Updated 7/16/2024
We work to eliminate barriers to voting, increase knowledge of voting rights, and educate potential policy makers about the needs of people with disabilities.
- All polling places should be fully accessible to people with disabilities; they often are not
- We often do not have full information about upcoming elections and voting rights
- People with disabilities have specific rights related to voting which are sometimes ignored by voting officials
Know Your Voting Rights: Important Changes!
Louisiana Updates That You Need To Be Aware Of As You Prepare To Vote After August 1, 2024:
1. If you need help filling out a voter registration form the new law says that the ONLY people who can help you register are:
- An immediate family member;
- A person who is not an immediate family member. Such as: a friend, neighbor, caregiver, or other person ONLY if they have not helped someone in this election cycle already;
- A registrar of voters or an employee from the registrar of voters;
- The secretary of state or an employee from their office who performs election duties;
- Any entity or individual that is required by law to perform voter registration activities; OR
- At a voter registration drive.
2. If you need help filling out the application for your absentee ballot the new law says you may ONLY get help from:
- An immediate family member;
- A person who is not an immediate family member. Such as: a friend, neighbor, caregiver, or other person ONLY if they have not helped someone in this election cycle already;
- An employee of the registrar of voters; OR
- An employee of the election division of the department of state.
3. If you need help filling out your absentee ballot that will be turned in by mail the new law says you may ONLY get help from:
- An immediate family member;
- A person who is not an immediate family member. Such as: a friend, neighbor, caregiver, or other person ONLY if they have not helped someone in this election cycle already;
- An employee of the registrar of voters; OR
- An employee of the election division of the department of state.
4. If you live in a nursing home and are enrolled in the nursing home early voting program:
- The new law gives you 2 more weeks before early voting begins to cast your vote during the election period.
5. If you are voting with an absentee ballot by mail, to deliver the ballot you must either:
- Deliver the ballot yourself by hand to the mailbox, postal service, or registrar’s office,
- Have an immediate family member deliver it to the mailbox, postal service, or registrar’s office for you (and they will have to give their name and address in a signed statement); OR
- A friend, neighbor, caregiver, or other person ONLY if they have not already helped someone else submit their ballot in the current election cycle.
6. A person, organization, or entity can only distribute an application form for an absentee ballot to a person who has directly requested one.
- Check with your local registrar’s office to verify if you are able to do so.
After these laws go into effect, it will be a punishable criminal offense to help more than one person with any of the following actions if they are not an immediate member of your family.
If you have questions or would like additional information, please call us at 800-960-7705 or email us at info@disabilityrightsla.org
The following is important information for the November 5th Open Primary/Presidential/Congressional Election:
- The deadline to register to vote in person, by mail or at the OMV Office is October 7.
- The deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is October 15.
- Early voting is October 18 through October 29 from 7:00 a.m. until 9 p.m.
- The deadline to request an absentee ballot is November 1 by 4:30 p.m (other than military and overseas voters). You can request an absentee ballot online through our Voter Portal or in writing through your Registrar of Voters Office.
- The deadline for a registrar of voters to receive a voted absentee ballot is November 4 by 4:30 p.m. (other than military and overseas voters).
- On election day–Tuesday, November 5–the polls are open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Here are some helpful links from the Secretary of State’s voterportal, which you can fully access through Geauxvote.com:
Polling Place locations: Your polling place location may have changed. To check your polling place location, visit the Louisiana Voter Portal at Geauxvote.com, or call your Parish Registrar of Voters’ office.
For locations of ballot drop boxes, please call your Parish Registrar of Voters’ office.
Voting on Election Day – features accommodations for people with disabilities
Accessible Polling Places
Louisiana requires that all polling places be accessible in the following manner:
A. The doors should be wide enough for a wheelchair;
B. There should be ramps or elevators if there are steps; and
C. There must be reserved accessible parking and all walkways must be accessible and free of obstacles.
If your polling place is not accessible, please notify a commissioner at the polling place or call your parish Clerk of Court’s Office so that they can correct the accessibility problem immediately on election day.
You may also contact the Secretary of State’s Office toll-free at 800.883.2805.
Help America Vote Act
The Protection & Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) program for Louisiana was created by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
HAVA is a federal law passed by Congress in 2002 to improve our country’s election system. HAVA’s main goal is to make the voting process more inclusive and accessible so that more Americans will become registered voters and participate in elections.
The PAVA program seeks to ensure that individuals with disabilities have full participation in the electoral process through voter education regarding registering to vote, casting a vote and accessing the polling sites.
To report accessibility issues with voting, please call:
HAVA – Help America Vote Act
225.287.7477
800.883.2805
225.922.1180 fax