ELECTIONS COMPLIANCE UNIT INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN FEDERAL GUILTY PLEAS FOR FORMER POLICE CHIEF AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER

July 22, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced today that an investigation that began as a result of the 2016 Amite City municipal elections has resulted in a pair of guilty pleas in election-related crimes in Tangipahoa Parish.

Federal court documents describe the conspiracy between former Amite City Chief of Police Jerry Trabona and Kristian “Kris" Hart, a current Amite City Council member, to pay voters for voting in the 2016 open primary where both were candidates, and in which federal candidates also appeared on the ballot. Hart pleaded guilty to three additional counts of both paying and offering to pay voters in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

“While this case against Trabona and Hart began as a result of a federal investigation, it was aided substantially by the efforts of the investigators in Louisiana's Elections Compliance Unit (ECU), as a result of our official review of Emmanuel Zanders III following the 2020 federal election," said Ardoin. “Our investigators were alerted to Mr. Zanders' activities by the Tangipahoa Registrar of Voters, and we quickly developed information that led to his arrest and a guilty plea deal that mandated his resignation from the Amite City Council in January of 2021. I remain committed to keeping Louisiana free of corruption in the voting process and ensuring that our elections are fair, safe, accurate and free of disruption by corrupt actors."

The Louisiana Elections Compliance Unit is charged with investigating and reporting matters involving violations of the Louisiana election code. The unit is composed of law enforcement officers with statewide jurisdiction. The unit conducts investigations that involve voter fraud, vote buying and voter intimidation during early voting, absentee-by-mail voting and Election Day voting. In addition, the unit also investigates allegations of persons providing false or misleading information to a registrar or to a commissioner during the registration or voting process, working closely with district attorneys and local law enforcement officials around the state.

Complaints involving violations of the election code should be reported to the unit at 1.800.722.5305.

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​LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF STATE RECEIVES 2022 NASS IDEAS AWARD

July 12, 2022
​

BATON ROUGE, La.—The Louisiana Department of State was the recipient of the 2022 National Association of Secretaries of State Innovation, Dedication, Excellence and Achievement in Service Award at the 2022 NASS Summer Conference in Baton Rouge. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin accepted the award for Louisiana's submission, the Operation Geaux Vote Task Force.

“I am honored to accept this award on behalf of members of the Operation Geaux Vote Task Force, our Department of State staff, Clerks of Court, Registrars of Voters, and election commissioners who helped successfully execute the 2020 and 2021 statewide elections in Louisiana," Secretary Ardoin said. “They did so in the face of extraordinary challenges during a global pandemic and the aftermath of major hurricanes which upended their own lives and the lives of the citizens they serve. I could not be more proud of their work, dedication, and service."

Louisiana, Iowa and Colorado were finalists for the IDEAS Award. Louisiana was selected as the award recipient by NASS member secretaries after a video presentation by Operation Geaux Vote Task Force Co-Chairs Brad Manuel and Catherine Newsome.

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​QUALIFYING PROCEDURES FOR NOVEMBER 8 ELECTION

July 12, 2022​

BATON ROUGE, La. — Qualifying for the November 8 Open Congressional Primary election will be held from Wednesday, July 20 through Friday, July 22 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

​Local and municipal candidates qualify with the clerk of court in the parish in which they are registered to vote. All candidates for state and federal office will qualify at the Louisiana State Archives located at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. Hours of operation for the secretary of state are 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily. Candidates are encouraged to check with their local clerk of court for specific parish hours.

Pursuant to Act 312 of the 2020 Regular Session and Act 35 of the 2022 Regular Session, qualifying candidates will be required to provide an email address and present a valid Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana identification card. For more information on qualifying, visit the secretary of state's website at www.sos.la.gov.

- www.sos.la.gov -

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SECRETARY ARDOIN RESPONDS TO SUPREME COURT ORDER

June 28, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin addressed the order granting a stay by the United States Supreme Court in Ardoin v. Robinson, allowing the congressional district maps enacted by the Louisiana Legislature to be used in the fall 2022 elections.

​"The primary function of the Secretary of State is to ensure elections are conducted in a secure and equitable manner. We work hard, year-round, to guarantee that Louisiana's elections run effectively and securely. Today's ruling by the United States Supreme Court gives us the ability to continue working to implement secure elections this fall for all voters in Louisiana."

