PART V. VOTERS AND VOTING
SUBPART A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
§521. Qualifications of voters
NOTE: Subsection A eff. until Jan. 1, 2026. See Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1.
A. Candidates for public office. All persons who have registered to vote in this state prior to the time the registration records are closed as required in R.S. 18:135 may vote in the election for any candidates except those seeking membership on a committee of a political party with which the voter is not registered as being affiliated.
NOTE: Subsection A as amended by Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.
A. Candidates for public office. All persons who have registered to vote in this state prior to the time the registration records are closed as required in R.S. 18:135 may vote in the election for any candidates except as otherwise provided in Part I-A of this Chapter and those seeking membership on a committee of a political party with which the voter is not registered as being affiliated.
B. Candidates for party office. (1) In a primary or general election at which members of a political party committee are voted on, only qualified voters who are registered as being affiliated with the same political party as the candidates for membership on a political party committee may vote on such candidates. The secretary of state shall adjust the voting machines so that the candidates for membership on a political party committee may only be voted on by voters who are registered as being affiliated with the same political party as the candidates.
(2) The qualification of a voter to vote on a candidate for membership on a political party committee shall be subject to the following provisions:
(a) A change of party affiliation in his registration shall not permit the registrant to vote for any candidate for membership on a committee of the political party to which he has thus affiliated within thirty days after the date on which the registrar notes the change on the original application form. During this same period he may not vote for any candidate for membership on a party committee for the political party which he has renounced and abandoned, and the registrar shall so inform him;
(b) A designation of party affiliation by a registrant previously not affiliated with a party renders the registrant eligible to vote in the election next following the designation which is at least thirty days after the date on which the registrar notes the party affiliation on the original application form; and
(c) A designation of no party affiliation by a registrant previously affiliated with a party shall be effective for elections held at least thirty days after the date on which the registrar notes the no-party affiliation on the original application form. During this same period he may not vote for any candidate for membership on a party committee for the political party which he has renounced and abandoned, and the registrar shall so inform him.
C. Change of residence. (1) A registrant who changes his residence from one precinct to another in the same parish shall retain the right to vote in the precinct from which he has removed, as to all issues upon which he was entitled to vote prior to his change of residence, until he changes his registration as provided in R.S. 18:110(A). Upon changing registration, such registrant shall have the right to vote in the precinct to which he has moved in accordance with law.
(2) A registrant who changes his residence from one parish to another shall retain the right to vote in the parish from which he has removed, as to all issues upon which he was entitled to vote prior to his change of residence, until he registers in the parish to which he has moved or until three months after he has moved, whichever is sooner. Upon registering in the parish to which he has moved, such registrant shall have the right to vote in such parish in accordance with law. After the three-month period, he shall no longer have the right to vote in the parish from which he has moved.
Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1983; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.