La. Rev. Stat. § 18:103 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 103
Personal appearance of applicant required; exceptions
Status: in_force

A. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, any person who meets the qualifications for voter registration and desires to register as an elector shall apply to do so by making application in person to a registrar or deputy registrar of the parish in which he seeks to register, by submission of the federal postcard application form as authorized in this Code, by application through the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, by application through designated voter registration agencies, electronically on the secretary of state's website if the person has a valid Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana special identification card issued pursuant to R.S. 40:1321, or by mail using the national mail voter registration form as promulgated by the United States Election Assistance Commission, the state mail voter registration form, or a computer-generated form thereof containing the same requests for information as prescribed by R.S. 18:104 or as contained on the national mail voter registration form.

B. Any citizen of Louisiana who meets the qualifications set forth in R.S. 18:101 and who is a legal resident of this state, whether or not he has a place of abode in this state, but who is unable to appear in person to register because he is in the United States Service, as defined in R.S. 18:1302, may register by mail using the state mail voter registration form in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) The applicant shall mail or transmit electronically a written request to register to the registrar of the parish of which he was a resident prior to entry into the United States Service.

(2) Upon receipt of the request, the registrar shall mail to the applicant at his United States Service address or transmit electronically to the applicant the application form for registration.

(3) Upon receipt of the document, the applicant shall:

(a) Complete the application form, including the applicant's handwritten signature.

(b) Return the document by mail, facsimile, or other means of transmission to the registrar.

(4) Upon receipt of the completed document, the registrar shall, if the evidence establishes that the applicant meets the requirements for registration, register the applicant. The Department of State shall mail the notice of registration required by R.S. 18:109 to the applicant at his United States Service address.

(5) Nothing in this Subsection shall deny to any person in the United States Service the right to register in person as set forth in this Chapter.

C. A person who meets the qualifications set forth in R.S. 18:101(E) who is unable to appear in person to register because he is residing outside of the United States may register by mail using the state mail voter registration form in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) The applicant shall mail or transmit electronically a written request to register to the registrar of the parish in which he was last domiciled immediately prior to his departure from the United States.

(2) Upon receipt of such request, the registrar shall mail to the applicant at his address outside of the United States or transmit electronically to the applicant the application form for registration.

(3) Upon receipt of the document, the applicant shall:

(a) Complete the application form, including the applicant's handwritten signature.

(b) Return the document by mail, facsimile, or other means of transmission to the registrar.

(4) Upon receipt of the completed document, the registrar shall, if the evidence establishes that the applicant meets the requirements for registration, register the applicant. The Department of State shall mail the notice of registration required by R.S. 18:109 to the applicant at his address outside of the United States.

(5) Nothing in this Subsection shall deny to any person residing outside the United States the right to register in person as provided in this Chapter.

D. Nothing in this Section shall deny to any member of the United States Service, as defined in R.S. 18:1302, or to any person residing outside of the United States, the right to submit the Federal Post Card Application or the national voter registration form, in lieu of the application provided for in this Section, for purposes of registering to vote. Such a registrant shall not be required to complete or sign the Federal Post Card Application or the national voter registration form in the presence of a person who is authorized to administer oaths or otherwise to obtain the signature of a person who is authorized to administer oaths on said application. The Federal Post Card Application or the national voter registration form may be transmitted to the registrar of voters by mail, facsimile, or other means of transmission.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 544, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 1985, No. 754, §2; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1986, No. 425, §1; Acts 1987, No. 746, §1; Acts 1988, No. 909, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 1032, §7; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2009, No. 187, §1, eff. April 1, 2010; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2010, No. 624, §1, eff. June 25, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 195, §1, eff. June 24, 2011; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:431.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 431.1
Examinations for courses of instruction
Status: in_force

A. In order to satisfactorily complete the courses of instruction provided for in R.S. 18:431(A) and R.S. 18:433, an applicant for certification shall achieve a minimum score on a written examination as provided in this Section.

B. The secretary of state shall prepare and shall distribute to the several clerks of court the examination to be used for each course of instruction as required by Subsection A of this Section. The secretary of state shall determine the correct answer for each question and shall determine the minimum examination score required for certification.

C. Each examination shall include but shall not necessarily be limited to questions relating to the following subject matters:

(1) Election laws applicable to officials at polling places.

(2) Procedures for the operation and handling of voting machines before, during, and after voting on election day, including the operation of lockouts, recordation and preservation of vote totals, and the locking and sealing of voting machines.

(3) Procedures to be used in processing challenges of voters.

(4) Procedures to be used in preparing, transmitting, and preserving election returns.

(5) Requirements of general election laws which are applicable to commissioners.

(6) Procedures for allowing a person to vote whose name appears on the inactive list of voters.

(7) Procedures for assisting voters with disabilities and requirements to comply with provisions of state and federal law pertaining to the rights of voters with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq., as amended.

D. In addition to the requirements set forth in Subsection C above, the examination for the course of instruction provided for in R.S. 18:433(A) shall examine the applicant with respect to procedures pertaining to the powers, functions, duties, and responsibilities of commissioners-in-charge.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1988, No. 831, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 451, §1, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2023, No. 277, §1, eff. June 9, 2023.

NOTE: See Acts 2001, No. 451, §8(A), relative to effective date.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1300.10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1300.10
Commissioners of election
Status: in_force

The parish board of election supervisors shall name the three commissioners who shall compose the three election commissioners.

Acts 1988, No. 907, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:445 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 445
Parish executive committees; formation in parishes where no committee has been elected
Status: in_force

A. Call for formation. (1) In a parish where a parish executive committee of a recognized political party has not been elected, fifteen or more qualified voters who are registered in the parish as being affiliated with the party may petition the chairman of the state central committee of the party to issue a call to the qualified voters who are registered in the parish as being affiliated with the party for a public meeting to elect a parish executive committee. Within thirty days after receipt of the petition, the chairman of the state central committee shall fix a date for the meeting, appoint a temporary chairman and secretary to open the meeting, and issue a call for the public meeting to elect a parish executive committee. The call shall be published three times in the official parish journal or a newspaper of a general circulation in the parish, and the first publication shall be at least twenty-one days before the day fixed for the meeting.

(2) If there is no chairman of the state central committee or if the chairman of the state central committee fails to issue the call within thirty days after receipt of the petition, the signers of the petition may fix the date of the public meeting and issue the call.

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

(4) For a recognized political party with which no more than thirty percent of the registered voters of the state are affiliated, if the qualified voters who are registered in the parish as being affiliated with the party fail to petition the chairman of the state central committee to issue a call for the formation of a parish executive committee, the chairman of the state central committee may fix the date of the public meeting, issue the call, and form a parish executive committee.

B. Public meeting. At the public meeting, a majority of the qualified voters who are registered in the parish as being affiliated with the political party who are present at the meeting shall elect a chairman and a secretary to preside over the meeting. The chairman shall conduct the election of the parish executive committee members, who shall be elected by a majority of the qualified voters present at the meeting who are registered as being affiliated with the party and are residents of the parish, ward, or district from which the committee members are elected.

C. Accreditation. Within ten days after the public meeting, a certified copy of the minutes of the meeting shall be filed with the secretary of state, the clerk of the district court, and the chairman of the state central committee of the party. When the copies of the minutes of the public meeting are filed, the parish executive committee shall be accredited by the state central committee of the party, and the members of the parish executive committee shall be vested with all the authority of duly elected committee members.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1993, No. 981, §1; Acts 2003, No. 910, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2023, No. 91, §2, eff. June 6, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:463 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 463
Notice of candidacy; campaign finance disclosure; political advertising; penalties
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a) A notice of candidacy shall be in writing and shall state the candidate's name, the office he seeks, the address of his domicile, his telephone number, his electronic mail address, and the parish, ward, and precinct where he is registered to vote. The candidate shall list on the notice of candidacy the name of the political party if he is registered as being affiliated with a recognized political party, "other" if he is registered as being affiliated with a political party that is not a recognized political party, or "no party" or an abbreviation thereof if he is registered with no political party affiliation. No candidate shall change or add his political party designation, for purposes of printing on the election ballot as required by R.S. 18:551(D), after he has qualified for the election.

(b) The candidate shall designate in the notice the form in which his name shall be printed on the ballot. The candidate may designate his given, first, and middle name, the initials of his given, first, and middle name, a nickname, or any combination thereof as the form in which his name shall be printed on the ballot, but he shall not designate a title, designation, or deceptive name, nor shall he designate an occupational or professional description or abbreviation. If the candidate designates a nickname in place of or in combination with his given name or the initials thereof, the nickname shall be set off with quotation marks and shall be placed immediately preceding his surname. A candidate shall include his surname in his designation of the form in which his name shall be printed on the ballot.

(c) When an agent files a notice of candidacy on behalf of a candidate, the agent shall file with the qualifying official an affidavit with the signature of the candidate attesting that the agent has the authorization and consent of the candidate to file the notice.

(d) When a candidate serving in the armed forces of the United States who is stationed or deployed outside of the United States files his notice of candidacy and does not pay any qualifying fees or any additional fee, he shall file with the qualifying official a certification prepared by the secretary of state certifying that at the time of qualifying he is serving in the armed forces of the United States and he is stationed or deployed outside of the United States and that he is eligible to become a candidate pursuant to United States Department of Defense Directive 1344.10.

(2)(a) The notice of candidacy also shall include a certificate, signed by the candidate, certifying all of the following:

(i) That he has read the notice of his candidacy.

(ii) That he meets the qualifications of the office for which he is qualifying.

(iii) Except for a candidate for United States senator or representative in congress, that he is not currently under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony and that he is not prohibited from qualifying as a candidate for conviction of a felony pursuant to Article I, Section 10.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana.

(iv) Except for a candidate for United States senator or representative in congress, that for each of the previous five tax years, he has filed his federal and state income tax returns, has filed for an extension of time for filing either his federal or state income tax return or both, or was not required to file either a federal or state income tax return or both.

(v) That he acknowledges that he is subject to the provisions of the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act if he is a candidate for any office other than United States senator, representative in congress, or member of a committee of a political party and that he does not owe any outstanding fines, fees, or penalties pursuant to the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act.

(vi) That, if he is a major or district office candidate as defined in R.S. 18:1483, he has filed each report he has been required to file by the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act, if any were previously due.

(vii) That he does not owe any outstanding fines, fees, or penalties pursuant to the Code of Governmental Ethics.

(viii) Except for a candidate for United States senator or representative in congress or a candidate who resides in a nursing home as defined in R.S. 40:2009.2 or in a veterans' home operated by the state or federal government, that if he claims a homestead exemption on a residence pursuant to Article VII, Section 20 of the Constitution of Louisiana, he is registered and votes in the precinct in which that residence is located.

(ix) That all of the statements contained in it are true and correct.

(b) The certificate shall be executed before a notary public or shall be witnessed by two persons. If the candidate is serving outside the state with the armed forces of the United States, his notice of candidacy shall be witnessed by a commissioned officer in the armed forces of the United States.

(c) For the purposes of this Paragraph:

(i) "Outstanding fine, fee, or penalty pursuant to the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act" shall mean a fine, fee, or penalty equal to an amount of two hundred fifty dollars or more assessed by order of the Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure or its staff or by final decision of an adjudicatory panel of the Ethics Adjudicatory Board pursuant to the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act for which all requests for waiver or appeals have been exhausted or a judgment of a district court assessing civil penalties pursuant to the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act for which all appeals have been exhausted.

(ii) "Outstanding fines, fees, or penalties pursuant to the Code of Governmental Ethics" shall mean a fine, fee, or penalty equal to an amount of two hundred fifty dollars or more imposed by the Board of Ethics or by final decision of an adjudicatory panel of the Ethics Adjudicatory Board pursuant to the Code of Governmental Ethics for which all appeals have been exhausted.

(iii) "Outstanding fine, fee, or penalty" shall not mean any fine, fee, or penalty that has been paid in full as of the time of the filing of the notice of candidacy.

(3) The notice of candidacy also shall include a certificate, signed by the candidate, certifying that he is knowledgeable of the laws governing election offenses as provided in Chapter 10 of this Title and that he is knowledgeable of the prohibitions relative to erecting, displaying, or posting political campaign signs on any highway right-of-way, publicly owned property or right-of-way, or to or on any public utility pole or stanchion, as provided in R.S. 48:347(D), R.S. 30:2544, and R.S. 18:1470. Except as provided in R.S. 30:2544, whoever so erects, displays, or posts political campaign signs on any publicly owned property or right-of-way, or to or on any public utility pole or stanchion shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not in excess of one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both.

(4) An agent who files a notice of candidacy without the authorization or consent of the candidate to file such notice of candidacy shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not in excess of five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both.

B. Repealed by Acts 2008, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2009.

C. On the forms for notice of candidacy which are prepared, printed, and distributed by the secretary of state, a notice shall be printed below the signature line which shall inform the candidate that copies of the forms and pamphlets of explanation and instruction which are distributed by the Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure are available from the clerk of court or the committee, and that information contained in the notice of candidacy may be posted on the website of the secretary of state as determined by the secretary of state.

D. Not later than the Friday before the opening of the qualifying period for any primary election, the Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure shall deliver a sufficient number of informational packets containing reporting forms and instructions to all officials with whom candidates will qualify for such primary election. The informational packet shall include a notice to the candidate that questions concerning the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act should be addressed to the Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure, not the official with whom the candidate qualifies. If a candidate qualifies in person, such informational packets shall be distributed to each candidate upon receipt of the candidate's notice of candidacy by the official with whom the candidate qualifies for office. If a candidate qualifies by submitting his notice of candidacy by certified mail, commercial carrier, or agent, such informational packets shall be mailed to the candidate at his mailing address or, if no mailing address is provided, the address of his domicile as set forth in the notice of candidacy within two business days after receipt of the notice of candidacy.

E.(1) A candidate who has filed a notice of candidacy may change the information contained therein by filing a new notice of candidacy and paying the qualifying fee required by R.S. 18:464 during the qualifying period; however, a candidate who is serving in the armed forces of the United States who is stationed or deployed outside of the United States shall not be required to pay the qualifying fee.

(2) No changes to the information contained in a notice of candidacy shall be made after the close of qualifying, except to correct an error made by the qualifying official who entered the information contained in the notice of candidacy into the database of the Department of State.

F. The Board of Ethics shall work in conjunction with the attorney general to create informational packets summarizing provisions of the laws relative to dual officeholding and laws under the jurisdiction of the board applicable to public officials relative to conflicts of interest and prohibited transactions, payments, contracts, and employment. The Board of Ethics shall provide such an informational packet in the same manner as provided in Subsection D of this Section to any candidate who qualifies for office.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 786, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1980; Acts 1982, No. 747, §1, eff. Aug. 2, 1982; Acts 1982, No. 778, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 1984, No. 225, §2; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 768, §2; Acts 1991, 1st E.S., No. 1, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 1130, §1; Acts 2001, No. 47, §1; Acts 2003, No. 529, §1, eff. June 27, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 526, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005, and §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 829, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2004, No. 896, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2008, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2008, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 16, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 827, §1; Acts 2011, No. 152, §1; Acts 2012, No. 533, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Acts 2012, No. 609, §1, eff. June 7, 2012; Acts 2012, No. 758, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Acts 2012, No. 778, §1, eff. June 12, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2015, No. 307, §1, eff. June 29, 2015; Acts 2016, No. 281, §1, eff. May 31, 2016; Acts 2018, No. 584, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2019; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2019, No. 374, §2, eff. Jan 1, 2020; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020; §2, eff. Feb. 1, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 35, §1, eff. May 17, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1552 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1552
Persons authorized to file reports
Status: in_force

A. If the provisions of this Part are utilized, the personal representative of the estate of the deceased candidate shall be responsible for filing the required reports. The personal representative of the deceased candidate shall send notice to the supervisory committee of his intent to utilize the provisions of this Part to resolve the deficit of the deceased candidate.

B. For purposes of this Part, "personal representative" shall have the same meaning as provided in R.S. 9:2260.1.

Acts 2011, No. 208, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1501.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1501.1
Reports by persons not candidates or committees
Status: in_force

A.(1) Any person, other than a candidate or a committee, who makes any expenditure for express advocacy supporting or opposing the nomination or election of a person to public office, the recall of a public official, or a proposition or question submitted to the voters, or for a communication for which the only reasonable conclusion to be drawn from the presentation and content is that it is intended to appeal to vote for or against a specific candidate or for or against the recall of a specific elected official or a proposition or question submitted to the voters shall file reports if such expenditures exceed one thousand dollars in the aggregate during the aggregating period as defined for committees.

