks of court, as defined by Subsections D and E of this Section, shall be sent to the secretary of state for payment by the most expeditious means possible, including electronic transfer.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 681, §1, eff. July 21, 1983; Acts 1986, No. 783, §1, eff. July 10, 1986; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 963, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1032, §7; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1315 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1315
Challenge of absentee by mail or early voting ballot
Status: in_force

A.(1) A candidate or his representative, a member of the board, or a qualified elector may challenge an absentee by mail or early voting ballot for the grounds specified in R.S. 18:565(A), by personally filing his written challenge with the registrar no later than the fourth day before the election for which the ballot is challenged. Such challenge shall be on a form provided by the secretary of state.

(2) The form shall include:

(a) The ground, specified in R.S. 18:565(A), on which the challenge is made.

(b) The election involved.

(c) The specific reason for which the challenge is made.

(d) The name, address, and telephone number, if any, of the person challenging the ballot, all of which shall be written by the person challenging the vote.

(3) The form shall also include information about the date and place where the board will determine the validity of the challenge, which information shall be included by the registrar. Within twenty-four hours after the challenge has been filed, the registrar shall mail a copy of the challenge to the voter whose absentee by mail or early voting ballot is being challenged at the address shown on the registrar's roll of electors. The registrar shall retain the original challenge form and shall transmit it to the place where the absentee by mail or early voting ballot will be counted and tabulated for the use of the board on election day.

B. During the preparation and verification process for the counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots before the election, as applicable, or the counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots on election day, any candidate or his representative, member of the board, or qualified elector may challenge an absentee by mail or early voting ballot for cause, other than those grounds specified in R.S. 18:565(A). Failure to include a witness's mailing address on an absentee ballot certificate shall not be grounds to challenge an absentee by mail ballot.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections A and B of this Section, any absentee by mail ballot with an absentee by mail certificate missing information, which is required to be completed by the voter pursuant to R.S. 18:1310, that was not cured by the voter in accordance with the provisions of LAC 31:I.301 et seq. shall be deemed challenged. However, an absentee by mail ballot shall not be deemed challenged solely because the voter indicates on the absentee by mail certificate that the voter does not know his mother's maiden name.

D.(1) During the counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots, at least a majority of the members of the board shall hear and determine the validity of any ballot challenged pursuant to Subsection A or B of this Section or deemed challenged pursuant to Subsection C of this Section.

(2) If a challenge in accordance with the provisions of Subsection A of this Section is sustained, the vote shall not be counted; the ballot or early voting confirmation sheet shall be placed in the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container; and the board shall notify the voter in writing of the challenge and the cause therefor. This notification shall be on a form provided by the secretary of state and shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of the board. The notice of the challenge and the cause therefor shall be given within four business days by mail, addressed to the voter at his place of residence. The board shall retain a copy of the notification. However, if the challenge is based upon a change of residence within the parish or is based upon a change of residence outside of the parish that has occurred within the last three months, the ballot shall be counted, provided that the voter confirmed his current address as shown by the affidavit of the absentee by mail ballot certificate or early voting confirmation sheet or, if the voter is on the inactive list of voters, as shown by the information provided on an address confirmation notice.

(3)(a) If a challenge in accordance with the provisions of Subsection B of this Section is sustained, the vote shall not be counted, and the board shall write "rejected" and the cause therefor across the ballot envelope or early voting confirmation sheet and shall place the ballots and early voting confirmation sheets so rejected in the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container. The board shall notify the voter in writing of the challenge and the cause therefor. The notification shall be on a form provided by the secretary of state and shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of the board. The notice of the challenge and the cause therefor shall be given within four business days by mail addressed to the voter at his place of residence. The board shall retain a copy of the notification. The registrar shall record the reason for the rejection in the state voter registration computer system.

(b) If a ballot is rejected pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 18:1316, the vote shall not be counted, and the board shall write "rejected" and the cause therefor on a separate slip of paper and attach it to the ballot and shall place the ballots so rejected in the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container.

(4) If a challenge in accordance with the provisions of Subsection C of this Section is sustained, the vote shall not be counted, and the board shall write "rejected" and the reason therefor across the ballot envelope and shall place the rejected ballot in the special absentee by mail ballot envelope or container. The board shall notify the voter in writing of the challenge and the reason therefor. The notification shall be on a form provided by the secretary of state and shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of the board. The notice of the challenge and the reason therefor shall be given within four business days by mail addressed to the voter at his place of residence. The board shall retain a copy of the notification.

E. The secretary of state shall provide for the following:

(1) The preprinting of information on the absentee by mail certificate of an absentee ballot by mail in a form prescribed by the secretary of state, including but not limited to the date of the election and the ward and precinct of the voter.

(2) A uniform, standard challenge process and procedure with regards to the items missing on the absentee by mail certificate of an absentee by mail ballot and determinations made by the board.

Acts 1985, No. 755, §§1, 2; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2009, No. 369, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2013, No. 395, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2020, No. 354, §1, eff. June 12, 2020; Acts 2020, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 9, §1, eff. Oct. 23, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 381, §1, eff. June 17, 2021; Acts 2021, No. 423, §1; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 321, §1; Acts 2024, No. 521, §1, eff. July 1, 2025; Acts 2024, No. 712, §1, eff. July 1, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:18 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 18
Secretary of state; powers and duties
Status: in_force

A. The secretary of state shall administer the laws relating to custody of voting machines and voter registration, and for this purpose the secretary of state shall:

(1) Subject to applicable civil service laws and applicable provisions of this Title, employ and fix the salaries and duties of necessary staff to carry out such functions.

