The 2020 Presidential Election nearly here and early voting will start soon. This guide contains everything you know to make your vote count.
How do I register to vote? You may register to vote in person or by mail. The registration form and voter office information can be found here. You can also register online through this portal.
Am I already registered? To find out if you’re a registered voter in Louisiana, check online here.
What is required to register and what’s the deadline? You must be a U.S. citizen, at least 17 years old, reside in the state and parish where you want to register, and not be imprisoned or convicted of a felony.
Whether you are registering in person, by mail or online, you must have your Louisiana driver’s license or ID card. If you register by mail, you must have your driver’s license card number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you don’t have that, you need to include a copy of valid photo identification or a current utility, bill, bank statement or other government document. You can find a full list of acceptable forms of identification here and here.
Louisiana does not have same-day voter registration. The deadline to register by mail is October 4, while the deadline to register online is October 14.
How can I vote? You may vote in-person on November 3, or by absentee/mail ballot if you meet certain requirements. In-person polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
How do I get a mail-in ballot? To be eligible for a mail ballot, you must 65 years or older, be absent in your parish or reside in a nursing home. You can find a full list of reasons here.
You can send in your application by mail, fax or by hand to your local registrar of voters. Find a list of locations here. The general application form to mail is here. You can also request an absentee ballot using this online portal. The application must be received by October 30 by 4:30 p.m. Absentee ballots must be received by November 2 by 4:30 p.m.
What’s the earliest I can vote and what’s the deadline? Absentee ballots will begin to be sent out on September 19. Early in-person voting starts October 20 and ends October 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Sunday, October 25. You can find your early voting locations here.
An absentee ballot application must be received by October 30 by 4:30 p.m. The ballots themselves must be received by November 2 by 4:30 p.m.
Can I vote in person? Yes, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. All voters in line at 8 p.m. have the right to vote. You can find your voting precinct here, and also download the state’s election app for more information.
How do I make my vote count? When going to vote in person, you’ll need a photo ID with your name and picture. If you do not have one, you can get a free Louisiana special ID card by visiting a local Office of Motor Vehicles.
Inactive voters must verify their address online or in person. You can find out more information here, and search the inactive voter list here.
A ballot can be rejected if it is challenged successfully by a candidate or representative, a member of the board, or a qualified elector. If there is a failure to fill in the correct blanks on the certificate, your ballot has cause to be rejected. You can find more information here.
Will I know if it’s rejected and can I correct it? No. Louisiana will not notify you if your ballot is rejected, and you will not have an opportunity to correct it.
Who counts my vote and when do they start? Your vote will be counted on election night by the parish board of election supervisors by a digital scanner or by hand. Absentee ballots will begin to be processed in parishes with over 1,000 absentee votes the day before Election Day, while those with fewer than 1,000 will begin processing on Election Day. Counting may begin early and must begin by 8 p.m. at the latest on November 3.
How do I sign up to be a poll worker? If you are a registered voter, at least 17 years old and can attend a training course, you are eligible to be a poll worker in Louisiana. You can find the application and more information here.
The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Election & Voting page contains all of this useful information and more.