(2)(a) Each person, other than a candidate or committee, who makes an expenditure on behalf of a candidate, independent expenditure-only committee, political committee, or principal campaign committee for purposes of canvassing, irrespective of the amount expended, shall submit in writing to the respective candidate or committee on whose behalf such expenditure was made the full name and address of each individual to whom such an expenditure was made.

(b) Each person, other than a candidate or committee, who makes an expenditure on behalf of a candidate, independent expenditure-only committee, political committee, or principal campaign committee for purposes of canvassing in an amount of at least six hundred dollars shall maintain for six years a written record of the last four digits of the social security number of each individual to whom such expenditure was made or submit in writing to the respective candidate or committee on whose behalf such expenditure was made the last four digits of the social security number of each individual to whom such expenditure was made.

B. Such reports shall be filed at the same time, shall contain the same information, and shall be certified correct in the same manner as reports required of principal campaign committees by this Chapter. However, a person that is not a candidate or committee shall not be required to include in such reports information about contributions or contributors or identify contributors, unless a contributor has designated his contribution for any purpose provided for in Subparagraph (A)(1)(a) of this Section; in which case, such reports shall include the name and address of the contributor who made the designated contribution and the amount and date of the designated contribution.

C. In addition to the reports filed in accordance with Subsection B of this Section, during the period beginning at midnight of the twentieth day prior to a primary election and extending through midnight of primary election day; during the period beginning at midnight of the twentieth day prior to a second party primary election and extending through midnight of the second party primary election day, if applicable; and during the period beginning at midnight of the twentieth day prior to a general election and extending through midnight of general election day, any person, other than a candidate or a committee, who makes any expenditure other than to a candidate or to a committee, shall file a report with the supervisory committee of:

(1) The full name and address of each person to whom such person has made an expenditure during such period in excess of one thousand dollars.

(2) Each report required by this Subsection shall be filed within forty-eight hours after the time the expenditure is made. If such time falls outside of regular office 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.

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 2004, No. 862, §1, eff. July 12, 2004; Acts 2008, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 27, §1, eff. March 30, 2009; Acts 2024, No. 640, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §4, eff. June 20, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025, §2, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:481 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 481
Candidates who qualify for a general election
Status: in_force

Except for candidates for a party primary office, the candidates who qualify for each office remaining to be filled in the general election are those who received the two highest numbers of votes, the four highest number of votes, and so on among those not elected in the primary election, until the maximum number of candidates for each office on the general election ballot is reached.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2005, No. 282, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2024, No. 640, §2, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §§ 3, 7, eff. June 20, 2025 .
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1300.25 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1300.25
St. Tammany Parish riverboat gaming authorization and relocation election; procedure; specific location
Status: in_force

A. A referendum election, to the extent required by this Chapter and Article XII, Section 6 of the Constitution of Louisiana, shall be called in St. Tammany Parish at the election to be held on October 9, 2021, pursuant to R.S. 18:402, or on a succeeding appropriate date selected by the parish governing authority and as provided by law, to consider the proposition of whether a holder of an existing riverboat gaming license shall be allowed to relocate to an approved berth or docking facility in St. Tammany Parish and conduct riverboat gaming operations along the portions of Lake Pontchartrain, specifically the waterways that are a part of the Lakeshore Marina located south and east of Interstate 10, Exit 261.

B. The proposition on the ballot shall be stated as follows: "Shall gaming operations and activities authorized by the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act be authorized in St. Tammany Parish at a site along those certain waterways in St. Tammany Parish along portions of Lake Pontchartrain that are part of the Lakeshore Marina located south and east of Interstate 10, Exit 261, and shall (Name of licensee approved by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board) or the licensee's successors and assigns be authorized to relocate from its current location to the location in St. Tammany Parish described above, and to develop on such location a gaming, hotel, and resort operation all in accordance with the Louisiana Gaming Control Law, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the Louisiana Election Code, and other relevant constitutional and statutory authority?"

C. Subject to the approval of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, which is required only prior to the conducting of the election, and if a majority of electors voting vote in favor of the proposition, the riverboat gaming license holder may relocate operations to the approved berth or docking facility in St. Tammany Parish at the location described in Subsection A of this Section. The riverboat gaming license holder shall remain subject to the licensing and regulatory authority of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Louisiana Gaming Control Law.

D. Except as provided in this Section, the election shall be conducted as provided in Chapters 6-B and 6-D of this Title, including but not limited to the provisions providing for the responsibility of the parish governing authority to provide notice to the public as provided by law.

E. If the Louisiana Gaming Control Board authorizes a riverboat gaming licensee to conduct riverboat gaming operations or activities at the location in St. Tammany Parish as described in Subsection A of this Section, then the governing authority of St. Tammany Parish shall insert the name of the licensee in the ballot language provided by Subsection B of this Section.

Acts 2021, No. 362, §1, eff. June 15, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1942 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1942
Preclearance of state reapportionment plan pursuant to Voting Rights Act; copy to secretary of state
Status: in_force

In order for an office which is included in a reapportionment or redistricting plan enacted by the legislature, or ordered by a state court of competent jurisdiction to replace or in lieu of a plan enacted by the legislature, to be included on the ballot for an election, a notice that such plan has been precleared pursuant to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 shall be sent to the secretary of state by the person or entity that submitted the plan for preclearance and shall be received by the secretary of state not later than 5:00 p.m. of the fifth business day prior to the scheduled opening of the qualifying period for the election. If the notice of preclearance is not timely received by the secretary of state, the election shall be postponed and shall be scheduled at the next available election date and such election shall not be considered a special election. The secretary of state shall not include on the ballot for the election any office for which notice of the preclearance of the reapportionment or redistricting plan is not timely received.

Acts 2003, No. 1022, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1271 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1271
Applicable laws
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Part, United States senators and representatives in Congress shall be elected as provided in this Title for the election of public officers.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1431 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1431
Fraudulent or illegal votes; uncounted votes; determination of election result
Status: in_force

When the court finds that one or more of the votes cast in a contested election are illegal or fraudulent, the judge shall subtract such vote or votes from the total votes cast for the candidate who received them if the contest involves election to office, from the total vote for or against a proposition if the contest is of an election upon a proposition, or from the total vote for or against the recall of a public officer if the contest involves an election for the recall of a public officer. If the court determines that legal votes cast in the election were excluded in the total votes cast on a candidate, proposition, or recall, then these excluded legal votes shall be added to the total votes on the candidate, proposition, or recall to which they are attributable. Thereafter, and after considering all the evidence, the court shall determine the result of the election.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1280.25 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1280.25
Voting according to party affiliation
Status: in_force

No elector may vote in the election provided in this Part for a candidate affiliated with a party in which the elector is not registered, except as provided in R.S. 18:1280.21.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 684, §1, eff. Dec. 1, 1979; S.C.R. No. 4, 1983 2nd Ex. Sess.; Acts 1986, No. 35, §1, eff. June 17, 1986; Acts 1986, No. 427, §1; Acts 2004, No. 678, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:402 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 402
Dates of primary and general elections; prohibited election days
Status: in_force

A. Prohibited election days. (1) No election of any kind shall be held in this state on any of the days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, the first two days and the last two days of Passover, Shavuot, Tish'a B'Av, the two days preceding Labor Day, the three days preceding Easter, or the three days following Thanksgiving Day. If the date of any fall election falls on any of the above-named days, the election shall be held on the same weekday of the preceding week. If the date of any spring election falls on any of the above-named days, the election shall be held on the same day of the following week.

(2) If the date for the fall primary election is advanced in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the general election shall be advanced the same number of weeks as the primary election.

(3) If the date for the spring primary election is postponed in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the spring general election and, if applicable, the second party primary election held at the same time shall be postponed the same number of weeks as the primary election.

(4) If the date for the fall general election is advanced in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the fall primary election and, if applicable, the general election for party primary office held at the same time shall be advanced the same number of weeks as the fall general election.

B. Election dates in gubernatorial election years.

(1) Spring elections. (a) There shall be a spring primary election held on the third Saturday in April for municipal and ward officers elected in the spring of a gubernatorial election year and for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office to be elected at the gubernatorial election.

(b) There shall be a spring election held on the sixth Saturday after the third Saturday in April which shall be a general election for municipal and ward officers elected in the spring of a gubernatorial election year and, if necessary, a second party primary for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office to be elected at the gubernatorial election.

(2) Fall elections. (a) There shall be a fall primary election held on the third to last Saturday in October of a gubernatorial election year for governor and officers elected at the same time as the governor. This election date shall also serve as the general election date for party primary office to be elected at the gubernatorial election.

(b) There shall be a fall general election held on the sixth Saturday after the third to last Saturday in October of a gubernatorial election year.

C. Election dates in congressional election years.

(1) Spring elections. (a) There shall be a spring primary election held on the third Saturday in April for municipal and ward officers elected in the spring of a nonpresidential congressional election year and for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office to be elected in that year.

(b) In the spring of a nonpresidential congressional election year, there shall be an election held on the sixth Saturday after the third Saturday in April which shall be a general election for municipal and ward officers and, if necessary, a second party primary for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office to be elected that year.

(c) In the spring of a presidential and congressional election year, there shall be a spring primary election held on the last Saturday in March for municipal and ward officers and for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office to be elected in that year.

(d) In the spring of a presidential and congressional election year, there shall be an election held on the sixth Saturday after the last Saturday in March for municipal and ward officers elected and for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office to be elected in that year.

(2) Fall elections. (a) There shall be a fall primary election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November for officers elected at the same time as members of congress in that year. This election date shall also serve as the general election date for a party primary office to be elected in a congressional election year.

(b) There shall be a fall general election held on the sixth Saturday after the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of a congressional election year.

D. Odd-numbered year election dates in a nongubernatorial election year.

(1) Spring elections. (a) There shall be a spring primary election held on the third Saturday in April for municipal and ward officers elected in the spring of a nongubernatorial election year. This date shall also serve as the first party primary election for a special election called to fill a vacancy in a party primary office.

(b) There shall be a spring election held on the sixth Saturday after the third Saturday in April which shall be a general election for municipal and ward officers elected in the spring of a nongubernatorial election year. This date shall also serve as the second party primary election, if necessary, for a special election called to fill a vacancy in a party primary office.

(2) Fall elections. (a) There shall be a fall primary election held on the second Saturday in October for parochial and municipal officers in a parish containing a municipality with a population of three hundred thousand or more. This date shall serve as the general election for a special election called to fill a vacancy in a party primary office.

(b) There shall be a fall general election held on the sixth Saturday after the second Saturday in October of an election year.

E.(1) Special elections to fill newly created offices or vacancies in office shall be held on dates fixed by the appropriate authority in the proclamation issued in accordance with law. For an election to fill a vacancy, the dates fixed in the proclamation shall be limited to the dates for primary elections and general elections established in Subsections B, C, and D of this Section. Except as otherwise provided by law, a special primary election shall be held on the first of the election dates established in this Section that is after the date on which the proclamation calling the special primary election is issued, provided that the proclamation is issued at least four weeks prior to the opening of the qualifying period for the special 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. The authority issuing the proclamation shall consult with the secretary of state in the establishment of a qualifying period and election dates for special elections.

(2) Except for the office of representative in congress, the secretary of state shall not include the name of any candidate on any ballot for a special election to fill a vacancy in any office to which this Subsection is applicable unless such special election has been called in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection and scheduled on one of the dates provided herein. Any elector who is eligible to vote in any such special election may apply for injunctive relief to prohibit the placing of the name of any candidate in an improperly called election on the ballot. Venue for such application shall be in any parish in which the election is called, and the secretary of state shall be the proper party defendant.

F. Every bond, tax, or other election at which a proposition or question is to be submitted to the voters shall be held only on an election date established in Subsections B, C, and D of this Section. However, the sixth Saturday after the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of any congressional election year shall not be applicable in a parish containing a municipality with a population of three hundred thousand or more for an election relative to a parcel fee imposed within a security or neighborhood improvement district. For purposes of this Subsection, "security or neighborhood improvement district" means a special district, one of the primary purposes of which is aiding in crime prevention and adding to the security of district residents by providing for an increased presence of law enforcement personnel in the district or otherwise promoting and encouraging security in the district.

G. Prohibited days. (1) No election of any kind shall be held in this state on any of the days of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, the first two days and the last two days of Passover, Shavuot, Tish'a B'Av, the two days preceding Labor Day, the three days preceding Easter, or the three days following Thanksgiving Day. If the date of any election falls on any of the above-named days, the election shall be held on the same day of the preceding week.

(2) The fall election dates established in Subsection B of this Section shall be the gubernatorial election dates.

(3) The fall election dates established in Subsection C of this Section shall be the congressional election dates.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 333, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 545, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1978, No. 38, §1, eff. May 31, 1978; Acts 1978, No. 720, §1, eff. July 17, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1980, No. 43, §1, eff. June 5, 1980; Acts 1980, No. 664, §1, eff. July 24, 1980; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1983; Acts 1982, No. 778, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 727, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 277, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 42, §1, eff. July 7, 1994; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998 (R.S. 18:402(E)(4) eff. July 1, 1997); Acts 1999, No. 254, §§1, 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 542, §1; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2006, No. 621, §3; Acts 2006, No. 705, §1; Acts 2006, No. 845, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2008, No. 134, §1; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2011, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 22, §1; Acts 2011, No. 201, §1, eff. Jan.1, 2012; Acts 2011, No. 293, §1; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2012, No. 139, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 95, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015; Acts 2013, No. 318, §1; Acts 2014, No. 792, §1; Acts 2015, No. 307, §§1, 3, eff. June 29, 2015; Acts 2015, No. 410, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 640, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2025, §2, eff. See Act, §4, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:425 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 425
Commissioners
Status: in_force

A. Number. (1) In addition to the commissioner-in-charge, at the following elections there shall be the following number of additional commissioners at each precinct:

(a) For the gubernatorial primary and general elections, the congressional primary and general elections, the presidential preference primary election, and the primary and general elections for municipal officers in a parish containing a municipality with a population of four hundred seventy-five thousand or more held every four years beginning in 1994:

(i) Four commissioners for precincts with more than three hundred active registered voters.

(ii) Three commissioners for precincts with three hundred active registered voters or less.

(b) For all elections not specifically provided for in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph or in Part III of Chapter 6 of this Code:

(i) Three commissioners for precincts with more than three hundred active registered voters eligible to vote in the election.

(ii) Two commissioners for precincts with three hundred or fewer active registered voters eligible to vote in the election.

(2) The governing authority of a municipality, the governing authority of a parish, or the governing authority of a district having a governing authority, with the approval of the parish board of election supervisors, may adopt a resolution to reduce the number of such additional commissioners to not less than two for each precinct in the municipality, in the parish outside of a municipality, or in the district outside of a municipality in a district election, respectively, whenever in the opinion of the governing authority such reduction is not detrimental to the conduct of an election. In no event shall there be less than one commissioner-in-charge and two additional commissioners per precinct.

(3) The parish board of election supervisors may submit a written request to the secretary of state, on or before the twenty-third day prior to an election, for additional commissioners for overcrowded precincts. The written request shall include the number of additional commissioners requested and an explanation of the need for additional commissioners. If the secretary of state determines that there is a need for additional commissioners and that the allocation of additional commissioners is feasible, he may approve the allocation of additional commissioners.

(4) For an election held within one year following the date of the issuance of any gubernatorial proclamation declaring a state of emergency, if a parish board of election supervisors determines that there is a parishwide shortage of commissioners because a significant number of commissioners have been temporarily displaced due to such emergency, the board may submit a written request to the secretary of state, on or before the twenty-third day prior to an election, for additional commissioners from other parishes. The written request shall include the number of additional commissioners requested and an explanation of the need for additional commissioners. If the secretary of state determines that there is a need for additional commissioners and that the allocation of additional commissioners is feasible, the secretary of state shall approve the request and notify the parish board of election supervisors of the parish affected by the emergency. The board of such affected parish shall request the parish boards of election supervisors to submit lists of available commissioners by the fifteenth day prior to the election. The board of the affected parish shall select commissioners to serve in the affected parish from such lists based on availability, proximity and, to the extent possible, the requirements for representation based on recognized political party affiliation as provided for in R.S. 18:434(B)(7). The clerk of court of the affected parish shall ensure that the selected commissioners have received adequate training on the voting machines that are used in the affected parish and on any procedures necessary for the conduct of the election. The selected commissioners, upon approval by the secretary of state, shall be entitled to appropriate reimbursement for travel expenses.

