Candidate Withdrawals

Any candidate who wishes to withdraw his candidacy may file a Notice of Withdrawal (PDF). The original, signed and notarized form must be filed with the Secretary of State Elections Division at 8585 Archives Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809 either by hand delivery or mail. Faxed copies and photocopies are not accepted. 

A notice of withdrawal shall be effective when the original, signed and notarized original is filed with the secretary of state, and the candidate who filed the notice shall no longer be qualified as a candidate in the election. If the election ballot was printed before the withdrawal, any votes received by the withdrawn candidate shall be null and void and shall not be counted for any purpose whatsoever and notice shall be posted at any polling place where the withdrawn candidate's name appears on the ballot. Ballot printing begins soon after the end of qualifying of all officials.

If a candidate wishes to receive a 50 percent refund of the qualifying fee, the original, signed and notarized Notice of Withdrawal form must be received in the Secretary of State's Office by 4:30 p.m. on or before the seventh day after the qualifying period closes, or prior to the 56th day before the primary, whichever deadline is later.

For more information, view R.S. 18:501 (external).