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LouisianaHB 8422026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

ELECTION CODE: Makes revisions to the Louisiana Election Code

Sponsored By: Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu IV (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Senate and Governmental AffairsHouse and Governmental Affairs

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

26 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 6 costs, 12 mixed.

Disabled voters can authorize signature help

Registered voters who become unable to sign or make a mark because of physical disability can authorize signature help. They must file an alternative signature attestation and a doctor’s letter confirming inability to sign and ability to consent. The helper must be a Louisiana voter, not the voter’s candidate, employer, employer’s agent, or union agent. The form must be completed at the voter’s direction, in the voter’s presence, with at least one witness. Voters appearing in person can also consent to a commissioner or deputy registrar signing required records.

Longer early voting for nursing-home residents

Qualified voters living in a nursing home in their voting parish have a dedicated early-voting period. It starts at least two weeks before regular early voting begins and lasts through four days before election day. The endpoint replaces the earlier rule tied to the last day of regular early voting.

Political activity barred for unclassified registrar staff

The law bars registrars and unclassified deputy registrars and registrar employees from covered political activity. This includes candidacy, party committee membership, soliciting contributions, and active campaign management. Classified employees remain subject to the laws and rules governing their political activity.

Election employees get simpler mail-voting proof

Qualified Department of State and parish registrar employees can use employment documents to establish mail-voting eligibility. Accepted proof includes a supervisor or employing-registrar letter, a paystub, or an applicable employee identification card. Employees submit the proof to the registrar where they are registered. Parish registrar employees must be registered in a different parish from where they work.

More protection for moved and inactive voters

Registrars cannot place voters on the inactive list when available address information shows a move within the same parish. That information no longer must come from the Postal Service or its licensee. Inactive voters return to the official list when they apply to vote by mail, vote by mail, or vote early and provide information requiring record corrections. Registrars must make those corrections, including updating the residence address. Between an open primary and the parish’s next general election, cancellations are limited to the annual canvass or R.S. 18:193(G). The separate cancellation exception for people fraudulently added to voter records is removed.

More time to file early-voting watcher lists

Early-voting watcher lists are due before 4:30 p.m. on the tenth business day before early voting starts. This replaces the fourteenth-business-day deadline. A deadline falling on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday moves to the next day that is none of those. Lists can be filed by hand, fax, mail, or commercial courier.

Voters can challenge amendment ballot placement

Beginning August 1, 2026, qualified Louisiana voters can sue over placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Filing can begin upon final passage of the joint resolution calling the election. The deadline is 4:30 p.m. on the 30th day after final passage of the legislative instrument calling the election. The Secretary of State is a proper party to the placement dispute.

Fall elections move off prohibited days

When a fall election falls on a legally prohibited day, the law moves it to the same day of the preceding week. This replaces the prior wording that referred to the same weekday of the preceding week.

State gets flexibility in voter-list checks

The Department of State can skip its annual voter canvass in a calendar year with a short election gap. The exception applies when fewer than 60 days separate a regular or special election from qualifying for a regular or special primary. Address-correction information used for the canvass no longer must come from the Postal Service or its licensee.

Early-voting commissioners face training and eligibility rules

Early-voting commissioners must be qualified voters and able to perform the job’s essential duties. They must complete required instruction and receive the required certificates. This includes an early-voting course and a certificate from the registrar. They must also meet the qualifications in R.S. 18:425(B).

Some teen voter records can be disclosed

Beginning February 1, 2027, officials can include some 17-year-olds’ voter-registration information in precinct registers. The exception applies when the person will turn 18 within seven days before election day. It creates an exception to limits on disclosing information from 16- and 17-year-olds’ registration applications.

Voters and helpers face assistance paperwork

People helping voters on election day must provide their name, address, and relationship to the voter on an assistance form. They must state whether they were paid, except when the helper is a commissioner. Early-voting helpers must also identify themselves on the form and state whether they were paid. Voters not already marked for assistance in the relevant voting records must attest that physical disability or inability to read requires help.