B. Qualifications and classifications.

(1) The legislature finds that the state has a compelling interest in providing an efficient and effective electoral process on election day and ensuring that commissioners who serve at polling places can perform all required duties.

(2) A qualified voter who is able to perform the essential duties of a commissioner as described in the informational pamphlet developed by the secretary of state pursuant to R.S. 18:421(C) and who is not a candidate in the election may be selected as a commissioner in any precinct of the ward where he is registered to vote, except pursuant to R.S. 18:434(B) and (D) in which case he may be selected as a commissioner in any precinct of the parish where he is registered to vote or as otherwise provided in Paragraph (A)(4) of this Section.

(3)(a) No person shall be selected as a commissioner in a precinct in which a member of his immediate family is a candidate for election to public office.

(b) No person who has been convicted of an election offense enumerated in Chapter 10 of this Title shall serve as a commissioner.

(c) If a proposition or question is on the ballot in a precinct, no member of the governing authority that called the election on the proposition or question and no member of the governing authority of a political subdivision that will receive revenue from a tax or fee that is the subject of the proposition or question shall be selected as a commissioner in that precinct.

(d) No person who is required to register as a sex offender or child predator pursuant to R.S. 15:542 may serve as a commissioner.

(4) A person shall not serve as a commissioner, except pursuant to R.S. 18:434(D), unless he has attended a course of instruction for commissioners, has received a certificate of instruction during the term of office of the clerk who conducted the school, and has provided his correct party affiliation to the clerk. A commissioner who has received this certificate shall be classified as a certified commissioner. A commissioner selected pursuant to R.S. 18:434(D), who has not been issued such a certificate, shall be classified as an uncertified commissioner.

(5) A person who is at least seventeen years of age, under the age of eighteen, and is not a qualified voter but is otherwise qualified to serve as a commissioner pursuant to this Subsection may be selected to serve as a commissioner in any precinct of the ward where he may register to vote pursuant to R.S. 18:101(A), provided that the person is enrolled in the twelfth grade of any Louisiana public high school or state-approved nonpublic high school, is participating at the twelfth grade level in a home study program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, has received a diploma from any Louisiana public high school or state-approved nonpublic high school, has received a diploma for completion of a home study program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, or has been issued a high school equivalency diploma after successfully completing the test of General Educational Development.

(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, a qualified voter of this state or a person who is registered to vote in another state who is able to perform the essential duties of a commissioner as described in the informational pamphlet developed by the secretary of state pursuant to R.S. 18:421(C), who is not a candidate in the election, who certifies that he is a United States citizen, and who meets the following additional criteria may be selected as a commissioner as follows:

(a) A student at a postsecondary education institution may be selected as a commissioner in any precinct in the parish where the institution is located if the student submits to the clerk a copy of his student identification or fee bill showing current enrollment and a copy of his proof of voter registration.

(b) A nonresident active duty servicemember serving at a military installation as defined in R.S. 33:4734 that is located in Louisiana or his dependent as defined in 10 U.S.C. 987 may be selected as a commissioner in any precinct in the parish where the military installation is located if the servicemember or his dependent submits to the clerk a copy of his military identification card and a copy of his proof of voter registration and wears plain clothes while serving in his capacity as commissioner.

C. Powers and duties.

(1) The commissioners shall conduct primary and general elections at each polling place, shall enforce the election laws, and shall maintain order at the polling place during the election and the printing of results from the voting machines.

(2) A commissioner shall not electioneer, engage in political discussions, unnecessarily delay a voter at the polling place, or prepare a list of persons voting at the polling place other than the official poll lists.

D. Oath. On election day, before a commissioner enters upon the performance of his duties, he shall take the constitutional oath or affirmation. The commissioner-in-charge shall administer the oath.

E. Notice of service. Commissioners who serve at the polling place on election day shall receive the compensation provided in R.S. 18:426.1. The clerk of court of each parish shall transmit to the Department of State the names, addresses, and social security numbers of all persons who served as commissioners on election day in that parish no later than seven days after the election. Upon receipt of such information from the parish clerks of court, the Department of State shall compensate any commissioner who has served at a polling place on an election day within thirty days.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978, Amended by Acts 1977, No. 471, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1980, No. 792, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 76, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; 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 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1993, No. 465, §1; Acts 1995, No. 310, §1; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2003, No. 422, §1, eff. June 18, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 1124, §1, eff. July 2, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §2, (eff. July 3, 2003), §§1 and 4 (eff. Jan. 1, 2004); Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 693, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2005, No. 335, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 436, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014; Acts 2016, No. 281, §1, eff. May 31, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2021, No. 377, §1, eff. Feb. 1, 2023; Acts 2023, No. 18, §1; Acts 2023, No. 221, §1, eff. June 8, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1411 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1411
Depositions
Status: in_force

A party to an objection to candidacy, an action contesting the certification of a recall petition, or an election contest may take a deposition relative to the facts specified or to be specified in the petition at any time before the trial, upon giving the other party at least forty-eight hours notice of the time and place the deposition is to be taken. The deposition may be taken before any officer authorized to administer oaths, and the attendance of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence of any kind may be compelled by a court.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 2010, No. 621, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1288 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1288
Election officers; oaths
Status: in_force

Commissioners-in-charge and commissioners shall take the oath or affirmation as provided by R.S. 18:424 and R.S. 18:425. A commissioner may administer any oath and receive any affidavit provided for in this Chapter.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 545, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:152.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 152.1
Destruction of records of the registrar of voters
Status: in_force

If original records of a registrar of voters are destroyed as a result of catastrophic loss or damage and there are no microfilm, microfiche, or scanned or electronically captured computerized images of the original records of voters, every attempt shall be made to re-create the records of voters who are not canceled. Computer records from the secretary of state's database shall be deemed the original records until such time as the records can be recreated.

Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2009, No. 186, §2, eff. June 29, 2009.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1471 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1471
Temporary restraining order; notice; hearing
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a temporary restraining order shall not issue with respect to an allegation of any practice or procedure contrary to the election laws of the state unless notice is given to the adverse party and an opportunity had for a hearing prior to the local, state, or national election affected.

B. After service of the notice, the temporary restraining order shall be assigned for hearing not less than ten days prior to the election.

C. An appeal may be taken as a matter of right from a temporary restraining order relating to an alleged violation of the Louisiana Election Code. However, such an order shall be suspended during the pendency of an appeal unless the court in its discretion orders otherwise.

Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1273 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1273
Opening and closing of qualifications for candidates for United States senators and representatives in Congress
Status: in_force

When a member of the United States Senate or members of the United States House of Representatives are to be elected at the congressional election or at a special election, qualifications for candidates shall open and close as provided in Chapter 5 of this Title.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:134 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 134
Office hours
Status: in_force

A.(1) A registrar shall keep his principal office open for business on those days that state departments are open. A registrar shall observe the holidays that are provided by law or proclaimed by the governor for state departments. On days that a registrar's office is open, his office hours shall be from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Notwithstanding any provision of this Subsection, any registrar may keep his principal office open during additional hours and on additional days.

(2) A registrar may close his principal office on days that state departments are open only in extreme circumstances. However, on such days the registrar shall still perform essential functions.

B. Each registrar shall keep each permanent branch office open for business during the hours and on the days he deems the activity justifies it.

C. Each registrar shall keep each temporary branch office and each mobile registration unit open for business during the hours and on the days that he deems that activity justifies it.

D. Additional hours and days during which a principal office is to be kept open, as authorized by Subsection A of this Section, and the hours and days during which each office or mobile unit is to be kept open, under the provisions of Subsections B and C of this Section, and the hours and days of early voting, shall be specified and advertised in advance by the registrar by means of the news media.

E.(1) On election days the principal office of the registrar shall remain open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.,or until all precinct results have been submitted to the clerk of court and the absentee by mail and early voting results have been submitted to the registrar of voters, whichever is earlier. The registrar or a deputy registrar designated by him shall remain in the office during that time.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, on days when a regularly scheduled congressional primary election is held, the principal office of the registrar shall remain open from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., or until all precinct results have been submitted to the clerk of court and the absentee by mail and early voting results have been submitted to the registrar of voters, whichever is earlier. The registrar or a deputy registrar designated by him shall remain in the office during that time.

F. It shall be lawful to register persons on Sundays and holidays.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 544 §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Amended by Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 2007, No. 240, §1; Acts 2009, No. 176, §1; Acts 2012, No. 577, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Acts 2021, No. 381, §1, eff. June 17, 2021; Acts 2025, No. 371, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1364 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1364
Placement and sufficiency of voting machines and counting equipment for absentee by mail and early voting
Status: in_force

A. The secretary of state shall consult with the Voting System Commission at least once annually to determine the sufficiency of the voting machines and absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment necessary to conduct absentee by mail and early voting in an election, taking into consideration the technological capabilities of the voting system. He shall ensure that the number of voting machines and the absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment placed within a parish for an election is adequate and sufficient to process and count the absentee by mail and early voting ballots cast in the election within a reasonable period.

B. Following an election, the secretary of state shall determine whether such voting machines and absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment shall remain with the registrar of voters, whether it shall be transferred to a voting machine warehouse or other storage facility, or whether it shall be relocated to another parish.

Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2021, No. 480, §1, eff. July 1, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:410.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 410.6
Death of a candidate; procedure; selection of party nominee
Status: in_force

A. When a person who qualified as a candidate in a party primary election to be the party nominee for a party primary office dies after the close of the qualifying period and before the time for closing the polls on the day of that party primary election, the name of the deceased candidate shall not be printed on the party primary election ballot. If the party primary election ballot was printed with the deceased candidate's name on it, any votes received by the deceased candidate shall be void and shall not be counted for any purpose whatsoever.

B.(1) If as the result of the death of a candidate in a party primary election, a major political party has no party nominee qualified for the general election, the major political party shall select, in the manner provided in its bylaws, the party nominee who shall meet all of the qualifications for the party primary office.

(2) The chairman of the state central committee of the major political party shall transmit an attestation to the secretary of state containing the name of the party nominee, the signature of the chairman of the state central committee, the signature of the party nominee, and any other information required by the form of the attestation prescribed by the secretary of state. The attestation shall be filed as soon as possible after the death of the party's candidate, but no later than noon on the seventh day prior to the general election day. If the attestation is received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the seventh day after the close of the qualifying period for nonparty primary offices for the fall primary election, the secretary of state shall print the name of the selected party nominee on the ballot. If the attestation is filed in accordance with this Paragraph, but the name of the selected party nominee is not placed on the ballot, there shall be a notice regarding the selected party nominee posted at each polling place and on the website of the secretary of state. If the selected party nominee's name is not placed on the ballot, all votes cast for the party's deceased candidate shall be attributed to the party nominee.

(3) If the party nominee dies after noon on the seventh day prior to general election day, there shall be no selected party nominee, and no attestation shall be filed with or accepted by the secretary of state. All votes cast for the deceased party nominee shall be counted, and if the deceased party nominee obtains the most votes cast for the party primary office in the general election, a vacancy in the party primary office shall be declared.

Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2024, No. 640, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §2, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1312 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1312
Retention of ballots at registrar's office
Status: in_force

A. All absentee by mail ballots, early voting machine results reports, early voting verification forms, early voting machine public counter logs, and early voting confirmation sheets, shall be retained in the office of the registrar of voters except as otherwise provided in this Chapter.

B. All absentee by mail ballots which are received timely shall be removed from the mail return envelope, if applicable; shall be arranged by ward and precinct and placed and retained in a special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container designated and used only for that purpose; and shall be delivered to the parish board of election supervisors to be counted and tabulated as provided in R.S. 18:1313.

C. After the tabulation of the absentee by mail and early voting ballots on election night, the board shall replace the absentee by mail ballots, early voting machine results reports, early voting verification forms, early voting machine public counter logs, absentee by mail and early voter reports, and early voting confirmation sheets in the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container and return the container to the registrar of voters. The registrar shall retain the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container inviolate until the delay for filing an election contest has lapsed, or, if an action contesting the election has been filed, until the judgment in the action becomes definitive.

D. Except as otherwise provided in R.S. 18:1308.1(C) and 1311(D)(1) and (5), all mail ballots received on or after election day shall not be counted, but shall be endorsed with the day and hour of receipt, shall be kept unopened for six months, and then shall be destroyed. Any absentee ballot received by mail or facsimile not the first received from the voter shall be treated as provided in this Subsection.

E. Absentee by mail ballots, early voting machine results reports, early voting verification forms, early voting machine public counter logs, early voting confirmation sheets, absentee by mail and early voter reports, applications for absentee by mail ballots, certificates, and other absentee by mail and early voting ballot paraphernalia associated with an election shall be retained as provided in R.S. 18:403, unless litigation is pending relative to such election. If litigation is pending relative to such election, such paraphernalia shall be retained in accordance with any applicable court order and until the litigation is concluded.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 513, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 475, §1; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1985, No. 755, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1992, No. 438, §1, eff. June 20, 1992; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 220, §1, 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2013, No. 395, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:565 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 565
Challenge of voters
Status: in_force

A. Grounds for challenge. A commissioner, watcher, or qualified voter may challenge a person applying to vote in a primary or general election on the ground that:

(1) The applicant is not qualified to vote in the election,

(2) The applicant is not qualified to vote in the precinct, or

(3) The applicant is not the person whose name is shown on the precinct register.

B. Disposition of record of challenge and address confirmation notice. The original record of the challenge, signed by the challenger, and the address confirmation notice shall be placed in the envelope marked "Registrar of Voters". A duplicate record of the challenge shall be placed in the clear plastic zipper bag and returned to the clerk of court on election night. A duplicate record of the challenge shall be given to the voter being challenged.

C. Disposition of the challenge. The commissioners present shall determine the validity of the challenge. If they determine by majority vote that the challenge is valid, the applicant shall not be permitted to vote. However, if the valid challenge has determined that the applicant has moved within the parish or has moved outside of the parish within the last three months, the voter shall be allowed to vote upon completing an address confirmation notice. If a majority of the commissioners determine that the challenge is invalid, the applicant shall be permitted to vote.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 523, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1491.7 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1491.7
Reports; contents
Status: in_force

A. (1) Unless otherwise specifically provided, each report required by this Part shall contain the following information:

(a) The name and address of the committee for whom the report is filed.

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

(c) The names and addresses of the committee chairman and of the other principal officers.

(2) Unless otherwise specifically provided, each report by a political committee, principal campaign committee, or independent expenditure-only committee required by this Part shall contain the following information:

(a) The name, address, office sought, and party affiliation of each candidate whom the committee is supporting or opposing, and a designation as to whether such committee is supporting or opposing such candidate.

(b) Whether the committee is supporting or opposing the entire ticket of any party, and, if so, the name of the party.

(c) If the report is for a principal campaign committee, a statement that the committee is a principal campaign committee and the name of the candidate and of all subsidiary committees for whom the principal campaign committee is reporting and the address of such committees, or if a committee has no address, the address of the committee chairman.

(3) Unless otherwise specifically provided, each report by a leadership committee required by this Part shall contain the name of the elected official with whom the leadership committee is affiliated.

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

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

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

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

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

(a) The full name and address of each person who has made one or more contributions, except contributions in the form of a payroll deduction or dues check-off system, to and which have been received and accepted by the committee during the reporting period; the aggregate amount of such contributions, except in-kind contributions, from each person, and the date and amount of each such contribution; and a brief description of each in-kind contribution from each person, the valuation thereof made by the chairman and the treasurer, and the date of the in-kind contribution.

(b) The full name and address of each person who has made one or more contributions in the form of a payroll deduction or dues check-off system in excess of twenty-five dollars in the aggregate in a calendar year to and which have been received and accepted by the committee during the reporting period, and the date and amount of each contribution. In the case of a political committee that supports multiple candidates or issues and receives over ten thousand contributions in the form of a payroll deduction or dues check-off system when no single contributor contributes in excess of fifty dollars in the aggregate in a calendar year, such committee may elect to report the names and addresses of its contributors on an annual basis. Political committees making this election shall list the names and addresses of its contributors, the total amount of the contributions received per contributor, and the schedule of the receipt of such contributions on the annual report due by February twenty-eighth complete through the preceding December thirty-first.

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

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

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

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

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

(7) The name and address of each committee from which the reporting committee received and accepted any transfer of funds during the reporting period, and the amount of each such transfer.

