How to Vote in Louisiana’s 2024 Elections
Important dates and election information
Voter registration deadline: Monday, Oct. 7 (in person, by mail), Tuesday, Oct. 15 (online)
Last day of early voting: Tuesday, Oct. 29
Last day to request an absentee ballot: Friday, Nov. 1
Deadline to return an absentee ballot: Monday, Nov. 4
General Election: Tuesday, Nov. 5
Voting at a glance
- Voter registration: Check your registration status through the state’s voter information portal.
- Absentee voting: Registered voters 65 and older, and others with an eligible excuse, can vote absentee by mail. You’ll need to apply — and need a witness signature on your ballot.
- Early voting: Voters do not need a reason to vote early and may do so during regularly scheduled early voting periods. For early voting hours, visit the secretary of state's website.
- Voting on Election Day: Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bring an acceptable photo ID, such as a Louisiana driver’s license.
Recent voting changes in Louisiana
Lawmakers in 2024 passed several voting-related measures that go into effect Aug. 1, 2024.
- People risk potential penalties if they help more than one non-family member with an absentee ballot certificate. A law targeting ballot harvesting restricts people from delivering more than one absentee ballot via mail unless it is for immediate family. Voters must fill out all required information on an absentee-by-mail ballot certificate or risk having their vote not be counted.
- Nursing home residents may participate in a special early voting program two weeks before early voting starts, instead of one week.
Redistricting has changed certain boundaries of the state’s U.S. congressional districts, potentially impacting which candidates appear on your ballot. In May 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that allows Louisiana to use district maps passed by lawmakers early this year for the November 2024 election. Ongoing litigation may result in congressional district modifications in subsequent elections. Check back for updates.
How to register to vote
The deadline to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 7, if registering in person or by mail, or Tuesday, Oct. 15, if registering via the GeauxVote online registration system.
- Online: Use the state’s GeauxVote registration system to register or update your information. You will need the four-digit audit code on your Louisiana driver’s license or the state’s special ID card to submit your application electronically.
- By mail: Download and print an application from the secretary of state’s website. Mail your completed application to your local registrar of voters office. Registrar of voters’ addresses are included on the form.
- In person: Go to any registrar of voters office and fill out a voter registration form. Bring your current Louisiana driver's license, Social Security card, birth certificate or other form of ID that proves your identity, age and residency. You may also register in person at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles or other state agencies.
- By phone: Call your parish registrar of voters or the secretary of state’s office at 1-800-883-2805 to request a form.
Check whether you’re registered to vote through the state’s voter information portal.
Registering to vote on Election Day
Louisiana does not permit registration on Election Day.
How to request an absentee ballot
Anyone 65 or older is eligible to vote absentee by mail. Others are eligible to vote absentee for approved reasons — such as people with a disability or those who will be absent from their parish or outside the state during the voting period. You will need to list the election dates you want to vote via absentee ballot on your application. (Disabled, military and overseas voters should contact their registrar of voters, or visit the secretary of state’s website for instructions on voting absentee.)
- Online: Log in to the state’s voter portal, click Search by Voter, then enter your name, zip code, birth month and year. Once entered, click the “request absentee ballot” link and follow the instructions.
- By mail or fax: Print a general application form from the secretary of state’s website or call your parish registrar of voters to request an application. Mail or fax your completed form to your parish registrar of voters.
- In person: Print and complete an application form, then hand-deliver it to your parish registrar of voters. You may have an immediate family member deliver it for you, but that person may need to fill out additional paperwork.
Applications for absentee ballots must be received by Friday, Nov. 1, for the Nov. 5 general election.
For more information on absentee voting, or absentee voting deadlines for military and overseas voters, visit the secretary of state’s website.
Returning your absentee ballot
Follow the printed instructions for returning your completed ballot. A step-by-step guide is posted at the secretary of state’s website. The deadline for a registrar of voters to receive a voted absentee ballot is Monday, Nov. 4.
- By mail: Mail your completed ballot with proper postage to your parish registrar of voters.
- In person: Hand-deliver your ballot to your parish registrar of voters. You may have an immediate family member deliver it for you, but that person will need to sign a statement certifying their relationship to you.
Track your absentee ballot through the state’s voter information portal.
Voting in person before Election Day
All registered voters may vote before Election Day. Vote early at your designated parish location. For the general election, early voting is Friday, Oct. 18, to Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Voting at the polls on Election Day
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. You may cast a ballot as long as you are in line at 8 p.m. Use the Louisiana Voter Portal to find out where you vote on Election Day, or call your parish registrar of voters office. The secretary of state’s office posts sample ballots online.
Voter ID requirements on Election Day
You must show an acceptable photo ID such as a Louisiana driver’s license, Louisiana special identification card or U.S. military ID card. Voters may show a digital copy of their license using the app LA Wallet. Registered voters without an ID can sign an affidavit with information to verify their identity.
Voting with a disability
Voters with disabilities may receive assistance while voting as long as the assistance doesn’t come from political candidates, employers or union agents, commissioner-in-charge, or staff for a state residential facility.
If you need help voting, you can either file a statement with your registrar in person or by mail before the election, or provide documentation to the commissioner on Election Day, such as a letter from a medical doctor. Visit the secretary of state’s website for examples of acceptable documentation.
A voter with a visible disability and the person assisting them in voting may go to the front of the line at polling places. Audio ballots are available to help the hearing-impaired.
Voters with disabilities have the option of voting via absentee ballot and can apply to vote absentee for all elections. The Disabled Application for Absentee by Mail Ballot requires proof of a disability, such as a doctor’s letter, a copy of your mobility-impaired ID card issued by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, or a copy of your Social Security disability benefits.
Voting from a nursing home or long-term care facility
If you live in a nursing home, you can apply to participate in a special early voting program held two weeks before early voting starts. A registrar will visit your facility to oversee voting. Find more information at the secretary of state’s website.
Editor’s note: This guide was published on Jan. 26, 2024. It has been updated with new information about 2024 elections.
Michelle Tuccitto Sullo is a contributing writer covering state and federal policy. She previously served as managing editor of the Hartford Business Journal in Connecticut and has worked for the New Haven Register, Connecticut Law Tribune and New Haven Biz.
