Louisiana

Your rights at the polls guide

Your Rights Under Federal Law

  • All voters have the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of race, national origin, or disability.
  • All voters have the right to vote free of intimidation.
  • All voters who need assistance by reason of disability or inability to read and write in the language of the ballot may choose someone to assist them to vote, as long as the person is not an agent/representative of the voter’s employer or union.

Your Rights When You
Check-In To Vote

A qualified voter in your county, election commissioner, or poll watcher, is allowed to challenge your right to vote but you can only be challenged on the following grounds:
  • The person is not qualified to vote in the election or in that specific precinct;
  • The person is not who they say they are; or
  • The person does not have photo ID.
After a challenge, you have the right to:

Receive a copy of the signed challenge form.

Have your challenge considered by all commissioners present, a majority of which need to vote to sustain the challenge.

Cast a regular ballot if a majority of commissioners decides that the challenge is invalid or, even if the challenge is found to be valid, if the commissioners determine that the applicant moved within the preceding three months, as long as they complete an address confirmation notice.

Cast a provisional ballot in federal elections only if a majority of commissioners determine a challenge is valid, if your name is not on the precinct register and an election official does not otherwise authorize you to vote, if you are an inactive voter who moved outside the parish more than three months ago, or if you are registered in the parish but are at the wrong precinct. You will not be able to cast a provisional ballot in local or state elections.

Q&A: Your rights inside the polling place

01. What can a poll worker ask me?
The poll worker will ask you to present your ID and tell them your full name and address. If you do not have photo ID, the election officer may ask additional questions, including your birth date and your mother’s maiden name or other information that is on the precinct register.
02. Who can I speak to if I am having any issues or problems with a poll worker?
Attempt to inform another poll worker or the Commissioner-In-Charge of your issue. If this does not resolve the issue, call Election Protection.
03. I notice some poll watchers are taking photographs inside the polling place. Is that allowed?
There is technically no prohibition on photos inside or outside the polling place. But no one can take a photo of a cast ballot. If you are having an issue, tell a poll worker or the Commissioner-In-Charge. If that does not resolve the issue, call Election Protection.
04. Who gets to decide who is inside the polling place?
The Commissioner-In-Charge determines who is allowed inside the polling place. No campaigning is allowed within 600 feet of the polling place.
05. Who can I talk to if someone is trying to get in the way of me completing my ballot?
Speak to the Commissioner-In-Charge. They have the authority to maintain order at the polling place. If that does not resolve the issue, call Election Protection.
06. What are my rights if I need help voting?

Voters are entitled to assistance. If a voter has a disability that requires assistance to vote, the voter may bring a person of their choice to help them vote. The person providing assistance may not be a candidate for office, the voter’s union representative, employer, or the Commissioner-In-Charge.

Any voter who has a visible physical disability or who presents a mobility-impaired identification card, along with the person assisting them, must be allowed to go to the front of the line to cast a ballot.

Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Louisiana legal professional. Updated August 2024. Contact Fair Elections Center at
info@fairelection.codpixels.com

If you have questions or are experiencing problems voting, call the Election Protection Hotline and speak with a volunteer to get help.
  • Call in English: 866-OUR-VOTE
  • CALL in Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA
  • Call in Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE
  • CALL in Arabic: 844-YALLA-US

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