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

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

(10) The date and amount of each loan for campaign purposes made or received by the committee to or from any person or committee during the reporting period, together with the full name and address of the lender, of the recipient of the proceeds of the loan, and of any person who makes any type of security agreement binding himself or his property, directly or indirectly, for the repayment of all or any part of the loan.

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

(12) The total of all expenditures made by the committee during the reporting period.

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

(14) The amount and nature of debts and obligations owed by or to the committee during the reporting period which relate to the conduct of any political campaign, including but not limited to loans required to be reported under Paragraph (10) of this Subsection.

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

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

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

(18) The name and address of each committee to which the reporting committee made a transfer of funds, during the reporting period, and the date and amount of each such transfer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981. Acts 1988, No. 994, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 180, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1990, No. 1088, §§1 and 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 751, §1, eff. July 7, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 199, §2, eff. June 1, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 957, §1; Acts 2010, No. 778, §1, eff. June 30, 2010; Acts 2014, No. 838, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015; Acts 2014, No. 857, §1; Acts 2020, No. 161, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2021; Acts 2024, No. 615, §2; Acts 2025, No. 398, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:447 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 447
Parish executive committees; fundraising
Status: in_force

A. A parish executive committee of a political party may accept donations, conduct fundraising activities, and accept funds from such activities for the purpose of funding the operation of the committee, in addition to collecting the fees assessed to candidates pursuant to R.S. 18:464.

B. Funds accepted by a parish executive committee pursuant to this Section may be used only as provided in R.S. 18:464(G) for the use of fees received from candidates.

C. Funds accepted by a parish executive committee pursuant to this Section, and the spending of such funds as authorized in this Section, shall be subject to the reporting requirements set forth in Chapter 11 of this Title, and shall be included in the financial statements provided to the legislative auditor and state central committee pursuant to R.S. 18:464(F).

Acts 2001, No. 229, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1367.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1367.6
Protest of solicitations or awards
Status: in_force

A. Scope. This Section applies to an appeal addressed to the commissioner of a decision under R.S. 18:1367.2(C).

B. Time limitation on filing an appeal. The aggrieved person shall file an appeal within seven days of receipt of a decision under R.S. 18:1367.2(C).

C. Decision. On any appeal under Subsection A of this Section, the commissioner or his designee shall decide within seven days whether the solicitation or award was in accordance with the constitution, statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the solicitation. The seven-day period provided for in this Subsection shall not be extended. Any prior determinations by the state chief procurement officer or his designee shall not be final or conclusive.

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

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

(1) The decision is fraudulent.

(2) The person adversely affected by the decision has timely appealed to the court in accordance with R.S. 18:1367.9(A).

Acts 2025, No. 208, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1309.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1309.1
Preparation of machines for early voting; examination by candidate or his representative; sealing machines
Status: in_force

A. At the time of qualifying, the parish custodian shall notify each candidate to contact the registrar of voters for the time and place at which the voting machines will be prepared for early voting. The registrar of voters shall post at his office adequate notice of the date, time, and place at which the voting machines will be prepared for early voting and shall post the same information on his office's website, if possible. The candidate or his representative may be present to observe the preparation and testing of the machines by the registrar of voters with the assistance of the secretary of state's technicians and to observe the sealing of the machines by the registrar of voters in the presence of the parish board of election supervisors. Each candidate or his representative shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to view the test vote tape for each machine to see that they are in the proper condition for use in the election, which opportunity shall not be less than thirty minutes beginning at the time designated by the registrar of voters to begin preparation of the machines for sealing. However, no candidate, representative, or citizen shall interfere with the registrar of voters, secretary of state's technicians, parish board of election supervisors, or any employee or technician or assume any of their duties.

B. Each candidate or representative shall identify to the registrar of voters the candidate whom he is representing. In addition, any citizen of this state may be present to observe the preparation, testing, and sealing of the machines by the registrar of voters and the secretary of state's technicians and shall be afforded an opportunity to inspect the test vote tape for each machine to see that they are in proper condition for use for early voting.

C. After the machines have been examined by each candidate, representative, or citizen who is present, the registrar of voters and secretary of state's technicians shall generate a zero tally to ensure that the voting machine's public counter is set at zero and that no votes have been cast for any candidate or for or against any proposition. The registrar of voters and the parish board of election supervisors shall then seal the voting machine.

D. The registrar of voters and the secretary of state's technicians shall record the public and protective counter numbers for each early voting machine on a form prepared by the secretary of state for use in verifying the early voting results on election day.

E. The preparation, testing, inspecting, sealing, and locking of the machines shall not be video, audio, or tape recorded, filmed, or broadcast live.

Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 395, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 381, §1, eff. June 17, 2021; Acts 2024, No. 754, §1; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1352 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1352
Use of voting machines throughout state; exception for failure of voting equipment, early voting, election day voting, absentee by mail, and provisional ballots
Status: in_force

A. Voting machines shall be used throughout this state in all elections.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, paper ballots may be used when voting machines fail, for voting absentee by mail, for early voting as provided in this Title, and for provisional ballots in the manner provided by this Title.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, secure hand-marked paper ballots may be used for in-person early voting and election day voting after the procurement of a new voting system pursuant to R.S. 18:1362.2.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2021, No. 480, §1, eff. July 1, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:576 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 576
Election night returns
Status: in_force

A. Immediately upon receipt of the tabulation blank and compiled statement forms or voting machine election result sheets and election result cartridges, where utilized, from the commissioners-in-charge, the clerks of court shall tabulate the results from each precinct in the parish.

B. Each clerk of court shall transmit the results of the elections to the secretary of state expeditiously and in accordance with rules and regulations which shall be adopted by the secretary of state.

C. The secretary of state shall compile the results of the elections immediately upon receipt of the results from the clerks of court and shall make the compiled results available to the press and public.

D. The election night results required to be compiled and transmitted by the provisions of this Section shall be unofficial.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:541 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 541
Opening and closing of the polls
Status: in_force

A. In the primary and general elections, the polls shall open at 7:00 a.m. on election day and shall close at 8:00 p.m. on election day.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, in regularly scheduled congressional primary elections and elections held at the same time, the polls shall open at 6:00 a.m. on election day and shall close at 8 p.m. on election day.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2012, No. 577, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1922 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1922
Time for reapportionment; submission under Voting Rights Act
Status: in_force

A. Unless a different period of time is specified by the constitution or by statute, the governing authority of each local governing body shall reapportion its voting districts by the end of the year following the year in which the population of this state is reported to the president of the United States for each decennial census.

B. If the governing body is subject to the preclearance provisions of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the governing authority shall submit the reapportionment plan for preclearance no later than one hundred twenty days after the adoption of the reapportionment plan by the governing authority.

Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1022, §1.

*42 U.S.C. 1971 et seq.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:172 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 172
Judgment of interdiction for mental incompetence
Status: in_force

The clerk of a court having jurisdiction over an interdiction shall record in a conveyance book each judgment of full interdiction or a limited interdiction for mental incompetence which specifically suspends the right to register and vote and which has become definitive. This recordation shall be made immediately after the judgment becomes definitive. By the tenth day of each calendar month, the clerk shall transmit to the registrar of voters for his parish a certified copy of the judgment. If the registrar of voters for the parish in which the judgment was rendered determines that the person interdicted is registered to vote in a parish other than the parish in which the judgment was rendered, the registrar of voters for the parish in which the judgment was rendered shall transmit a copy of the judgment to the registrar of voters for the parish where the person interdicted is registered to vote.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 544, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2004, No. 575, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1300.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1300.1
Recall authorized
Status: in_force

Any public officer, excepting judges of the courts of record, may be recalled in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. However, no recall petition may be submitted for certification to or accepted for certification by the registrar of voters or any other official if less than six months remain in the term of office. The secretary of state shall not accept a recall petition for filing if less than six months remain in the term of office. The secretary of state shall endorse the date and time of receipt of such a recall petition, mark "invalid" on the petition, and return the petition forthwith, either personally or by registered or certified mail, to the chairman designated in the recall petition.

Acts 1992, No. 949, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Acts 2019, No. 374, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2020.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1276.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1276.1
Congressional districts
Status: in_force

Louisiana shall be divided into six congressional districts, and the qualified electors of each district shall elect one representative to the United States House of Representatives. The districts shall be composed as follows:

(1) District 1 is composed of Precincts 13, 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35, 41, 43, and 69 of Ascension Parish; Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125A, 125B, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 134, 136, 192, 198, 199, 246, 247, 248, 1-GI, 1-H, 2-H, 3-H, 4-H, 5-H, 6-H, 7-H, 8-H, 9-H, 1-K, 2-K, 3-K, 4-K, 5-K, 6-KA, 6-KB, 7-KA, 7-KB, 8-K, 9-K, 10-K, 11-K, 12-K, 13-KA, 14-K, 16-K, 17-K, 18-K, 19-K, 20-K, 25-K, 27-K, 28-K, 29-K, 34-K, 35-K, and 1-L of Jefferson Parish; Precincts 3-3, 3-6, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 7-4, 8-1, 9-1, 9-2, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4, 10-6, 10-8, 10-9, 10-10, 10-11, 10-12, 10-13, 10-14, 10-15, 10-16, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and 11-5 of Lafourche Parish; Precincts 13A, 13B, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 31, 32, and 38 of Livingston Parish; Precincts 4-7, 4-8, 4-9, 4-11, 4-14, 4-15, 4-17, 4-17A, 4-18, 4-20, 4-21, 4-22, 4-23, 5-12, 5-13, 5-15, 5-16, 5-17, 5-18, 6-9, 7-41, 7-42, 9-45, 9-45A, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8, 11-9, 11-10, 11-11, 12-5, 12-6, 12-7, 12-9, 12-10, 13-5, 13-7, 13-8, 14-1, 14-2, 14-3, 14-4, 14-5, 14-6, 14-7, 14-8, 14-9, 14-10, 14-11, 14-13A, 14-14, 14-15, 14-16, 14-17, 14-18A, 14-20, 14-21, 16-1, 16-1A, 17-1, 17-17, 17-18, 17-18A, 17-19, and 17-20 of Orleans Parish; Plaquemines Parish; Precincts 32, 33, 34, 41, 42A, 43, 44, 45, 46, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 of St. Bernard Parish; Precincts 1-6, 2-6, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 5-5, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-6, and 6-8 of St. Charles Parish; St. Tammany Parish; and Precincts 44, 49, 70, 70A, 71, 72, 72A, 73, 74, 120B, 122A, 122B, 122C, 124, 137, 137A, 137B, 137C, 137D, 139, 141, 141A, 143, 143A, 145, 147, 149, 149A, and 151 of Tangipahoa Parish.

(2) District 2 is composed of Precincts 6, 7, 9, 11, 17, 20, 23, 24, 28, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 45, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 71, 72, 73, 77, and 78 of Ascension Parish; Assumption Parish; Iberville Parish; Precincts 57, 104, 108, 115, 116, 131, 133, 138, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157A, 157B, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179A, 179B, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185A, 185B, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 193A, 193B, 194A, 194B, 195, 196, 197A, 197B, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 210, 211, 212, 213A, 213B, 213C, 214A, 214B, 215, 216A, 216B, 216C, 217, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232A, 232B, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238A, 238B, 1-G, 2-G, 3-G, 4-G, 5-G, 6-G, 7-G, 8-G, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G, 12-G, 13-G, 13-KB, 15-K, 21-K, 22-K, 23-K, 24-K, 26-K, 30-K, 31-K, 33-K, 1-W, 2-W, 3-W, 4-W, 5-W, 6-W, and 7-W of Jefferson Parish; Precincts 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 2-1, 2-1A, 2-3, 2-5, 2-7, 2-9, 2-10, 2-11, 2-16, 5-1, 5-1A, and 5-3 of Lafourche Parish; Precincts 1-1, 1-2, 1-5, 1-6, 2-1, 2-2, 2-4, 2-6, 2-7, 3-1, 3-8, 3-9, 3-12, 3-14, 3-15, 3-18, 3-19, 3-20, 4-2, 4-3, 4-6, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-5, 5-7, 5-8, 5-9, 5-10, 5-11, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, 6-6, 6-7, 6-8, 7-1, 7-2, 7-4, 7-5, 7-6, 7-7, 7-8, 7-9A, 7-10, 7-11, 7-12, 7-13, 7-14, 7-15, 7-16, 7-17, 7-18, 7-19, 7-20, 7-21, 7-23, 7-24, 7-25, 7-25A, 7-26, 7-27, 7-27B, 7-28, 7-28A, 7-29, 7-30, 7-32, 7-33, 7-35, 7-37, 7-37A, 7-40, 8-1, 8-2, 8-4, 8-6, 8-7, 8-8, 8-9, 8-12, 8-13, 8-14, 8-15, 8-19, 8-20, 8-21, 8-22, 8-23, 8-24, 8-25, 8-26, 8-27, 8-28, 8-30, 9-1, 9-3, 9-4, 9-5, 9-6, 9-7, 9-8, 9-9, 9-10, 9-11, 9-12, 9-13, 9-14, 9-15, 9-16, 9-17, 9-19, 9-21, 9-23, 9-25, 9-26, 9-28, 9-28C, 9-29, 9-30, 9-30A, 9-31, 9-31A, 9-31B, 9-31D, 9-32, 9-33, 9-34A, 9-35, 9-35A, 9-36, 9-36B, 9-37, 9-38, 9-38A, 9-39, 9-39B, 9-40, 9-40A, 9-40C, 9-41, 9-41A, 9-41B, 9-41C, 9-41D, 9-42, 9-42C, 9-43A, 9-43B, 9-43C, 9-43E, 9-43F, 9-43G, 9-43H, 9-43I, 9-43J, 9-43K, 9-43L, 9-43M, 9-43N, 9-44, 9-44A, 9-44B, 9-44D, 9-44E, 9-44F, 9-44G, 9-44I, 9-44J, 9-44L, 9-44M, 9-44N, 9-44O, 9-44P, 9-44Q, 10-3, 10-6, 10-7, 10-8, 10-9, 10-11, 10-12, 10-13, 10-14, 11-2, 11-3, 11-12, 11-13, 11-14, 11-17, 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, 12-11, 12-12, 12-13, 12-14, 12-16, 12-17, 12-19, 13-1, 13-2, 13-3, 13-4, 13-6, 13-9, 13-10, 13-11, 13-12, 13-13, 13-14, 13-15, 13-16, 14-12, 14-19, 14-23, 14-24A, 14-25, 14-26, 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, 15-5, 15-6, 15-8, 15-9, 15-10, 15-11, 15-12, 15-12A, 15-13, 15-13A, 15-13B, 15-14, 15-14A, 15-14B, 15-14C, 15-14D, 15-14E, 15-14F, 15-14G, 15-15, 15-15A, 15-15B, 15-16, 15-17, 15-17A, 15-17B, 15-18, 15-18A, 15-18B, 15-18C, 15-18D, 15-18E, 15-18F, 15-19, 15-19A, 15-19B, 15-19C, 16-2, 16-3, 16-4, 16-5, 16-6, 16-7, 16-8, 16-9, 17-2, 17-3, 17-4, 17-5, 17-6, 17-7, 17-8, 17-9, 17-10, 17-11, 17-12, 17-13, 17-13A, 17-14, 17-15, and 17-16 of Orleans Parish; Precincts 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 40, and 42 of St. Bernard Parish; Precincts 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-1, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 5-1, 5-3, 5-4, 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, 7-5, and 7-6 of St. Charles Parish; St. James Parish; and St. John the Baptist Parish.

(3) District 3 is composed of Acadia Parish; Precincts 167, 260, 261, 262, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309E, 309W, 310, 311, 312, 313E, 313W, 314, 315E, 315W, 316E, 316W, 317, 318, 319N, 319S, 320E, 320W, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332N, 332S, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 368, 369, 370, 372, 405, 440, 441, 463, 464, 467, 800, 801, 860S, 861E, and 861W of Calcasieu Parish; Cameron Parish; Iberia Parish; Jefferson Davis Parish; Precincts 1, 3, 8, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, and 136 of Lafayette Parish; Precincts 1-1, 2-2, 2-6, 2-8, 2-12, 2-13, 2-14, 2-15, 3-1, 3-2, 3-4, 3-5, 3-7, 5-2, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, and 11-4 of Lafourche Parish; St. Martin Parish; St. Mary Parish; Terrebonne Parish; and Vermilion Parish.