Election boards need approval for later counting

Parish election boards need approval to start counting mail and early-voting ballots after 4:00 p.m. on election day. They must submit the proposed start time to the commissioner of elections no later than four days before election day.

Local election maps require written review

Before adopting precinct boundaries, parish authorities must get written confirmation from the clerk of court and registrar that elections can use them. The same review applies to changes that divide a precinct. Authorities must send the confirmation to the Secretary of State on the required schedule. Beginning August 1, 2026, proposed reapportionment plans also require written review by the registrar and clerk. The local governing body must send that report to the Secretary of State within the statutory timetable.

Candidate deaths and withdrawals change election choices

Qualifying reopens if an opposed, qualified candidate dies after qualifying closes but before polls close on primary election day. It opens the day after the Secretary of State receives actual notice. It closes at 4:30 p.m. on the third day after notice, or the next nonholiday if that day is a legal holiday. When candidates outnumber seats by exactly one, the Secretary of State must accept a withdrawal filed before the new deadline. That deadline is 4:30 p.m. on the second business day before early voting begins; the remaining candidates are declared elected.

Challenged early voters must use paper ballots

Candidates, their representatives, board members, early-voting watchers, and qualified voters can challenge an early voter before a ballot is cast. Challenges must use a state form and grounds listed in R.S. 18:565(A). Challenged voters must receive paper ballots instead of using early-voting machines. The parish election board decides whether challenges to early-voting paper ballots are valid. Machine results must be posted unless a machine ballot is challenged under R.S. 18:1309(E)(6); a separate challenge exception is removed.

Congressional candidates get refunds and petition rules

For the 2026 U.S. representative election, the petition requirement is 250 timely signatures from qualified voters. Candidates must submit the petition to the registrar by July 9, 2026. The petition need not name the congressional district until submission, and voters can sign starting on the provision’s effective date. The Secretary of State must refund affected candidates’ state qualifying-fee portion and additional qualifying fee for the canceled primaries. No refund amount or payment deadline is stated.

Election lawsuits get start dates and extensions

Beginning August 1, 2026, candidacy objections can start when a candidate submits notice of candidacy. Most election contests start the day after the election; special-election objections start the day after the election is called. Final deadlines remain at 4:30 p.m.: candidacy objections, seven days after qualifying closes; office and recall contests, nine days after election day. After official results are announced, deadlines are 10 days for constitutional-amendment contests, 30 days for other propositions, and 60 days for bond, debt, or tax contests. Special-election objections are due 14 days after the election is called; a separate proposed-amendment election timing rule governs where applicable. Election Code deadlines ending on Sunday or a legal holiday move to 4:30 p.m. on the next legal day.

Mail ballots gain protection and marking rules

Mail voters must completely fill the oval beside each choice and return the ballot by the legal deadline. Selecting more candidates than available seats voids the choices for that office. Marking both “for” and “against” voids the choice on that proposition. A missing witness’s printed name or address cannot be grounds for challenging a mail ballot. Voters do not have to correct that missing witness information.

Officers gain rules for ending voter privacy

An officer’s agency must issue notice ending voter-record confidentiality when hazardous duties no longer make it necessary. This applies when the agency previously certified the need to protect the officer’s name and address. Officers can also submit written notice that confidentiality is no longer needed. After receiving notice, the registrar removes the certification marker from the voter-registration system.

Voter moves bring new registration timing rules

When a new registration identifies an earlier registration in another parish, the new registrar must promptly notify the old parish electronically. The old registration is canceled unless the voter keeps the legal right to vote there; surrendering the old registration notice is no longer required. For closed party primaries, within-parish address changes received after registration closes take effect after the second party primary. A special-primary exception applies to a regular general election when the parish’s only candidate election is a special primary. A general-election exception applies to changes received before registration closes that leave the voter entitled to the same issues and offices.