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SECRETARY ARDOIN ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING LEGISLATION PASSED DURING 2022 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION

June 8, 2022 ​

BATON ROUGE, La. —Following the conclusion of the 2022 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature earlier this week, Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin issues the following update on the Department of State's legislative package:

“I am grateful to the legislature for passing legislation included in our agency's legislative package, and I am especially thankful to the members who carried these bills and worked so hard to ensure their passage. I call on Governor Edwards to swiftly sign these bills into law so that we can continue to improve upon our stellar election integrity measures," Ardoin said.

​Bills that were part of the department's package include:

• HB 178 by Representative Debbie Villio—A proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit individuals other than American and Louisiana citizens from voting in state and local elections (as a proposed constitutional amendment, this instrument does not require the signature of the governor and will be placed on the statewide ballot on December 10, 2022).
• HB 35 by Representative Les Farnum—A bill to provide for a supplemental annual canvass.
• HB 671 by Representative Rick Edmonds—A bill to provide for additional requirements in the voting machine testing process (this bill is part of a package of recommendations from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's March 9, 2022 report on election integrity procedures within the Department of State).
• HB 924 by Representative Rick Edmonds—A bill to provide for the post-election tabulation audits of paper records, including absentee ballots (this bill is part of a package of recommendations from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's March 9, 2022 report on election integrity procedures within the Department of State).
• HB 1074 by Representative Rick Edmonds—A bill to require the Secretary of State to promulgate rules related to the curing of absentee ballots (this bill is part of a package of recommendations from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's March 9, 2022 report on election integrity procedures within the Department of State).
• HB 357 by Representative Sam Jenkins—A bill that clarifies rules informing voters about changes to polling places.
• HB 423 by Representative Buddy Mincey—A bill that requires public school governing authorities to provide high school seniors the opportunity to register to vote.
• SB 369 by Senator Jimmy Harris—A bill that provides for a pay raise for election commissioners and members of parish boards of election supervisors.
• SB 144 by Senator Robert Mills—A bill that clarifies rules related to the hand-delivery of absentee ballots.
  
   
  
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SECRETARY ARDOIN RESPONDS TO 5^TH CIRCUIT REDISTRICTING RULING

​June 13, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin addressed the ruling entered by the 5^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the proposed congressional district maps passed during the Louisiana Legislature's 2022 First Extraordinary Session.

"We have received the decision by a three judge panel of the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals lifting the stay of Judge Shelly Dick's preliminary injunction and we are determining our next course of action.  While I strongly disagree with the ruling of the panel, as Secretary of State I am obligated to comply with federal and state law, including Judge Dick's injunction as long as it remains in effect," said Ardoin. "I also remain committed that my office will do everything in our power to administer fair and equitable elections for all Louisiana voters in 2022."

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SECRETARY ARDOIN RESPONDS TO REDISTRICTING RULING

 June 6, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin addressed the ruling entered by the U.S. Middle District of Louisiana regarding the proposed congressional district maps passed during the 2022 First Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana State Legislature.

​“The Department of State's legal team and I are reviewing the ruling entered by Judge Shelly Dick this afternoon. Our office has filed a Notice of Appeal to the Fifth Circuit along with the other named parties in the original action. The Louisiana Department of State does not comment on pending litigation."

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STATEMENT FROM SECRETARY ARDOIN ON THE PASSAGE OF HB 178

June 3, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin released the following statement regarding the passage of HB 178 by Representative Debbie Villio:

“I am thankful that the legislature passed HB 178 by Representative Debbie Villio with overwhelming, bipartisan support. This proposed constitutional amendment will further ensure that our elections remain fair, accurate and transparent by enshrining in our state's cornerstone document that only American and Louisiana citizens may vote in our state and local elections. I am grateful to Representative Villio and Senator Mizell for their work on this legislation."

The proposed constitutional amendment will be on the ballot for all Louisiana voters during the December 10 election.

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IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES FOR RESCHEDULED SULPHUR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 ELECTION

May 2, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding everyone that Saturday, June 4, 2022 is Election Day for the rescheduled City of Sulphur District 2 Primary Election.

In preparation for the election, Secretary Ardoin encourages voters to remember:

• The deadline to register to vote in person, by mail or at the OMV office is Wednesday, May 4. The deadline to register through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is Saturday, May 14.
  