(4) District 4 is composed of Allen Parish; Beauregard Parish; Bienville Parish; Bossier Parish; Precincts 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-7, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-11, 1-12, 1-13, 1-14, 2-1, 2-2, 2-4, 2-7, 3-1, 3-8, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8, 4-9, 4-10, 5-10, 6-1, 7-1, 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, 8-4, 8-5, 8-6, 8-7, 8-8, 8-9, 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 9-4, 9-5, 9-6, 9-7, 9-8, 9-9, 9-10, 9-11, 9-12, 9-13, 10-2, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 11-10, 12-1, 12-3, 12-7, 12-8, and 12-9 of Caddo Parish; Precincts 160E, 160W, 161, 162E, 162W, 163, 164, 165, 166E, 166W, 365, 366, 367, 371N, 371S, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, 408, 460E, 460W, 461, 465, 466E, 466W, 468, 469, 560, 561, 562, 600, 601, 602, 603, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 700, 701, 702, 703, 760, 761, 762, and 860N of Calcasieu Parish; Claiborne Parish; Precincts 10, 11, 11B, 11C, 16, 16A, 16B, 16C, 23, 28, 30A, 31A, 34, 34A, 34B, 35, 35A, 35B, 37, 37C, 46, 46A, 48, 49, 49A, and 51 of DeSoto Parish; Evangeline Parish; Grant Parish; Jackson Parish; Lincoln Parish; Precincts 1, 1A, 2, 4, 25, 32, 33, 38, 41, 43, 44, 44A, 45, 49, 50, 51, 51A, 53, 55, 57, 58, 61, 64, 71, 75, 76, and 77 of Ouachita Parish; Precincts C22, C23, C35, C37-A, C37-B, C41, S7, S8, S9, S10, S11, S13, S14, S21, S22, S23, S24, S25, S26, S27, S28, and S29 of Rapides Parish; Red River Parish; Sabine Parish; Union Parish; Vernon Parish; Webster Parish; and Winn Parish.

(5) District 5 is composed of Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 16, 19, 61, 64, and 76 of Ascension Parish; Precincts 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-3A, 2-1, 2-1A, 2-2, 2-2A, 2-2B, 2-2C, 2-2D, 2-2F, 2-3A, 2-4, 2-4A, 2-5, 2-5E, 2-7, 2-8, 3-1B, 4-1, 4-2, 5-1, 5-1A, 5-1B, 6-1A, 6-2, 6-2A, 7-3B, and 9-4B of Avoyelles Parish; Caldwell Parish; Catahoula Parish; Concordia Parish; Precincts 1-12, 1-34, 1-41, 1-42, 1-43, 1-44, 1-46, 1-47, 1-49, 1-56, 1-69, 1-74, 1-75, 1-76, 1-79, 1-80, 1-99, 1-105, 1-107, 2-6, 2-7, 2-8, 2-33, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 3-7, 3-9, 3-13, 3-14, 3-15, 3-16, 3-17, 3-18, 3-21, 3-22, 3-23, 3-25, 3-26, 3-29, 3-30, 3-31, 3-33, 3-34, 3-35, 3-36, 3-37, 3-38, 3-39, 3-40, 3-41, 3-43, 3-45, 3-46, 3-47, 3-48, 3-49, 3-51, 3-53, 3-58, 3-60, 3-61, 3-62, 3-64, 3-65, 3-66, 3-67, 3-68, 3-71, 3-73, and 3-74 of East Baton Rouge Parish; East Carroll Parish; East Feliciana Parish; Franklin Parish; LaSalle Parish; Precincts 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 5B, 5D, 6, 6A, 6B, 7, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 8A, 8B, 9, 10, 11, 11A, 12, 18, 18A, 19, 19A, 20, 21, 21A, 21B, 23, 23A, 23B, 23C, 24, 24B, 24C, 24D, 25, 26, 26A, 26B, 26C, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 35A, 36, 36A, 39, 39A, 39B, 40, 40A, 41, and 43 of Livingston Parish; Madison Parish; Morehouse Parish; Precincts 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9A, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 46, 47, 48, 52, 52A, 54, 56, 56A, 59, 60, 62, 63, 65, 65A, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 78, and 79 of Ouachita Parish; Richland Parish; St. Helena Parish; Precincts 2, 6, 11, 15, 16, 17, 28, 33, 40A, 41, 42, 43, 45A, 45B, 46, 47, 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 106A, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111A, 112, 114, 115B, 116, 117, 118, 118A, 119, 120, 120A, 121, 121A, 123, 125, 127, 129A, 133, and 133A of Tangipahoa Parish; Tensas Parish; Washington Parish; West Carroll Parish; and West Feliciana Parish.

(6) District 6 is composed of Precincts 3-1, 3-3, 4-2A, 4-2B, 6-1B, 7-1, 7-3, 8-1, 8-2A, 8-2B, 8-3, 8-3A, 9-1A, 9-2, 9-2A, 9-3, 9-4, 9-5B, 10-2, 10-2A, 10-2B, 10-3A, 10-3B, 10-4, 11-1, and 11-2A of Avoyelles Parish; Precincts 2-3, 2-5, 2-6, 2-8, 2-9, 2-10, 2-11, 2-12, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 3-7, 3-9, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, 5-8, 5-9, 5-11, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, 6-6, 6-7, 6-8, 6-9, 6-10, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, 7-5, 7-6, 7-7, 7-8, 7-9, 7-10, 10-1, 10-3, 10-4, 10-5, 10-6, 10-7, 10-8, 10-9, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8, 12-2, 12-4, 12-5, 12-6, 12-10, and 12-11 of Caddo Parish; Precincts 1, 4, 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 6B, 9, 21, 22, 22A, 26, 26A, 30, 31, 32, 33, 33A, 38, 38A, 42, 44, 46B, 53, 55, 56, 59, 60, 60A, 63, and 63A of DeSoto Parish; Precincts 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-7, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-11, 1-13, 1-14, 1-15, 1-16, 1-17, 1-18, 1-19, 1-20, 1-21, 1-22, 1-23, 1-24, 1-25, 1-26, 1-27, 1-28, 1-29, 1-30, 1-31, 1-32, 1-33, 1-35, 1-36, 1-37, 1-38, 1-39, 1-40, 1-45, 1-48, 1-50, 1-51, 1-52, 1-53, 1-54, 1-55, 1-57, 1-58, 1-59, 1-60, 1-61, 1-62, 1-63, 1-64, 1-65, 1-66, 1-67, 1-68, 1-70, 1-71, 1-72, 1-73, 1-77, 1-78, 1-81, 1-82, 1-83, 1-84, 1-85, 1-86, 1-87, 1-88, 1-89, 1-90, 1-91, 1-92, 1-93, 1-94, 1-95, 1-96, 1-97, 1-98, 1-100, 1-101, 1-102, 1-103, 1-104, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-9, 2-10, 2-11, 2-12, 2-13, 2-14, 2-15, 2-16, 2-17, 2-18, 2-19, 2-20, 2-21, 2-22, 2-23, 2-24, 2-25, 2-26, 2-27, 2-28, 2-29, 2-30, 2-31, 2-32, 2-34, 2-35, 2-36, 2-37, 2-38, 3-8, 3-10, 3-11, 3-12, 3-19, 3-20, 3-24, 3-27, 3-28, 3-32, 3-42, 3-44, 3-50, 3-52, 3-54, 3-55, 3-56, 3-57, 3-59, 3-63, 3-69, 3-70, 3-72, 3-75, and 3-76 of East Baton Rouge Parish; Precincts 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 68, 112, 113, 122, and 129 of Lafayette Parish; Natchitoches Parish; Pointe Coupee Parish; Precincts C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11-A, C11-B, C13, C14, C15, C17, C18, C19, C20, C21, C24, C25, C26, C27, C28, C30, C31, C32, C33, C34, C36, C38-A, C38-B, C39, C40, C42, N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N9, N10, N11, N12, N13-A, N13-B, N14-A, N14-B, N15, N16, N17, N18-A, N18-B, N19, N20, N21, N22, N23, N24, N25, N26, N27, N28, N29, S1, S2, S4, S5, S6A, S6B, S15, S16, S17, S18, S19, and S20 of Rapides Parish; St. Landry Parish; and West Baton Rouge Parish.

Acts 2024, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 2, §1, See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1412 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1412
Pleadings alleging fraud in conduct of election; delivery to attorney general and district attorney
Status: in_force

The clerk of court shall immediately notify by telephone and/or facsimile transmission the attorney general and the district attorney for every parish where fraud is alleged to have occurred and shall deliver a certified copy of any such pleading to the attorney general and to each such district attorney.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1254 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1254
Slates of candidates not affiliated with a recognized political party; nominating petitions and qualifying by payment of qualifying fees
Status: in_force

A. A slate of candidates for presidential elector who are not affiliated with a recognized political party may be nominated by nominating petition or may qualify by the payment of a qualifying fee of one thousand dollars. Such qualifying fee shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 18:464(A). The candidate shall also pay a qualifying fee pursuant to R.S. 18:464(B)(5). The period for filing such qualifying fee shall begin on the third Tuesday in July and shall end at 4:30 p.m. on the first Friday following the third Tuesday in August of each year in which a presidential election is to be held. Each qualifying fee shall be accompanied by the notice of candidacy and notarized affidavit of each candidate for elector signifying his acceptance of the nomination. A candidate for presidential elector who is not affiliated with a recognized political party may be registered to vote with or without a declaration of party affiliation.

B. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Part, a nominating petition for a slate of candidates for the offices of presidential elector shall be signed, filed, and certified as provided in Chapter 5 of this Title for state candidates voted on throughout the State.

C. Nominating petitions for the office of presidential elector shall be in the form prescribed by R.S. 18:465(D), except that in lieu of including the recognized political party with which the candidates are affiliated, the petition shall contain, in not more than three words, the political principle which the candidates represent. Also, in lieu of the date of the primary election for which the candidates seek to qualify, the petition shall include the date of the general election. The petition also shall include the names of the candidate for president and the candidate for vice president whom the candidates for elector support; however, neither the candidate for president nor the candidate for vice president supported by the slate of candidates for electors shall be a candidate for that office supported by a recognized political party or by a slate of candidates for elector who have previously filed a nominating petition or qualified by the payment of a qualifying fee for that election. Each petition shall contain a full slate of candidates for elector, one from each congressional district and two from the state at large. In designating the office for which the candidate is nominated, the petition shall designate the particular office of presidential elector, that is, the district in which the candidate is a qualified elector if he is nominated for the office for that district, or the designation "At large" in the case of the two offices to be filled at large. Each nominating petition shall be accompanied by the notice of candidacy and notarized affidavit of each candidate for elector signifying that the certificate constitutes his acceptance of the nomination.

D. Any slate of candidates for presidential elector that qualifies by payment of a qualifying fee shall be a full slate of candidates for elector, one from each congressional district and two from the state at large, and shall submit with the qualifying fee the following information for each candidate:

(1) The candidate's name;

(2) The address of his domicile;

(3) The office sought;

(4) The names of the candidate for president and the candidate for vice president whom the candidates for elector support; however, neither the candidate for president nor the candidate for vice president supported by the slate of candidates for elector shall be a candidate for that office supported by a recognized political party or by a slate of candidates for elector who have previously filed a nominating petition or qualified by the payment of a qualifying fee for that election;

(5) The recognized political party, if any, with which each candidate for presidential elector is affiliated;

(6) In not more than three words, the political principle that he represents; and

(7) The date of the election for which he seeks to qualify.

E. If the notice of candidacy and notarized affidavit of each candidate for elector, together with the qualifying fee or a nominating petition, are not filed timely with the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall endorse the date and time of receipt upon all documents and shall return them forthwith, either personally or by registered or certified mail, to the candidate or the person who filed them.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 588, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977 No. 523, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 640, §2, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 213, §§ 1, 2, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:522 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 522
Number of candidates for whom a voter may vote
Status: in_force

A. A voter in a primary or a general election must cast at least one vote on the ballot before leaving the voting machine.

B. A voter in a primary or general election may vote for as many of the candidates for an office as there are persons to be elected to the office, or he may vote for fewer.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 523, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:586 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 586
Vacancies caused by retirement, resignation, or removal; prohibitions
Status: in_force

A. No elected official who has retired, resigned, or been removed from state or local elective office shall be appointed to succeed himself in the office from which the official retired, resigned, or was removed, unless the removal was due to a defect that is capable of being legally cured prior to qualifying for the election to fill the vacancy.

B. No elected official who has retired, resigned, or been removed from state or local elective office shall be eligible as a candidate at an election called to fill the vacancy created by the retirement, resignation, or removal of the elected official, unless the removal was due to a defect that is capable of being legally cured prior to qualifying for the election to fill the vacancy.

Acts 2023, No. 119, §1, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 279, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1274 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1274
Declaration of candidacy by congressional candidates
Status: in_force

Any person desiring to become a candidate in a primary election for United States senator or representative in Congress shall file notification of his candidacy and declaration of his qualifications as provided for state candidates in Chapter 5 of this Title.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:425.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 425.1
Consolidation of polling places; reduction of voting machines and election officials
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:424 and 425 or any other provision of law to the contrary, in an election, including the election of any public official, where a single location serves as the polling place of more than one precinct, the parish board of election supervisors may consolidate the polling places in that location so that a single polling place may serve every precinct assigned to that location for that election and may reduce the number of voting machines to be used in the election below the number fixed by R.S. 18:1363 and, in such case, shall notify, in accordance with the time line provided in R.S. 18:1363(H), the parish custodian of voting machines and the secretary of state of the number of machines to be prepared and delivered to the location of the consolidated polling place.

B. When the parish board of election supervisors consolidates polling places as authorized by Subsection A of this Section, it shall appoint a commissioner-in-charge to serve at all precincts assigned to the consolidated polling place and may reduce to not less than two the number of commissioners and alternate commissioners to be appointed to serve at the location of the consolidated polling place.

Acts 1986, No. 705, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1415 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1415
Discovery prior to filing a suit contesting an election
Status: in_force

A. Provided an action contesting an election involving election to office has not been filed pursuant to R.S. 18:1405(B), a candidate may conduct limited discovery as provided herein during the period of time after the close of the polls on election day and prior to the expiration of time to file a suit contesting such election.

B. Provided an action contesting an election involving the recall of a public officer has not been filed pursuant to R.S. 18:1405(H), the recalled public officer may conduct limited discovery as provided in this Section during the period of time after the close of the polls on election day and prior to the expiration of time to file a suit contesting such election.

C. Such discovery may be conducted only after execution of an affidavit by a poll watcher, commissioner, or any other election official that he has personal knowledge of an irregularity in the election and only after such affidavit has been filed with a court of competent jurisdiction. The nature of the irregularity shall be specified in the affidavit. The clerk of court shall immediately notify the secretary of state by telephone and by written notice when such affidavit has been filed, and shall notify the opponents of the candidate of the filing of the affidavit. The clerk shall also supply a copy of the affidavit to each opponent of the candidate.

D. Discovery shall be limited to the taking of the deposition of any election official, including his employees, having responsibilities regarding the conduct of such election and the inspection and copying of documents and other records in the custody and control of any such election official, but shall not include access to voting machines prior to the date such machines are opened in accordance with R.S. 18:573. The deposition of a statewide elected official or his employee shall be conducted at the office of such official.

E. Upon the request of the candidate or recalled public officer, after the filing of the affidavit as provided in Subsection C of this Section, the clerk of any district court shall issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum in aid of the taking of depositions and the production of documentary evidence for inspection or copying, or both.

F. The authority for a candidate or recalled public officer to conduct discovery under the provisions of this Section shall cease when an action contesting such election is filed pursuant to R.S. 18:1405(B) or (H).

G. A candidate or recalled public officer who conducts limited discovery as provided in this Section shall be responsible for all reasonable costs associated with such discovery.

Acts 1997, No. 975, §1; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1495.7 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1495.7
Financial disclosure statements
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a) Any person who becomes a candidate for an office for which the holder of the office is required to file financial disclosure statements pursuant to R.S. 42:1124, 1124.2, or 1124.3 shall file a financial disclosure statement as required by R.S. 42:1124, 1124.2, or 1124.3 for the office for which the person is a candidate. The statement required by this Section shall be filed within three business days after the close of the qualifying period during which the candidate files his notice of candidacy for the office.

(b) If the person holds an office or position that requires filing of the same disclosure required of him by this Section, such filing shall satisfy the requirements of this Section.

