ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT: Provides for instructions to elections commissioners. (7/1/27)

Louisiana voters get ID options and deadlines

Beginning July 1, 2027, Louisiana changes voter ID rules, conditional ballots, and election recordkeeping. Poll workers must explain two-document ID options during training and at polling places. For early voting, officials can verify identity using a Louisiana driver's license, Louisiana special identification card, or U.S. passport book. Other single-document options include a U.S. military ID with a name and picture. Citizenship or naturalization certificates qualify if they show a name, picture, and signature. State- or federally recognized tribal IDs qualify alone if they contain those same features. Without a qualifying single ID, voters can show two primary documents, or one primary document plus one secondary document. Primary documents include an original or certified domestic birth certificate, birth registration card, or Certificate of Birth Abroad. They also include citizenship or naturalization certificates, a Social Security card, U.S. passport card, or Veteran Health Identification Card. A recognized tribal ID without a photo or signature also qualifies as a primary document. Secondary documents include a voter registration notice, utility bill, bank statement, government check or document, paycheck, or pay stub. Secondary documents must be no more than 12 months old and show the required name and address. Early-voting officials must allow voting once satisfied that the state registration system confirms the voter is registered and qualified. Voters on the inactive list must complete an address confirmation card. Voters without listed documents can cast a conditional paper ballot. For regular in-person voting, they can cast it at any parish registrar's office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. They must show qualifying ID in person by 4:30 p.m. on the second day after the election. Registrars deliver conditional ballots to the parish board on the third day after the election. The board counts ballots with timely ID and rejects the others. Officials must retain, transmit, and seal required election records, including results, voter challenges, assistance forms, and address notices. Voter ID affidavits are removed from the required registrar envelope. Registrars process challenges and related documents, including completed registration applications. They follow state procedures to validate challenged voters who did not submit an address confirmation notice. Address notices lead to an address update within the parish, a registration transfer between parishes, or cancellation for another-state addresses. Notices confirming an inactive voter's current address restore active status. Notices resulting from valid challenges must go to the district attorney. Processed notices and related documents must be scanned into the voter's state registration record. The Secretary of State must issue implementing rules and guidance.