(2) Direct and assist the registrars of voters of the state with respect to matters pertaining to the registration of voters as provided by law.

(3) Prescribe uniform rules, regulations, forms, and instructions, which shall be approved by the attorney general and thereafter shall be applied uniformly by each registrar of voters in the state. These rules, regulations, forms, and instructions shall include but not necessarily be restricted to forms of applications for registration, records, affidavits and statements, documents, and general procedures to be used by the registrars of voters, none of which shall be inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States or of this state.

(4) Be responsible for obtaining statistics and data relating to the registration of voters from the registrars throughout the state and for the compilation of such statistics and data in an annual report which shall be submitted to the Legislature of Louisiana not later than the first day of each regular session.

(5) Perform such other functions and duties and exercise such other powers as are conferred upon him by this Title.

(6) Coordinate the responsibilities of this state under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-31) as required by 52 U.S.C. 20509.

(7) Prescribe uniform rules, regulations, forms, and instructions as to the use of voting systems, as defined by R.S. 18:1351, in the conduct of early voting, which shall be approved by the attorney general and thereafter shall be applied uniformly by each registrar of voters in the state.

(8)(a) Prescribe uniform rules, regulations, forms, and instructions as to standards for effective nonpartisan voter education, which shall be approved by the attorney general and thereafter shall be implemented uniformly by each registrar of voters in the state. In developing the standards, the secretary of state shall review current voter education programs within the state. The standards shall address but shall not be limited to voter education concerning voter registration, balloting procedures for voting absentee by mail, during early voting, and at the polling places, distribution of sample ballots, and effective voter education methods, including the use of public service announcements and other public awareness methods. By December fifteenth of each general election year, each registrar of voters shall report to the secretary of state a detailed description of the voter education programs implemented in his parish. The secretary of state, upon receipt of such information, shall prepare a report on the effectiveness of voter education programs and shall submit the report to the governor, the president of the Senate, and the speaker of the House of Representatives by January thirty-first of each year following a general election.

(b) Develop activities, events, informational posters and pamphlets, and public service announcements for the implementation of an annual voter registration week and generally be responsible for implementation of such week. It is the policy of the state of Louisiana to encourage full participation in voting by all citizens of this state. To this end, in years when the president of the United States proclaims a National Voter Registration Day, the official state voter registration week shall be the full week in which the National Voter Registration Day occurs, unless the National Voter Registration Day occurs after the close of the registration records for the regular fall primary election. In years when the president of the United States does not proclaim a National Voter Registration Day or the National Voter Registration Day occurs after the close of the registration records for the regular fall primary election, the official state voter registration week shall be two weeks prior to the close of registration records for the regular fall primary election.

(9) Provide for the registration of third-party voter registration organizations that conduct third-party voter registration drives in the state of Louisiana.

(10)(a) Develop and implement a pilot program for new voting technology and equipment.

(b) The secretary of state shall work with two members from the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs designated by the chairman of that committee and two members from the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs designated by the chairman of that committee in developing the program. After the development of the program, the secretary of state shall submit the details of the program to the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs. The secretary of state shall also submit to the committees the details of any subsequent change to the program.

B. The commissioner of elections shall be appointed by the secretary of state subject to Senate confirmation. He shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary of state at a salary fixed by the secretary of state, which salary shall not exceed the amount approved for such position by the legislature while in session. The commissioner of elections shall have the same qualifications as required for statewide elected officials. He shall have such responsibilities and perform such duties as shall be prescribed by the secretary of state.

C. The department of state shall be responsible for assistance to registrars, administration of rules and regulations of the secretary of state relating to the registration of voters, and matters pertaining to the reporting, compilation, and dissemination of registration statistics and information.

D. The secretary of state may enter into cooperative agreements with other states or written agreements with state and federal governmental agencies and private vendors that provide voter registration eligibility or address data to share voter registration information or data for purposes of voter list maintenance of the state voter registration computer system. The secretary of state shall include in any such cooperative agreement a provision for the privacy of the information or data that complies fully with applicable state and federal law.

E.(1) The secretary of state shall publish a revised final version of this Code on the website of the secretary of state within thirty days of receiving a revised final version of this Code from the legislature following final adjournment of a session of the legislature which results in changes to this Code.

(2) No later than ninety days after final adjournment of a session of the legislature which results in changes to this Code, the secretary of state shall publish on the website of the secretary of state links to each legislative instrument enacted during the session affecting this Code, the effective date of the instrument, and provide the keyword and oneliner of each such instrument as it appears on the legislature's website. The secretary of state website shall include a link to the legislature's bill information page for the public to access the text of the enacted instrument and the résumé digest of each instrument.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 523, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 451, §1, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 286, §1, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 220, §§1, 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2008, No. 136, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2013, No. 383, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2014; Acts 2014, No. 59, §1, eff. May 16, 2014; Acts 2016, No. 281, §1, eff. May 31, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2021, No. 480, §1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2024, No. 701, §1; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1; Acts 2025, No. 499, §1, eff. June 30, 2025.