(2) Any person who becomes a candidate for an office prior to April fifteenth of any calendar year shall not be required to certify on his personal financial disclosure report that he has filed his federal and state income tax returns or filed for an extension thereof for the prior year.

B. Any person who fails to file or fails to timely file the financial statement required by Subsection A of this Section, or who fails to disclose or fails to accurately disclose information required to be included in the financial statement required by Subsection A of this Section, shall be subject to penalties as provided in R.S. 42:1124.4.

Acts 2008, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2008, No. 162, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 574, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 744, §1; Acts 2024, No. 190, §1; Acts 2024, No. 285, §1.

NOTE: See Acts 2008, No. 162, §4 regarding applicability to R.S. 42:1124.3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1299 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1299
Applicability
Status: in_force

The provisions of this Chapter provide the procedures to be used in elections, except those provided for in Chapter 6-A of this Code, at which a proposition or question, authorized by the state constitution, by a statute of this state, or by a home rule charter, shall be submitted to the voters.

Added by Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978. Acts 1984, No. 672, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:524 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 524
Voting Accessibility Advisory Group
Status: in_force

A. The Voting Accessibility Advisory Group is created and established in the Department of State. The group shall be comprised of at least seven members selected by the secretary of state, a majority of which shall be disabled and represent a diversity of accessibility needs.

B. The group shall consult on voting accessibility issues including but not limited to:

(1) Improving election commissioner training, specifically related to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq., as amended, and assisting voters with disabilities.

(2) Improving accessibility in voting systems.

(3) Creating publications of best practices related to accessible voting for local election officials.

(4) Revising and improving the department's publications and postings at voting locations.

(5) Increasing accessibility of information on the department's website.

Acts 2023, No. 277, §1, eff. June 9, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1262 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1262
Credentials of electors
Status: in_force

The governor shall transmit the credentials of presidential electors to the appropriate federal officials in the manner provided by the constitution and laws of the United States.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1
Short title; citation
Status: in_force

A. Title 18 shall constitute and be known as the "Louisiana Election Code", and its Chapters, Parts, Subparts, and Sections may be cited officially as Chapters, Parts, and Sections of either the Louisiana Election Code or Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. In the latter case, the Sections shall be cited in the manner provided in R.S. 1:1.

B. The Louisiana Election Code shall regulate the conduct of elections and political subdivisions shall be prohibited from adopting any law, resolution, or ordinance relative to elections and the conduct thereof, including campaign finance, except as otherwise specifically authorized in this code.

Acts 1989, No. 56, §1, eff. June 16, 1989.

{{NOTE: ACTS 1989, NO. 56, §2 VOIDS LOCAL LAWS, ORDINANCES, AND RESOLUTIONS PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED WHICH ARE PROHIBITED BY THIS SECTION.}}
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:451.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 451.3
Displaced persons seeking to qualify; domicile, residence
Status: in_force

If the qualifications for an office include a residency or domiciliary requirement, any person who is seeking election to such office and who has been involuntarily displaced from his residence or domicile by the effects of a gubernatorially declared state of emergency shall not be considered to have vacated his domicile or residence for purposes of qualifying for and subsequently holding office, unless any of the following is true:

(1) He has established a new domicile.

(2) He has changed his registration to an address outside the voting district in which he seeks election.

(3) One year has passed since the end of the declared state of emergency.

Acts 2006, No. 269, §1, eff. June 8, 2006; Acts 2010, No. 827, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:604 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 604
Marshal of city or municipal court; temporary absence; vacancy
Status: in_force

A. When a marshal of a city or municipal court is temporarily absent or unable to act, the judge of that court may appoint a person to serve as marshal during the period of temporary absence or inability.

B.(1) When a vacancy occurs in the office of constable or marshal of a city or municipal court and the unexpired term of the office is one year or less, the chief deputy shall assume such duties and position and shall serve for the remainder of the expired term. However, in those cases where there is no such person to assume the duties when the vacancy occurs, the appropriate governing authority shall within twenty days appoint a person having the qualifications of the office to assume the duties of the office for the remainder of the unexpired term. However, if the deadline for making the appointment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for making such appointment. The appointment shall be made by the governing authority of the parish, unless the jurisdiction of the city or municipal court is wholly within the municipal city limits, in which case, such appointment shall be made within twenty days by the municipal governing authority. However, if the deadline for making the appointment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for making such appointment. If the appropriate governing authority fails to fill the vacancy within twenty days, the governor shall fill the vacancy. The judge of the city or municipal court which he serves shall fix the amount of the bond.

(2)(a) When the unexpired term exceeds one year, the chief deputy shall assume such duties and position and shall serve until the successor is elected and takes office. If there is no such person to assume the duties when the vacancy occurs, the appropriate governing authority shall within twenty days appoint a person having the qualifications of the office to assume the duties of the office until the successor is elected and takes office. However, if the deadline for making the appointment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for making such appointment. If the appropriate governing authority fails to fill the vacancy within twenty days, the governor shall fill the vacancy. The appropriate governing authority shall, within twenty days after the vacancy occurs, issue a proclamation ordering a special election to fill the vacancy and shall specify in the proclamation, in accordance with R.S. 18:402, the dates on which the primary and general elections shall be held and, in accordance with R.S. 18:467 and 468, the dates of the qualifying period for candidates in the special election. However, if the deadline for issuing the proclamation falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for issuing such proclamation. If the appropriate governing authority fails to issue the proclamation within twenty days after the vacancy occurs, the governor shall issue the proclamation.

(b) The appropriate governing authority or, if the governor issued the proclamation, the secretary of state shall publish the proclamation in the official journal of the parish in which the election is to be held and also shall immediately send a copy of the proclamation by certified or registered mail to the clerk of the district court for the parish in which the vacancy occurred.

(c) A copy of the proclamation shall also be mailed to the secretary of state who shall within twenty-four hours after receipt of the information notify all election officials having any duty to perform in connection with a special election to fill such vacancy, including the parish board of election supervisors. When a special election is required, the appointee shall serve only until the successor is elected and takes office.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 533, §1, eff. July 23, 1980; Acts 1988, No. 329, §1; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 1345, §1; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022; Acts 2024, No. 640, §2, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1376 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1376
Release of voting machines; return to warehouse; retention of totals; clearing machines and election result cartridges
Status: in_force

A. Immediately upon completion of the tabulation of the returns and the securing and, if applicable, sealing of the machines at the polling place, the machines shall be released to the parish custodian or his deputy. The parish custodian shall ensure that all voting machines used at the polls within the parish are returned to the appropriate warehouse no later than forty-eight hours after the polls close on election day. Proper provisions shall be made for safeguarding machines after the polls close.

B.(1) For all elections subject to the provisions of this Title, the parish custodian shall ensure that the vote totals on any election result cartridges and the voting machines are retained and that the voting machines are secured and, if applicable, sealed until the secretary of state directs that the voting machines and any election result cartridges be cleared in accordance with Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.

(2) If an action contesting an election is not instituted within the period of time prescribed in R.S. 18:1405(B), then on the day after the lapse of the time for filing such an action the secretary of state shall direct that the voting machines and any election result cartridges be cleared. If an action contesting such an election is timely filed, the secretary of state shall direct that the voting machines and any election result cartridges be cleared after all data from each voting machine and election result cartridge used in the contested election is copied to removable memory devices.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 506, §1; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1983; Acts 1982, No. 778, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 712, §1, eff. July 13, 1984; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1989, No. 283, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2021, No. 381, §1, eff. June 17, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:198 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 198
Change of residence or change in address; inquiry by registrar; change of records
Status: in_force

A. Whenever a registrar has reason to believe that a registrant has changed his residence within the parish or that a change has occurred in the registrant's mailing address within the parish, the registrar shall mail an address confirmation notice to the registrant as provided in R.S. 18:193 but shall not place the voter on the inactive list of voters.

B. The notice shall inform the voter that he must notify the registrar of his current address.

C. The registrar shall send the notice to the registrant's address shown on the registration records and to the address the registrar believes to be the registrant's new address. Upon return of the notice, signed by the registrant, the registrar shall enter any change in the registrant's information on the state voter registration computer system and, if the original application is available in hard copy in the registrar's office, on the original application for registration.

D. If the registrant fails to return the notice within thirty days after the date on which the notice was mailed, the registrar shall place the registrant on the inactive list of voters. The registrant shall remain on the inactive list of voters in accordance with the procedures set forth in R.S. 18:196 or not later than a period of two regularly scheduled federal general elections, at which time the registrar shall cancel the registration of the registrant.

Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2009, No. 186, §2, eff. June 29, 2009; Acts 2021, No. 381, §3, eff. Feb. 1, 2022; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 2, §1, eff. March 31, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:470.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 470.1
List of candidates
Status: in_force

The secretary of state shall furnish the Supervisory Committee, Campaign Finance Disclosure Act, an alphabetical listing of the candidates for each of the offices to be voted on in each election. For a primary election, the list shall be furnished no later than five days after the close of the qualifying period for candidates and for a general election, no later than the day after the day on which the primary election returns are promulgated. For purposes of this Section, "candidate" shall be defined as in R.S. 18:1483.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 786, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:135 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 135
Close of registration
Status: in_force

A.(1) Registrars shall close the registration records thirty days prior to an election. However, if the deadline falls on a legal holiday, the registrars shall close the registration records on the first day after such holiday which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday.

(2)(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, if because of an emergency as declared by the governor or by the parish president the registrar is unable to open at least one office in the parish on the day on which the registration records are to be closed pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the registrar shall not close the registration records on that day. In such case, the registrar shall close the registration records on the first business day thereafter that the registrar opens an office in the parish, and an application for any entry or change in a registration received by the registrar on this day shall be deemed to have been received as of the day the registration records were to be closed pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

(b) The registrar shall notify the secretary of state as soon as possible upon determining that the registrar will be unable to open at least one office in the parish on the day on which the registration records are to be closed pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

(c) This Paragraph shall not apply if the registrar fails to open an office before the twentieth day prior to the day of the election. In such case, the registration records shall be considered to have been closed as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

(d) For purposes of this Paragraph, "parish president" means the president of any parish, mayor-president, mayor of New Orleans, or police jury president.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, registrars shall close the registration records twenty days prior to an election for a person who makes application pursuant to R.S. 18:115.1 to register to vote or to make changes to an existing registration and who has been informed, pursuant to R.S. 18:115.1(C)(4)(b), that his application has been electronically forwarded to the appropriate registrar of voters.

B. Except as otherwise provided by law, no entries or changes in the registration records shall be made thereafter except:

(1) To carry into effect at any time prior to the date of the election an order of a court in the case of an application and appeal heard and determined as provided for in this Title.

(2) Repealed by Act 1988, No. 909, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1989.

(3) To effect cancellations and erasures as required or authorized by this Chapter.

C. Except as otherwise provided by law, while the registration records are closed as required by Subsection A of this Section, registrars shall accept any application for registration, change of address, change of party affiliation or nonaffiliation, change of name, or application for any other lawful entry or change in a registration, but none of these shall be effective until at least the day after the election has been held.

Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 909, §§1, 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 107, §2, eff. Dec. 1, 1990; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 1381, §1; Acts 2009, No. 181, §1; Acts 2016, No. 183, §1, eff. Feb. 1, 2017.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:119 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 119
Voter registration drives; mandatory registration
Status: in_force

A. Each third-party voter registration organization that intends to conduct a voter registration drive shall first register with the secretary of state either directly or through a registrar of voters in the manner prescribed by the secretary of state.

B. The registration required by this Section shall require acknowledgment of the requirements applicable to voter registration activities as well as the election offenses applicable to voter registration and voter registration activities. The registration required by this Section shall not require a response from the secretary of state.

C. This Section shall not apply to a voter registration drive conducted using the electronic voter registration application provided for in R.S. 18:115.1, provided that the third-party voter registration organization only provides access to the electronic voter registration application and does not capture the information provided for any purpose.

Acts 2024, No. 701, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1314 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1314
Parish board commissioners
Status: in_force

A. Qualifications. A parish board commissioner shall be a registered voter of the parish in which he is selected to serve and shall have the other qualifications of a commissioner as otherwise provided by law.

B. Selection for primary election. (1) The parish board of election supervisors shall determine the number of parish board commissioners necessary to count the absentee by mail and early voting ballots in the parish pursuant to R.S. 18:1313 or 1313.1, as applicable. The parish board of election supervisors shall select a maximum of six such commissioners. If the parish board of election supervisors determines that the number of parish board commissioners should be increased to more than six, the parish board shall make a request to the secretary of state for the additional parish board commissioners. If the secretary of state or his designee determines that there is a need for the additional parish board commissioners, the parish board shall select the parish board commissioners.

(2) The parish board of election supervisors shall meet at 10:00 a.m. on the fifth day before a primary election and shall select the parish board commissioners and alternate parish board commissioners for the parish in the manner provided by law for the selection of commissioners and alternate commissioners. If there are not enough certified commissioners to select the appropriate number of parish board commissioners and alternate parish board commissioners, the board of election supervisors may select a qualified elector of the parish to serve; however, no such elector shall serve as a parish board commissioner if a certified commissioner has been selected as an alternate parish board commissioner.

(3) Parish board commissioners and alternate parish board commissioners shall be issued commissions, take the oath of office, be replaced, and be disqualified, all in the manner provided by law for commissioners and alternate commissioners.

C. Selection for general election. (1)(a) The parish board of election supervisors shall determine if the number of parish board commissioners necessary to count the absentee by mail and early voting ballots in the general election pursuant to R.S. 18:1313 or 1313.1, as applicable, can be reduced or should be increased from the number which counted absentee by mail and early voting ballots in the primary election.

(b) If it determines that the number cannot be reduced or should be increased, those persons who served as parish board commissioners and alternate parish board commissioners for the parish in the primary election shall serve in the general election, unless replaced or disqualified in the manner provided by law for commissioners and alternate commissioners. If the parish board of election supervisors determines that the number of parish board commissioners should be increased to more than the number of such commissioners who served in the primary election, the parish board shall make a request to the secretary of state for the parish board commissioners. If the secretary of state or his designee determines that there is a need for the additional parish board commissioners, the parish board shall select the additional parish board commissioners.

(2)(a) If the parish board determines that the number of parish board commissioners can be reduced, it shall notify each person who served as a parish board commissioner or alternate parish board commissioner in the primary election of its decision to reduce the number of parish board commissioners and of the date and time of the meeting to select the parish board commissioners for the general election. The parish board shall meet at 10:00 a.m. on the fifth day before a general election and shall select the parish board commissioners and alternate parish board commissioners to serve in the general election for the parish.

(b)(i) The parish board shall prepare a list containing the names of all persons who served as parish board commissioners in the primary election. The parish board commissioners and alternate parish board commissioners for the general election shall be selected from that list in the manner provided by law for the selection of commissioners and alternate commissioners. The parish board commissioners so chosen shall then serve as needed for the general election.

(ii) If the list does not contain sufficient names to select the number of parish board commissioners and alternate parish board commissioners determined by the board to be needed for the general election, the board shall fill any remaining alternate commissioner positions from a list of those persons who were selected as alternate parish board commissioners for the primary election, such list to be prepared and the selection made in the same manner provided in this Section for selection of parish board commissioners for the general election.

(3) If the parish board and the secretary of state or his designee determine that the number of parish board commissioners should be increased, the parish board shall meet at 10:00 a.m. on the fifth day before a general election and shall select the additional parish board commissioners and alternate parish board commissioners to serve in the general election for that parish from the list of certified commissioners who have not been chosen to serve in the general election as a commissioner-in-charge, commissioner, or, if applicable, parish board commissioner in the manner provided by law for the selection of commissioners and alternate commissioners. If there are not enough certified commissioners to select the appropriate number of parish board commissioners and alternate parish board commissioners, the board of election supervisors may select a qualified elector of the parish to serve; however, no such elector shall serve as a parish board commissioner if a certified commissioner has been selected as an alternate parish board commissioner.

D. Selection for provisional ballot counting for a primary or general election. (1) The parish board of election supervisors shall determine if parish board commissioners are necessary to assist the board in counting and tabulating provisional ballots in the parish. If necessary, the parish board of election supervisors shall select the number of parish board commissioners and present the number of parish board commissioners to the secretary of state for approval, either in writing or by telephone.

(2) Upon approval by the secretary of state or his designee, the parish board of election supervisors shall appoint the approved number of parish board commissioners for assistance to the board in counting and tabulating the provisional ballots.

