Voter Rights Facts: Louisiana

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Here's what you need to know if you're voting in Louisiana in 2012:

VOTER REGISTRATION

How do I register to vote?

You can apply in person to register to vote at any registrar of voters office, as well as:

• At Louisiana Department of Social Services offices and WIC offices, food stamp offices and Medicaid offices;
• Offices serving persons with disabilities, such as the Deaf Action Centers and Independent Living offices; or
• Armed Forces recruitment offices.

You can to register to vote online at www.GeauxVote.com.

You also can apply by mail by downloading the Louisiana Voter Registration Application form at: www.GeauxVote.com, completing it and returning it to your local registrar of voters office. The list of registrar offices is included on the form. DO NOT mail or otherwise send voter registration forms to the Secretary of State Elections Division office.

What is the voter registration deadline?

You are to be registered 30 days prior to an election to be eligible to vote in that particular election.

VOTER ID

Do I need to show proof of my identity?

YES. When you go to the polls to cast your vote in an election, be sure to take one of the following:

• A driver's license;
• A Louisiana Special ID; or
• Some other generally recognized picture ID that contains your name and signature.

Voters who have no picture ID may bring a utility bill, payroll check or government document that includes their name and address, but they will have to sign an affidavit furnished by the Elections Division to vote.

EARLY VOTING IN PERSON

Who is eligible to vote early?

All registered voters may vote early in the state of Louisiana, if they choose. You do not need an excuse. Voters who want to vote early for any election may do so in person at their parish registrar of voters office or at designated locations in the parish from 14 days to seven days prior to any scheduled election. You should contact your local registrar of voters office for specific locations, dates and times. Visit the secretary of state's website at www.GeauxVote.com for contact information, or call toll free 1-800-883-2805.

What do I need to know if I'm going to vote early?

The registrars of voters will open their offices from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for each day of early voting. When you go to cast your vote early, you will be asked to identify yourself with either a photo ID or signature on a voter affidavit. You may use a driver's license, a Louisiana Special ID or some other generally recognized picture ID that has your name and signature.

ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL

Who is eligible to vote by mail?

You will need a valid excuse to vote by mail in Louisiana. You will need to indicate this reason on your vote-by-mail application form.
In two cases, you are entitled to receive an absentee ballot by mail automatically for all future elections (unless your ballot is returned to the registrar as undeliverable or you cancel the request):

• Being a senior citizen (age 65 or older);
• Being disabled, homebound or in a nursing home. Please note: If you are using this reason, you will need to submit a copy of current proof of disability with your vote-by-mail application. That includes one of the following:

o   A mobility impaired identification card issued by the office of motor vehicles;
o   Social Security disability benefits, veterans' disability benefits, paratransit services, benefits from the office for citizens with developmental disabilities or benefits from Louisiana Rehabilitation Services; or
o   A physician's letter certifying the disability (required for new homebound or nursing home applications).

You also will be required to enclose a copy of either your Louisiana driver's license, state special ID card, other generally recognized photo ID that contains your name and signature or a letter in which you have listed the names and addresses of two people residing in your precinct who can make an oath, if required, to the effect that you are physically disabled (if submitting the application by mail).

For all other reasons you may be applying to vote by mail, you will have to indicate which specific election dates (primary and/or general election in any given year) that you would like to vote by mail. Those reasons include:

• You are a student (a copy of your student ID or fee bill must by attached if you are voting for the first time), an instructor, or professor located and living outside your parish of registration, or a spouse/ dependent of same;
• You are a minister, priest, rabbi or other member of the clergy assigned outside your parish of registration, or a spouse/dependent;
• You are or expect to be temporarily outside the territorial limits of the state or absent from your parish of registration during the early voting period and on Election Day (if requesting a ballot to be mailed to an address within the parish, you must indicate the specific dates you will be temporarily absent);
• You moved your residence to another parish more than 100 miles from the parish seat of your former residence after the voter registration deadline;
• You are involuntarily confined in an institution for mental treatment  outside your parish of registration and you are not interdicted and not judicially declared incompetent;
• You expect to be hospitalized on Election Day and you did not have knowledge until after the time for early voting had expired; or you were hospitalized during the time for early voting and you expect to be hospitalized on Election Day; or you were either hospitalized or restricted to your bed by your physician during early voting and on Election Day;
• You expect to be out of your precinct of registration and upon the waters (offshore) of the state both during the early voting period and on Election Day because of your employment or occupation;
• You are incarcerated in an institution inside/outside your parish of registration and you are not under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony (certification by the sheriff must be attached);
• You are a program participant in the Department of State Address Confidentiality Program (ACP); or
• You are a juror and will be sequestered on the day of the election (a certified copy of the court order must be attached).

When can I apply to vote by mail?

The earliest a request for an absentee ballot can be accepted is 60 days prior to the election. The request deadline is four days before Election Day at 4:30 p.m. If you are military personnel, a U.S. citizen residing outside the United States or you are hospitalized, you can request an absentee ballot by 4:30 p.m. on the day before Election Day.

How do I apply?

You can mail, fax or hand deliver an Application for Absentee by Mail Ballot form to the registrar of voters of your parish. Visit the secretary of state's website at www.GeauxVote.com to download the form. You also can visit www.GeauxVote.com or call toll free 1-800-883-2805 to obtain contact information for your local parish.

What is the deadline for returning your completed vote-by-mail ballots?

• Military personnel: By 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• U.S. citizens residing outside the United States: By 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• Hospitalization:  By 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• All others: By 4:30 p.m. on the day before Election Day.

If you have any other questions about voting in Louisiana, contact your local registrar's office or the secretary of state's office at www.GeauxVote.com or 1-800-883-2805.