Assistance to Voters  

A visibly disabled voter and the person assisting him in voting shall go to the front of the line at their polling place or when voting early at the registrar of voters office.

A voter is entitled to receive assistance while voting if he/she is (1) unable to read, or (2) unable to vote without assistance because of a physical disability, including being visually impaired.  A voter may choose to use the audio ballot instead of receiving assistance.

A voter must either file a statement with the registrar in person or by mail if they need assistance in voting or provide certain documentation to the poll worker on election day.

A voter may receive assistance by providing a physician's certificate certifying to the disability, or a copy of a current mobility-impaired ID card issued by the Department of Public Safety & Correction, or a copy of current documentation showing eligibility for disability benefits from either social security, veteran's, paratransit services, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, or benefits from Louisiana Rehabilition Services.

Persons prohibited from assisting voters are as follows:

• No candidate can assist a voter.
• No Commissioner in Charge.
• No employer or employer's agent can assist an employee.
• No union agent can assist a union member.
• No staff for a state residential facility can assist residents of their facility in registering or voting.

REQUIREMENTS OF PERSON ASSISTING A VOTER

With the exceptions noted above, a voter who is entitled to assistance in voting may receive the assistance of any person of his choice including a commissioner.  

• Assistance for voting absentee by mail-  The person assisting the voter shall explain to the voter that a signature or mark made by the voter constitutes certification that all statements in the certificate are true and correct and that any person who knowingly provides false or incorrect statements is subject to a fine or imprisonment, or both.
• Any person who assists a voter in voting a paper ballot must sign the acknowledgment on the paper ballot envelope flap, verifying that the person providing the assistance has marked the ballot in the manner dictated by the voter.
• Assistance during Early Voting and Election Day-  Before a voter receives assistance, the commissioner must print the voter's name and the assistant's name (including a commissioner providing assistance) behind the tab for Assistance to Voters in the back of the Precinct Register.  Then the assistant (including a commissioner providing assistance) must sign his name next to his printed name before being allowed to assist the voter.

If a voter is assigned to a polling place that is not accessible, the voter may cast his vote at the nearest polling place with the same ballot, or at the registrar of voters office.