(3) Parish board commissioners for provisional ballot counting shall meet the qualifications set forth in Subsection A of this Section and shall be issued commissions, take the oath of office, be replaced, and be disqualified, all in the same manner as provided for by law for commissioners and alternate commissioners.

E. Compensation. A parish board commissioner who serves on election day or during the counting and tabulating of provisional ballots shall receive fifty dollars or one hundred dollars for each day he serves as provided below:

(1) He shall receive one hundred dollars for elections for which the secretary of state has approved such compensation. The secretary of state may provide such approval upon application by the parish board of election supervisors when it is reasonably expected that a large number of persons will vote prior to election day.

(2) He shall receive fifty dollars for elections other than those provided for in Paragraphs (1) and (3) of this Subsection.

(3) For an election held within one year following the date of the issuance of any gubernatorial declaration of an emergency, upon application of the parish board of election supervisors, the secretary of state may approve the payment of up to one hundred dollars per election or each day of assistance, if applicable, as compensation to each commissioner in addition to compensation otherwise provided for in this Subsection.

F. For an election held within one year following the date of the issuance of any gubernatorial proclamation declaring a state of emergency, if a parish board of election supervisors determines that there is a parishwide shortage of parish board commissioners because a significant number of parish board commissioners have been temporarily displaced due to such emergency, the board may submit a written request to the secretary of state for additional parish board commissioners from other parishes in the same manner as provided in R.S. 18:425(A)(4). Approval, selection, training, and reimbursement of expenses of such parish board commissioners shall be in the same manner as provided in R.S. 18:425(A)(4). Nothing in Subsection A of this Section shall prohibit a parish board commissioner from serving in another parish pursuant to this Subsection.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 1985, No. 755, §1; Acts 1988, No. 907, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1988, No. 909, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2007, No. 240, §1; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2012, No. 816, §1, eff. June 13, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2020, No. 354, §1, eff. June 12, 2020; Acts 2020, 2 nd Ex. Sess., No. 11, §1, eff. Oct. 27, 2020.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:152 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 152
Required records
Status: in_force

A.(1) Each registrar shall retain the following records in accordance with an approved retention schedule as required by R.S. 44:411:

(a) All original applications for registration, if available in hard copy, filed alphabetically for the entire parish or for each ward and precinct or for each precinct of the parish, or microfilm, microfiche, or scanned or electronically captured computerized images of such documents.

(b) The originals of all affidavits made pursuant to this Chapter or microfilm, microfiche, or scanned or electronically captured computerized images of such documents.

(c) The original of each report made by any person required by this Chapter to make a report to the registrar.

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

(2) Repealed by Acts 2009, No. 186, §3, effective June 29, 2009.

B. Each registrar shall keep a master file consisting of all original applications for registration made by persons who are currently registered, if available in hard copy, arranged alphabetically for the parish or for each ward and precinct or for each precinct of the parish, or any microfilm, microfiche, or scanned or electronically captured computerized images of such documents. The parish governing authority shall provide the registrar with safe, secure, and fireproof storage space for use as a depository for the master file.

C.(1) The Department of State shall provide each registrar with an updated registration list upon request by the registrar for office use.

(2)(a) Prior to each election, the registrar shall obtain one current precinct register for each precinct in the parish where an election is to be held. The Department of State shall provide the registrar with one duplicate precinct register in electronic form. Such registers shall contain both the official list of voters and the inactive list of voters. Each precinct register shall contain information for identification of the voter at the polls, a space which the voter shall sign at the time he votes, a space for the initials of the commissioner at the polls, a space for the date of the election, and space for such other information as is deemed necessary.

(b) Prior to delivery of the precinct register to the contractor authorized by the secretary of state to deliver voting machines pursuant to R.S. 18:1371, the registrar shall add the names and collateral information on those mail registrants and registrants who submitted an electronic application pursuant to R.S. 18:115.1 who were verified after the printing of the precinct register. Such listing of registrants shall be considered to be a supplement to the official list of voters and a part of the precinct register. Subsequent to the delivery of the precinct register, the registrar shall add the names and collateral information on those mail registrants and registrants who submitted an electronic application pursuant to R.S. 18:115.1 who were verified after the delivery of the precinct register. Such listing of registrants shall be considered another supplement to the official list of voters and a part of the precinct register. Any supplemental list so produced shall be delivered to the precinct in the same manner as a list of absentee voters who voted absentee by mail and whose ballots were received after the precinct register was sealed.

(3) The precinct register shall be used at the polls for identification and the voting record. The duplicate precinct register is the duplicate for reference or temporary use in case of loss, mutilation, or destruction of the precinct register. The voting record of each registrant shall be entered on the computer system as soon as feasible following an election.

(4) The registration records to be used at the polls for voter identification shall contain information, if applicable, showing that the registrant has a physical disability or is unable to read. If the registrant is unable to read or write English, the records shall show in which language he is entitled to printed materials, ballots, and assistance if he is a member of a language minority group under a determination made under the federal Voting Rights Act. A voter entitled to assistance whose record so indicates may be given such assistance at the polls at the voter's request.

D. The registrar in each parish shall keep a cancellation file in which he shall place the original application for registration of each person whose registration is canceled, if the original application is available in hard copy in the registrar's office.

E. The secretary of state shall prescribe uniform forms, as provided by R.S. 18:18, for the making of records pertaining to all aspects of the registration of voters, which shall be the only forms which may be used by the registrar in each parish.

F. The secretary of state shall adopt regulations, as provided by R.S. 18:18, governing the manner of registering persons to vote and the making and keeping of registration records.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 544, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §§1, 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2009, No. 186, §§2, 3, eff. June 29, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2009, No. 436, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2016, No. 183, §1, eff. Feb. 1, 2017.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:178 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 178
Notification on jury venire
Status: in_force

A. In each parish that sends out jury duty notices or questionnaires, by the tenth day of each month, the clerk of court shall notify, in writing, the registrar of voters of any returned jury duty notice or questionnaire indicating the person is unable to serve because he no longer resides in the parish. In a parish where the clerk of court is not responsible for handling the jury duty notices or questionnaires, the responsible entity shall notify, in writing, the registrar of voters of any such returned jury duty notices or questionnaires.

B.(1) In each parish that sends out jury duty notices or questionnaires, by the tenth day of each month, the clerk of court shall notify, in writing, the Department of State of any returned jury duty notice or questionnaire indicating the person is unable to serve because he is not a United States citizen. In a parish where the clerk of court is not responsible for handling jury duty notices or questionnaires, the responsible entity shall notify, in writing, the Department of State of any such returned jury duty notices or questionnaires.

(2) The Department of State shall send information received pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection to the registrar of voters of each parish.

C.(1) Upon the expiration of each jury selection panel, each federal district court in the state shall notify the Department of State of any person identified as out of the jurisdiction within the time limit of a particular panel for jury selection or as not being a United States citizen.

(2) The Department of State shall send such information received from the federal district courts to the registrar of voters of each parish.

Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2015, No. 307, §1, eff. June 29, 2015.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:195 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 195
Challenge of registrants in the United States Service or temporarily residing outside United States
Status: in_force

A. If the registrant whose registration is challenged for any lawful cause is a member of the United States Service or is a person who is temporarily residing outside of the territorial limits of the United States, the registrar shall mail the registrant an address confirmation notice. The registrant's name shall be placed on the inactive list of voters upon mailing of such notice.

B.(1) Upon receipt of the address confirmation notice or any written request for continued registration, the registrar shall place the registrant's name on the official list of voters.

(2) Upon receipt of a request for an absentee by mail ballot, the registrar shall consider such request an affirmation of registration, place the registrant's name on the official list of voters, and forward the proper ballots.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2023, No. 91, §1, eff. June 6, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1941 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1941
Voting Rights Act submission by political subdivisions; copy to secretary of state
Status: in_force

A. Each political subdivision of this state which submits for preclearance any proposed change in voting practice or procedure pursuant to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965* shall, at the same time as the submission, send a copy of its submission, by certified mail, to the secretary of state, clerk of court, and registrar of voters. The political subdivision shall also send to the secretary of state, clerk of court, and registrar of voters, by certified mail, a copy of any response to the submission.

B. The entity responsible for sending a copy of the submission and any response thereto to the secretary of state, clerk of court, and registrar of voters, as required pursuant to this Section, is the submitting authority as defined in the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

C. In order for an office which is included in a reapportionment or redistricting plan to be included on the ballot for an election, a notice that such plan has been precleared pursuant to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 shall be received by the secretary of state not later than 5:00 p.m. of the fifth business day prior to the scheduled opening of the qualifying period for the election. If the notice of preclearance is not timely received by the secretary of state, the election shall be postponed and shall be scheduled at the next available election date and such election shall not be considered a special election. The secretary of state shall not include on the ballot for the election any office for which notice of preclearance of the reapportionment or redistricting plan is not timely received.

Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1022, §1; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012.

*42 U.S.C. 1971, et seq.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1284.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1284.1
Proposition language; clear, unbiased, and concise
Status: in_force

The preparation of the proposition to be submitted to the voters at an election shall be the responsibility of the governing authority of the political subdivision ordering the election. The proposition shall include the information required by R.S. 18:1284 in simple, unbiased, concise, and easily understood language and be in the form of a question.

Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1367.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1367.4
Authority to resolve contract and breach of contract controversies other than professional, personal, consulting, and social services contracts
Status: in_force

A. Applicability. This Section applies to controversies between the state and a contractor and which arise under or by virtue of a contract between them. This includes without limitation controversies based upon breach of contract, mistake, misrepresentation, or other cause for contract modification or rescission. Any contractor who seeks a remedy with regard to such controversy shall file a complaint with the chief procurement officer.

B. Authority. The chief procurement officer or his designee is authorized, prior to the commencement of an action in court concerning the controversy, to settle and resolve, with the approval of the attorney general, a controversy described in Subsection A of this Section. This authority shall be exercised in accordance with regulations.

C. Decision. If such a claim or controversy is not resolved by mutual agreement, the chief procurement officer or his designee shall promptly issue a decision in writing. The decision shall do all of the following:

(1) State the reasons for the action taken.

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

D. Notice of decision. A copy of the decision under Subsection C of this Section shall be mailed or otherwise furnished immediately to the contractor.

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

(1) The decision is fraudulent.

(2) The contractor has timely appealed administratively to the commissioner in accordance with R.S. 18:1367.8.

F. Failure to render timely decision. If the chief procurement officer or his designee does not issue the written decision required under Subsection C of this Section within sixty days after written request for a final decision, or within such longer period as may be agreed upon by the parties, then the contractor may proceed as if an adverse decision had been received.

Acts 2025, No. 208, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:401.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 401.2
Change to polling places; state of emergency
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:425.1, 534, 535, 536, 537, 1286, and 1286.1, if any polling place is determined by the clerk of court in conjunction with the secretary of state to be destroyed, inaccessible, or unsafe due to an emergency or common disaster occurring before or during a regularly scheduled or special election, the secretary of state may issue a certification of a state of emergency allowing the relocation, or other change, of any such polling place, including consolidation of polling places or providing for multiple polling places in a precinct, when such action would allow voting to continue without the necessity of the issuance of an executive order by the governor for a suspension or delay pursuant to R.S. 18:401.1(B). Upon issuance of such a certification, the clerk of court and the presiding officer of the parish governing authority shall implement the necessary change for any such polling place. If relocated, the polling place shall be relocated to the nearest feasible and accessible location as determined by the secretary of state, upon the recommendation of the clerk of court in conjunction with the presiding officer of the parish governing authority.

B. When a polling place is changed pursuant to Subsection A of this Section, the clerk of court in conjunction with the secretary of state shall give adequate notice of the change of the location to each voter registered to vote at that polling place and to each candidate to be voted on at that polling place, if practicable, in the following manner:

(1) Each candidate shall be given immediate notice by telephone or by electronic means, and by certified mail where reasonable time exists, of the new location of any polling places.

(2) A sign shall be posted at any former polling place directing voters to the new location of the polling place, if applicable and practicable.

(3) An employee of the parish governing authority shall be stationed at any former polling place, if applicable and practicable, for the purpose of directing potential voters to the new location of the polling place. Such employee shall be required to take the constitutional oath or affirmation. The clerk of court shall administer the oath.

(4) If reasonable time exists, the notice of the change in location shall be published by the clerk of court in the official journal of the parish and in any other newspaper of general circulation in the precinct or precincts affected. Publication of the notice shall appear under the heading, NOTICE OF CHANGE OF POLLING PLACE.

(5) The secretary of state shall post a list of all changed polling place locations on the secretary of state's website.

C. The clerk of court may take any other reasonable steps as it deems necessary or desirable to inform the voters and the candidates of the change in location, including but not limited to posting notices on utility poles and advertisements in the electronic media.

Acts 2003, No. 1220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2022, No. 528, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 2022; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1366 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1366
Requirements for voting systems
Status: in_force

Any new voting system procured by the secretary of state in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 18:1362 shall satisfy all of the following:

(1) The voting system shall produce an auditable voter-verified paper record.

(2) All voting system equipment shall have only essential functionality and shall not connect to the internet.

(3) The installation of software or firmware on the voting system shall be strictly limited to software or firmware deemed by the secretary of state to be essential to the voting system and shall be performed by employees of the secretary of state only.

(4) The secretary of state shall be responsible for all ballot programming and shall limit the use of third-party vendors to support services only.

(5) Access to physical ports on any voting machine shall be restricted and sealed at all times using serialized tamper-evident seals except for ports used to activate the voting machine for each voter's voting session or as required for testing, repair, or ballot preparation or tabulation.

(6) The voting system vendor shall provide documentation to the secretary of state regarding financial disclosure, equity holdings, and management structure and must disclose any percentage of ownership by a foreign entity either in whole or in part, including any subsidiary or affiliate.

(7) The tabulation of fractional votes shall be prohibited.

(8) The voting system servers shall be located within the state of Louisiana.

Acts 2021, No. 480, §1, eff. July 1, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1409 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1409
Trial; decision; appeal
Status: in_force

A.(1) Actions objecting to the calling of a special election, objecting to candidacy, contesting the certification of a recall petition, or contesting an election shall be tried summarily, without a jury, and in open court. The trial shall begin no later than 10:00 a.m. on the fourth day after suit was filed.

(2) If the defendant does not appear on the date set for the trial, either in person or through counsel, the court shall appoint an attorney at law to represent him by instanter appointment made prior to the commencement of the trial. In a case where a court appointment of an attorney to represent the defendant is made, the proceedings shall be conducted contradictorily against the court-appointed attorney.

(3)(a) The court shall determine the amount of the fee payable to curators ad hoc in accordance with criteria used by the court in fixing curator fees under Code of Civil Procedure Article 5091 et seq.

(b) The court shall tax the curator's fee as costs, and such fee shall be paid by the plaintiff unless the defendant was served personally at least twenty-four hours prior to the hearing and the appointment of a curator ad hoc was necessitated by his failure to appear at the trial, in which case the court may require the defendant to pay the curator's fee.

B.(1) If the action involves the contest of a primary election for a major office, the trial judge, for good cause shown, may postpone the date of the second party primary or general election for the office as to which the contest was filed for a period not to exceed five weeks.

(2) Whenever the trial of an action contesting a primary election for a major office extends past 5:00 p.m. on the fourteenth day after the day of the election, the trial judge shall order the second party primary or general election for the affected office postponed to a Saturday specified by him which is at least thirty days after the date on which the trial court renders judgment.

(3) As used in this Subsection, "major office" means offices voted on throughout the state or a congressional district, the offices of justice of the supreme court or judge of a court of appeal, the offices of members on a state board or commission, or offices which require election from a territorial jurisdiction having a population exceeding two hundred fifty thousand.

C. In all actions, the trial judge shall render judgment within twenty-four hours after the case is submitted to him and shall indicate the date and time rendered on the judgment. The clerk of the trial court shall immediately notify all parties or their counsel of record by telephone and/or facsimile transmission of the judgment.

D. Within twenty-four hours after rendition of judgment, a party aggrieved by the judgment may appeal by obtaining an order of appeal and giving bond for a sum fixed by the court to secure the payment of costs. The clerk of the trial court shall give notice of the order of appeal to the clerk of the court of appeal and to all the parties or their counsel of record. The trial judge shall fix the return day at a time not to exceed three days after rendition of judgment.

E. The clerk of the trial court shall prepare the record on appeal and transmit it to the clerk of the court of appeal on the return day.

