Louisiana

Land Acknowledgement

Louisiana is the home of the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana. It is also the traditional homeland of many tribes.

Overview

In Louisiana you can register to vote online, in person, or by mail. The deadline to register to vote in person or by mail is October 11. The deadline to register online is October 18. When voting you will be asked to provide a valid ID. If you do not have an ID, you can still cast a regular ballot by signing an affidavit.

Key Dates

October 11 – Deadline to register to vote in person or by mail

October 18 – Deadline to register to vote online

October 25 – Early voting begins. Early voting is available from 8:30AM to 6PM October 25 through November 1 (excluding Saturday, October 30).

November 4 – Deadline to request an absentee ballot (at 4:30PM).

November 8 – Election Day! Polls are open from 7AM to 8PM.

Contacts

  • Find and contact your parish's Registrar of Voters

  • Contact the Louisiana Commissioner of Elections at (225) 922-0900

  • Contact the ACLU of Louisiana at (504) 522-0617

Louisiana Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

  • The deadline to register to vote in person or by mail is October 11. The deadline to register online is October 18. You must have a Louisiana driver's license or State ID to submit an online registration.

  • No.

  • You must provide either your Louisiana driver's license or. State ID card. If you do not have a driver's license or ID, you can provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have a Social Security Number and are registering to vote for the first time, you must attach a copy of current and valid photo identification OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document to your registration.

  • Louisiana requires a residence address, not a P.O. Box. If you use a rural route and box number, you may draw a map in the box labeled “Give Location” to provide the exact location. When drawing your map, write in the names of the crossroads nearest to your residence, draw an X to show your residence, and use a dot to show any schools, churches, stores, or landmarks near your residence.

  • Contact your parish's Registrar of Voters.

  • You can get a valid ID from your nearest Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.

  • Yes. If you have a Louisiana driver's license or State ID, you can register to vote on this website.

  • No.

  • Yes. You may register to vote in person at any Registrar of Voters office. Find location and contact information

    You may also register in person at any Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, WIC office, food stamp or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) office, Medicaid office, offices serving persons with disabilities such as the Deaf Actions Centers, or any Armed Forces recruitment office.

  • Yes. You may print out and mail your completed registration to your Registrar of Voters. Find the registration form and Registrar mailing addresses.

  • Yes. In Louisiana your voting rights are restored either when you complete your sentence (including parole and probation) OR five years after your release from prison, whichever is sooner.

  • Contact your parish's Registrar of Voters.

  • The deadline to register to vote in person, by mail, or at the Office of Motor Vehicles is October 11. The deadline to register online through the Louisiana voter portal is October 18. You must have a Louisiana driver's license or State ID to submit an online registration.

  • Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

  • You can check your voter registration using this website.

  • Contact your parish's Registrar of Voters.

  • You can update your voter registration online or you can mail in an updated registration to your Registrar of Voters. Find the voter registration form and Registrar mailing addresses.

  • Maybe. If your registration address was not able to be verified by your parish's Registrar of Voters during the annual canvass or mail sent to the address on file has been returned undeliverable, your registration may be inactive. Inactive registrations are cancelled after four years.

    Check your status

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

  • In Louisiana you must have a reason to request an absentee ballot. All ballot requests must be received by November 4 at 4:30PM.

  • Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • You can request an absentee ballot online. Alternatively, you may print out an application and mail it to your Registrar of Voters.

    Find the general absentee ballot request form.

    Find Registrar of Voters contact information

  • Yes. For detailed information on the approved reasons to request an absentee ballot, start on this website.

    Examples of approved reasons include temporary absence from the state, being over the age of 65, living in a nursing home, and hospitalization.

    Contact your Registrar of Voters with specific questions.

  • Yes.

  • The deadline to request an absentee ballot is November 4 at 4:30PM.

  • Louisiana will begin mailing absentee ballots on September 24.

  • Your ballot may be sent to the address where you are registered to vote, the mailing address you provided on your voter registration, or an address where you regularly receive mail. You must include the address where you would like to receive your ballot on your absentee ballot application.

  • Maybe. This varies by parish. Check with your local Registrar of Voters.

  • It is recommended that you mail your ballot as soon as possible. Your ballot must be received by your Registrar of Voters by Monday, November 7 at 4:30PM.

  • Yes. You may drop off your ballot in person to your Registrar of Voters.

  • Yes. An immediate family member (spouse, sibling, parent, child, parent-in-law, child-in-law, sibling-in-law) may deliver your ballot to the Registrar of Voters. They will be asked to sign a statement certifying that they are your immediate family member when they deliver your ballot.

  • Yes.

  • Yes, you must have an adult (over 18 years old) witness sign your absentee ballot envelope.

  • Maybe. If your ballot is missing a voter signature, a witness signature, or contains incomplete affidavit information, the Registrar of Voters will immediately mail you a written notice to give you an opportunity to cure the deficiency. If you are contacted about a deficiency, you must appear in person at your Registrar of Voters office no later than 4:30 PM on November 7 to resolve the issue.

    Find your Registrar of Voters contact information

  • Yes, you can track your ballot online using this website.

  • Contact your parish's Registrar of Voters.

Voting In-Person

  • You can find your polling location and hours on this website.

  • No.

  • Yes. Early voting is available from 8:30AM to 6PM October 25 through November 1 (excluding Saturday, October 30).

    Find locations

  • Yes. You will be asked to provide either your Louisiana driver's license or State ID, a Louisiana digital driver's license, a U.S. military ID, or any other generally recognized picture ID that contains your name and signature. However, if you do not have an ID you can still cast a ballot by signing an affidavit.

  • You may get a free Louisiana Special ID at the Office of Motor Vehicles by showing your voter information card. If you have misplaced your voter information card, contact your Registrar of Voters for a new one or print your own by logging into the Louisiana voter portal.

  • Yes. You may cast a provisional ballot if you are not on the parish's list of eligible voters. However, if you cast a provisional ballot, you must do so in the parish and precinct in which you are registered to vote or your ballot will not count.

  • Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.

  • Contact your parish's Registrar of Voters.