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If you registered to vote by mail or online, you must vote in person the first time you vote. This rule does not apply if you are a military or overseas voter; a senior citizen (65+); homebound because of a disability; a participant in the state's address confidentiality program; or student who included a copy of your student ID or tuition bill with your voter registration form; or if you visited your registrar of voters in-person after registering to vote to verify identity. Be sure to complete the entire affidavit on the ballot envelope. You must write in the date of the election, your ward and precinct, and your mother's maiden name. You must also have a witness sign the ballot envelope.
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COVID-19 info

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Louisiana Department of Health

Louisiana absentee ballot deadlines

Request deadlines

  • In Person: Received by 4:30pm, 4 days before Election Day (unless this day falls on a weekend or holiday; then the deadline is the following business day).
  • By Mail: Received by 4:30pm, 4 days before Election Day (unless this day falls on a weekend or holiday; then the deadline is the following business day).
  • Online: Received by 4:30pm, 4 days before Election Day (unless this day falls on a weekend or holiday; then the deadline is the following business day).

Ballot deadlines

  • Voted ballots are due: Received by 4:30pm, 1 day before Election Day (most voters). Received by 8PM Election Day (members of the military, overseas, hospitalized, and sequestered jury voters).

Louisiana absentee ballot rules

The following individuals are qualified to apply for an absentee ballot and vote by mail in Louisiana:

  • You are a student or teacher located and living outside of your parish of registration, or the spouse/dependent thereof.
  • You are 65 years of age or older.
  • An active member of the armed services, or the spouse/dependent thereof.
  • You reside outside of the United States.
  • You have a disability and submit any of the following: proof of disability from your healthcare provider; a copy of a current mobility impairment ID card; or documentation showing eligibility for social security disability benefits, veterans disability benefits, paratransit services, benefits from the office for citizens with developmental disabilities, or benefits from Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (or is otherwise eligible to participate in the Special Program for Handicapped Voters).
  • You are a minister, priest, rabbi, or other member of the clergy assigned outside of your parish of registration, or the spouse/dependent thereof.
  • You are or expect to be temporarily outside the territorial limits of the state or absent from your parish of registration during the early voting period and on Election Day.
  • You moved your residence to another parish more than 100 miles from the parish seat of your former residence after the voter registration books closed (the books close 30 days prior to Election Day).
  • You are involuntarily confined in an institution for mental treatment outside your parish of registration and you are not interdicted and not judicially declared incompetent.
  • You expect to be hospitalized on Election Day and did not have knowledge until after the time for early voting had expired; you were hospitalized during the time for early voting and you expect to be hospitalized on Election Day; or you were either hospitalized or restricted to bed by your physician during early voting and on Election Day.
  • You work or expect to be offshore working and expect to be out of your precinct of registration both during the early voting period and on Election Day because of your employment or occupation.
  • You are incarcerated in an institution inside or outside of your parish of registration and you are not serving time for a felony conviction;
  • You are a program participant in the Department of State's Address Confidentiality Program.
  • You will be sequestered for jury service on the day of Election Day.
  • You are the secretary of state, an employee of the secretary of state, or an employee of the registrar of voters.

Louisiana absentee ballot directions

  1. Use our Absentee Ballot Tool to prepare your application.
  2. Sign and date the form. This is very important!
  3. Return your completed application to your Local Election Office as soon as possible. We'll provide the mailing address for you.
  4. All Local Election Offices will accept mailed or hand-delivered forms. If it's close to the deadline, call and see if your Local Election Office will let you fax or email the application.
  5. Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.

Tracking your ballot

You can track your ballot directly with your state.

Once you receive your ballot...

  1. Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.
  2. Complete the affidavit on the ballot envelope, including the "date of election" and your "mother's maiden name."
  3. Have a witness complete the witness section on the affidavit.
  4. Sign and date where indicated.
  5. Mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope.
  6. Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.

Offsite links

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