New pay schedules for parish registrar staff

Parish authorities can now pay their share of registrar staff salaries every two weeks, twice a month, or monthly. Previously, this share was paid monthly. This applies to registrars, chief deputy registrars, and confidential assistants. Parish authorities choose the schedule; the law does not change salary amounts.

Candidate petitions change details and require certification

Primary-election petition signers must provide the information required by R.S. 18:3. The petition provision no longer separately lists signature dates, wards, precincts, or residence details. Candidates and every signature gatherer must certify that signatures are genuine and petition statements are true to their best knowledge. Presidential-elector petition sheets must name the supported presidential and vice-presidential candidates instead of the elector candidate’s name and home address. That requirement applies to electors qualifying by petition rather than through a recognized party.

Louisiana replaces its 2026 congressional primaries

The law cancels the May 16 and June 27, 2026, party primaries for U.S. representative. Votes cast in those elections are void and cannot be counted or disclosed. Candidates instead run in the November 3, 2026, open primary and December 12, 2026, open general election. Candidate qualifying runs August 5–7, 2026. U.S. representative offices are excluded from the party-primary definition upon the Governor’s signature and included again January 1, 2027. More broadly, election officials cannot disclose votes voided by a canceled election for an office or proposition.

Unaffiliated voters receive a no-party label

Beginning September 1, 2026, voter records use “no party” instead of “unaffiliated.” This applies to people already registered or applying for registration as unaffiliated. The provision does not state a change in voting eligibility.

Contract bidders gain notice but face limits

Beginning August 1, 2026, sealed bids for parish voting-machine delivery contracts require at least 30 days’ notice before opening. A timely protest of a state solicitation or contract award does not itself stop the state from proceeding. A protesting vendor can seek a stay only during the applicable protest period. The vendor must also meet the stay-application and protest-bond requirements in state law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu IV

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 302 • No: 75

Senate vote • 5/13/2026

Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 29 yeas and 7 nays.

Yes: 29 • No: 7

House vote • 5/13/2026

Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 66, nays 29. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

Yes: 66 • No: 29

House vote • 5/11/2026

Read by title, roll called, yeas 97, nays 0, Senate amendments rejected, conference committee appointment pending.

Yes: 97 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/6/2026

The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 28 yeas and 9 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 28 • No: 9

House vote • 4/7/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 74, nays 25. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 74 • No: 25

House vote • 3/18/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 8 • No: 5

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/14/2026Senate

  2. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    5/14/2026House

  3. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 7.

    5/14/2026House

  4. Effective date: See Act.

    5/14/2026House

  5. Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.

    5/13/2026House

  6. Rules suspended.

    5/13/2026House

  7. Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 66, nays 29. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

    5/13/2026House

  8. Conference committee report received.

    5/13/2026Senate

  9. Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.

    5/13/2026Senate

  10. Rules suspended.

    5/13/2026Senate

  11. Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 29 yeas and 7 nays.

    5/13/2026Senate

  12. Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.

    5/13/2026House

  13. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/13/2026House

  14. Senate conference committee members appointed: Miller, Kleinpeter, and Womack.

    5/12/2026Senate

  15. Notice of Senate conferees appointed.

    5/12/2026House

  16. Read by title, roll called, yeas 97, nays 0, Senate amendments rejected, conference committee appointment pending.

    5/11/2026House

  17. House conferees appointed: Beaullieu, Thomas, and Wilder.

    5/11/2026House

  18. Notice House rejected the Senate amendments.

    5/11/2026Senate

  19. Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.

    5/11/2026Senate

  20. Scheduled for concurrence on 05/11/2026.

    5/7/2026House

  21. Rules suspended.

    5/6/2026Senate

  22. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 28 yeas and 9 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/6/2026Senate

  23. Received from the Senate with amendments.

    5/6/2026House

  24. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

    4/28/2026Senate

  25. Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    4/27/2026Senate

Bill Text

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