F. Immediately upon receipt of the record the clerk of the court of appeal shall notify the parties and the case shall be heard no later than forty-eight hours after the record is lodged with the court of appeal. Judgment shall be rendered within twenty-four hours after the case is argued. The court of appeal shall indicate the date and time rendered on the judgment. The clerk of the court of appeal shall immediately notify all parties or their counsel of record by telephone and/or facsimile transmission of the judgment.

G. An application to the supreme court for a writ of certiorari shall be made within forty-eight hours after judgment is rendered by the court of appeal.

H. The appellate court shall sit en banc in all election contests involving candidates for offices voted on throughout the state or throughout a congressional district, justice of the supreme court, judge of a court of appeal, membership on a state board or commission, district judge, district attorney, or membership in the state legislature. In all other cases arising under this Chapter, the court may sit in panels of three or more as directed by the chief judge.

I. No application for a new trial or for a rehearing shall be entertained by any court, but a court, upon its own motion, may correct manifest error to which its attention is called.

J. As used in this Chapter, judgment shall be deemed to have been rendered when signed by the judge.

K.(1) Neither the secretary of state nor any employee engaged in the administration of or charged with the custody of any records or files of the Department of State shall be subject to subpoena or otherwise required to appear in court for an objection to candidacy filed pursuant to this Chapter.

(2) In lieu of live testimony for any action filed pursuant to this Chapter, a properly executed affidavit issued by the secretary of state or his designee shall serve as sufficient confirmation as to the accuracy of the records and files of the Department of State for such purposes.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1983, No. 137, §1, eff. June 24, 1983; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2010, No. 621, §1; Acts 2024, No. 640, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2025, §4, eff. June 20, 2025 .
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:425.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 425.2
Election officials; requirements and prohibitions
Status: in_force

A. An election official who receives a federal directive or guidance pertaining to elections that is not published on the secretary of state's website or is offered new federal funding for the purpose of funding elections and wishes to implement the directive or guidance or accept the funding shall notify the secretary of state of such funding, directive, or guidance within five business days after receipt.

B.(1) Except as provided in Subsection C of this Section, no election official shall implement any federal directive or guidance pertaining to elections or be authorized to accept or disburse new federal funding for the purpose of funding elections without either an explicit state or federal legal requirement to do so or prior approval of the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs as provided by this Subsection.

(2) If the secretary of state wishes to seek approval of such implementation or authorization by the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs, the secretary shall submit such request to the chairman of each committee within five business days of the receipt of the notification by the secretary of state pursuant to Subsection A of this Section. Each election official shall implement or refrain from implementing the directive or guidance or accept or disburse or refrain from accepting or disbursing new federal funding as follows:

(a) If, after consulting with the secretary of state or his designee, both committees vote to approve implementation or authorize acceptance and disbursal, the official shall implement the directive or guidance or accept or disburse the federal funding.

(b) If neither committee votes, within thirty days after receipt of the request from the secretary of state, to prohibit implementation or acceptance and disbursal, the official shall implement the directive or guidance or accept or disburse the federal funding.

(c) If, after consulting with the secretary of state or his designee, either committee votes, within thirty days after receipt of the request from the secretary of state, to prohibit the implementation or acceptance and disbursal, the official shall not implement the directive or guidance or accept or disburse the federal funding.

C. Within ninety days of the initial declaration of a state of emergency, the secretary of state may implement any federal directive or guidance pertaining to elections or authorize the acceptance or disbursal of new federal funding for the purpose of funding elections without either an explicit state or federal legal requirement to do so by publishing the directive or authorization on his website and giving immediate notification of the directive or authorization to the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs. The secretary of state's authorization shall expire thirty days after publication unless the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs approve the directive or guidance or authorize the acceptance and disbursal of funds as provided in Paragraph (B)(2) of this Section.

D. If an election official accepts and disburses federal election funds in violation of this Section, the attorney general shall pursue any available legal means to enjoin the official from doing so and to recover expended funds.

E. This Section shall not apply to funds provided pursuant to the Help America Vote Act or any other funding subject to state or federal law regarding its acceptance and disbursal.

F. Not later than March first of each year, the secretary of state shall report to the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs the following information for the prior calendar year:

(1) Notifications received by the secretary of state from local election officials pursuant to Subsection A of this Section.

(2) The source and amount of any federal funding, including grant awards, received within the prior calendar year by the department or local election officials for the purpose of conducting elections.

G. For purposes of this Section, "election official" has the same meaning as provided in R.S. 18:1466.

Acts 2024, No. 636, §1, eff. June 11, 2024.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:410.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 410.3
Purpose and nature of party primary elections
Status: in_force

A. For general elections, political parties shall make all nominations of candidates for party primary office by direct primary elections held pursuant to this Part. In party primary elections, each voter voting in such election may vote only for a candidate who is affiliated with the same party as the voter.

B. Voters not affiliated with a political party may vote in a major party primary if a party primary ballot is selected by the voter prior to casting his ballot, but such a voter may vote only in one major party primary. If an unaffiliated voter chooses to vote in the first party primary of one political party, the unaffiliated voter shall not vote in the second party primary of another political party.

Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2024, No. 640, §2, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §2, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1362 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1362
Method of procuring voting systems or system components; parts and supplies; contracting for the maintenance of voting machines
Status: in_force

A.(1) All voting systems or system components used in this state shall be procured by the secretary of state, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Voting System Commission as provided in R.S. 18:1362.1, out of state funds appropriated for that purpose, on the basis of competitive sealed proposals or the invitation to negotiate in accordance with the provisions of the Louisiana Procurement Code. Required specifications shall include tests and examinations of the operation of the voting systems or system components, and the secretary of state, for that purpose, shall employ experts to conduct these examinations in accordance with R.S. 18:1361 and report the results thereof to the Voting System Commission. The expenses of the services of these experts shall be paid by the vendor that seeks to have its system certified for consideration. In every respect, the procurement of voting systems or system components shall be in accordance with the Louisiana Procurement Code.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, particularly the provisions of Chapter 17 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, the secretary of state is authorized to contract with the manufacturer through the Department of State for the maintenance of the voting systems or system components.

B. Title to all voting machines purchased by the secretary of state shall vest in the state.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19 2019; Acts 2021, No. 480, §1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2025, No. 208, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:531 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 531
Places for voting in primary and general elections
Status: in_force

A. Except as otherwise provided by law, a voter in a primary or general election shall vote at the polling place in the precinct where he is registered to vote.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, whenever the polling place to which a voter is assigned is inaccessible to him by reason of a physical disability, the voter may cast his vote at the polling place nearest the precinct at which he is registered which is accessible to the voter, provided such polling place is within the same congressional, senatorial, representative, school board, police jury, councilmanic, and all other districts as the precinct at which he is registered. To be permitted to cast his vote at another precinct polling place, the voter, not less than ten days before the election, shall produce satisfactory evidence of his disability to the registrar of voters in the parish in which he is registered. If, in the opinion of the registrar, the voter, due to the physical disability, is unable to cast his vote at the polling place for the precinct in which he is registered, the registrar shall issue to the voter special authorization to cast his vote at another specifically named precinct polling place as provided in this Section and shall transfer the registration certificate of such voter to that precinct. The authorization so issued shall be shown by the voter to the commissioners at the polling place. The right of a voter to cast his vote in a precinct within the ward and district other than the one in which he is registered shall remain effective for subsequent elections until the voter no longer is in need of the right to vote in another precinct. The voter shall notify the registrar of voters immediately if for any reason such need no longer exists.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 755, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2009, No. 436, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:197 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 197
Registration; cancellation
Status: in_force

No registrar of voters shall cancel the registration of any voter in his parish between any primary election and the subsequent general election occurring in that parish as a result of any of the processes authorized by this Part, except in the case of a person who has been fraudulently placed upon the registration records or in the case of a person whose registration is canceled pursuant to the annual canvass conducted by the registrar.

Acts 1988, No. 78, §1; Acts 1988, No. 829, §1; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:561 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 561
Poll lists
Status: in_force

Two commissioners at each polling place shall keep duplicate poll lists, numbered consecutively from one to the end. Each such commissioner shall enter the name of every person who votes at the polling place on the poll lists.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1463 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1463
Political material; ethics; prohibitions
Status: in_force

A. The Legislature of Louisiana finds that the state has a compelling interest in taking every necessary step to assure that all elections are held in a fair and ethical manner and finds that an election cannot be held in a fair and ethical manner when any candidate or other person is allowed to print or distribute any material which falsely alleges that a candidate is supported by or affiliated with another candidate, group of candidates, or other person, or a political faction, or to publish statements that make scurrilous, false, or irresponsible adverse comments about a candidate or a proposition. The legislature further finds that the state has a compelling interest to protect the electoral process and that the people have an interest in knowing the identity of each candidate whose number appears on a sample ballot in order to be fully informed and to exercise their right to vote for a candidate of their choice. The legislature further finds that it is essential to the protection of the electoral process that the people be able to know who is responsible for publications in order to more properly evaluate the statements contained in them and to informatively exercise their right to vote. The legislature further finds that it is essential to the protection of the electoral process to prohibit misrepresentation that a person, committee, or organization speaks, writes, or acts on behalf of a candidate, political committee, or political party, or an agent or employee thereof.

B.(1) No person shall cause to be printed or assist in the distribution, transportation, or transmission by any means of any facsimile of an official ballot or cause to be printed, distributed, transported, or transmitted any unofficial sample ballot with the number of a candidate unless the name of the candidate to whom the ballot number was assigned is correctly listed on the ballot.

(2) No person shall cause to be printed or assist in the distribution, transportation, or transmission by any means of any facsimile of an official ballot, or cause to be printed, distributed, transported, or transmitted any unofficial sample ballot containing a photograph, or likeness of any person which falsely alleges, with an intent to misrepresent, that any person or candidate, or group of candidates in an election is endorsed by or supported by another candidate, group of candidates or other person.

C.(1) No person shall cause to be distributed, or transmitted, any oral, visual, digital, or written material containing any statement which he knows or should be reasonably expected to know makes a false statement about a candidate for election in a primary or general election or about a proposition to be submitted to the voters.

(2) Whenever any person, political committee, entity or organization makes a disbursement for the purpose of the financing of any electioneering communication, such communication shall comply with the following items under the following circumstances:

(a) If the communication is paid for and authorized by a candidate, an authorized political committee of a candidate, or its agents, it shall clearly state that the communication has been paid for by such authorized political committee. The name of the political committee paying for the communication shall be given in full and no acronyms shall be used.

(b) If the communication is paid for by other persons, but authorized by a candidate, an authorized political committee of a candidate, or its agents, it shall clearly state that the communication is paid for by such other persons and authorized by such authorized political committee. The name of the authorized political committee shall be given in full and no acronyms shall be used.

(c) If the communication is not authorized by a candidate, a political committee of a candidate, or its agents, it shall clearly state the (i) name, (ii) physical address (not post office box), and (iii) telephone number and the world-wide web address if available of the person, committee, entity or organization who paid for the communication and state that the communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. The name of the payer shall be given in full and no acronyms shall be used.

(3) If an individual, association, organization, committee, or corporation is responsible for or causes the distribution or transmission of any statements relative to candidates or propositions which do not fully disclose the name of the individual or the name of the association, organization, committee, or corporation, and the full and correct name and address of its chairman or other chief administrative officer and whether or not such individual, association, organization, committee, or corporation supports or opposes such candidate or proposition, such individual, association, organization, committee, or corporation shall report all expenditures incurred in relation to the publication, distribution, transportation, or transmission in accordance with R.S. 18:1491.7, 1495.5, or 1501.1.

(4)(a) No person shall misrepresent himself or any committee or organization under his control as speaking, writing, or otherwise acting for or on behalf of any candidate, political committee, or political party, or any employee or agent thereof.

(b) No person shall willfully and knowingly participate in or conspire to participate in a plan, scheme, or design to misrepresent himself or any committee or organization under his control or under the control of any other participant in the plan, scheme, or design as speaking, writing, or otherwise acting for or on behalf of any candidate, political committee, or political party, or any employee or agent thereof.

(c) A radio or television broadcaster who broadcasts a paid political announcement or advertisement, the content of which the broadcaster had no input in or control over, is not subject to the provisions of this Paragraph.

(5) For purposes of Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the term "electioneering communication" means any broadcast, cable, or satellite communication that refers to a legally qualified candidate for elected office and is broadcast within sixty days before any election in which such candidate is on the ballot.

D.(1) An affected candidate or voter shall be entitled to an injunction to restrain future violations of Subsections B and C of this Section.

(2) In the event a permanent injunction is granted, reasonable attorney fees shall be allowed the petitioner by the court which shall be taxed as costs to be paid by the defendant.

E.(1) No person shall cause to be distributed or transmitted for or on behalf of a candidate for political office any oral, visual, digital, or written material constituting a paid political announcement or advertisement, which is paid for by a third-party entity, without providing the name of the third-party entity on the face of the advertisement. The name of the third-party entity shall be included on written and digital material, political announcements, and advertisements so that it is clear and understandable.

(2) The name of the third-party entity in visual and oral political announcements or advertisements shall be included so that it is clearly understandable as well as audible and visible for not less than three seconds. If the advertisement is placed by a public relations firm, advertising agency, media buyer, or other person who purchases media advertising or time or space for such advertising, such person shall provide the information required by this Section.

(3) In digital announcements or advertisements, the name of the third-party entity shall appear in a text sized at least as large as the smallest text in the digital material or in a heading or similar section of text displayed above or within the digital material that is visually distinct from the remainder of the digital material's text and shall have a reasonable degree of color contrast between the background and the name of the third-party entity.

(4) For the purposes of this Subsection, "person" means any individual, partnership, association, labor union, political committee, corporation, or other legal entity, including its subsidiaries.

(5)(a) A media entity who broadcasts a paid political announcement or advertisement, the content of which the broadcaster has no input in or control over, is not subject to the provisions of this Subsection.

(b) For purposes of this Subsection, a media entity includes a radio broadcast station, television broadcast station, cable or satellite television company, or other video service provider, streaming video provider, newspaper company, periodical company, billboard company, advertisement agency, or media platform responsible for the production or publication of any advertisement, voice, data, or other communications, information services, or internet access provider, or bona fide news or public interest website operator.

F. For the purposes of this Section, the term "digital material" means any material or communication that, for a fee, is placed or promoted on a public facing website, web application, or digital application, including a social network, advertising network, or search engine.

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

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 543, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1988, No. 957, §1; Acts 1991, No. 255, §1; Acts 1993, No. 254, §1; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1223, §1, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2001, No. 554, §1; Acts 2008, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 14, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan.1, 2011; Acts 2022, No. 39, §1, eff. May 17, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:1433 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 1433
Revote in precincts because of malfunctions
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:1432, if a discrepancy sufficient to change the result of the election between the total votes cast at an election and the votes counted for the candidates in the election or for or against the recall of a public officer occurs as a result of the malfunction of a voting machine or results tape and results cartridge, and an accurate count of the votes cast on the malfunctioning machine or results tape and results cartridge cannot be determined by the offering of circumstantial evidence or any other evidence, the court shall order a revote in the precinct where the voting machine or results tape and results cartridge malfunctioned, which shall be limited to those persons listed on the poll list as having cast their ballots in person at the polls in the election in which the machine or results tape and results cartridge malfunctioned.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:1432, if a discrepancy sufficient to change the result of the election between the total votes cast at an election and the votes counted for the candidates in the election or for or against the recall of a public officer occurs as a result of the malfunction of a voting machine or results tape and results cartridge used for early voting, and an accurate count of the votes cast on the malfunctioning machine or results tape and results cartridge cannot be determined by the offering of circumstantial evidence or any other evidence, the court shall order a revote of electronic early voting ballots in the parish where the voting machine or results tape and results cartridge used for early voting malfunctioned, which shall be limited to those persons who voted during early voting in the election.

C. Those persons who cast their votes by paper absentee by mail or early voting ballots in that election shall not be eligible to vote in the revote election. The votes cast by paper absentee by mail or early voting ballot in the first election shall be retained, counted, and added to the voting machine totals in the revote election.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 523, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 18:451.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 18 / Section 451.1
Local ordinances affecting the qualifications of candidates
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no ordinance of a local governing authority affecting the qualifications of a candidate for an office shall become effective until such ordinance has been duly adopted, promulgated, and if necessary, has been precleared pursuant to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and no such ordinance of a local governing authority shall become effective during the period between the opening of the qualifying period and the election of a candidate to such office; however, a local governing authority may provide that such ordinance is effective on a date subsequent to the election of a candidate to such office.

Acts 1997, No. 140, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1022, §1.