• Early voting will take place Saturday, May 21 through Saturday, May 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., excluding Sunday, May 22.
• The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, May 31 by 4:30 p.m. Voted absentee ballots must be returned to the parish registrar of voters office by Friday, June 3 at 4:30 p.m.
• Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
• Voters can find their polling location and sample ballot by downloading the GeauxVote Mobile app for smartphones or by visiting www.GeauxVote.com.
• Voters may also utilize the virtual voter assistant, GeauxBot, to access pertinent election information. GeauxBot is accessible by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.
• Voters can sign up for text alerts via GeauxVote Mobile.
• Voters should bring an ID with them to vote (Louisiana driver's license, Louisiana Special ID card, a generally recognized picture identification card with name and signature such as a passport or a digital license via LA Wallet). Voters without an ID will be required to fill out an affidavit but will be allowed to vote.
• Election results can be viewed in real-time via GeauxVote Mobile or at www.sos.la.gov. 
  
  For more information, please contact our Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.
  
   
  
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ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINES FOR THE APRIL 30 MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION

​​March 30, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters of the upcoming absentee ballot deadlines for the April 30 Municipal General Election.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, April 26 by 4:30 p.m. Requests can be made online by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov and selecting “Request Absentee Ballot," or in person at the parish Registrar of Voters office. Voters who have requested but not yet received an absentee ballot may check their absentee ballot status by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov, entering the appropriate voter information and selecting “Check Absentee Ballot Status."

The deadline to return a completed ballot is Friday, April 29 by 4:30 pm. This instructional video shows step-by-step how to properly fill out and return an absentee ballot. Completed ballots can be returned to the parish Registrar of Voters by mail, in-person by the voter or by a voter's immediate family member. Should a voter be unable to meet an absentee ballot deadline, they can still vote in-person on Election Day. Polling locations can also be found on voterportal.sos.la.gov or on the free GeauxVote mobile app.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov

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EARLY VOTING BEGINS APRIL 16 FOR THE APRIL 30 MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION​

March 30, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters that early voting for the April 30 Municipal General Election begins Saturday, April 16, and continues through Saturday, April 23 (excluding Sunday, April 17) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Citizens who want to vote early may do so in person at their parish Registrar of Voters Office or at other designated locations. 

Voters are encouraged to utilize Louisiana's award-winning, free smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to locate parish early voting locations, Election Day voting site, or view their sample ballot. GeauxBot, the virtual voter assistant, is also available to access pertinent election information such as registration deadlines, election dates, polling locations, and hours. GeauxBot is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.

In addition to a Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana Special ID or a generally recognized ID with picture and signature, voters may use a digital license via LA Wallet.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

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ELECTION DAY REMINDERS​

March 30, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding everyone that Saturday, April 30, 2022 is Election Day for the Municipal General Election.

In preparation for the election, Secretary Ardoin encourages voters to remember:

• Early voting will take place Saturday, April 16 through Saturday, April 23, excluding Sunday, April 17.
• The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, April 26 by 4:30 p.m. Voted absentee ballots must be returned to the parish registrar of voters office by Friday, April 29 at 4:30 p.m.
• Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
• Voters can find their polling location and sample ballot by downloading the GeauxVote Mobile app for smartphones or by visiting www.GeauxVote.com.
• Voters may also utilize the virtual voter assistant, GeauxBot, to access pertinent election information. GeauxBot is accessible by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.
• Voters can sign up for text alerts via GeauxVote Mobile.
• Voters should bring an ID with them to vote (Louisiana driver's license, Louisiana Special ID card, a generally recognized picture identification card with name and signature such as a passport or a digital license via LA Wallet). Voters without an ID will be required to fill out an affidavit but will be allowed to vote.
• Election results can be viewed in real-time via GeauxVote Mobile or at www.sos.la.gov. 
  

​​VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES FOR THE APRIL 30 MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION​

March 30, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding Louisianians that the deadlines to register to vote in the April 30 Municipal General Election are fast approaching. The in-person or by mail registration deadline is Wednesday, March 30, and the deadline for registering through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is Saturday, April 9. These deadlines are for citizens who have never registered to vote as well as voters who would like to make changes to their registration.

Citizens may check their registration or register to vote online at www.GeauxVote.com; at their parish's Registrar of Voters Office; while obtaining services at the Office of Motor Vehicles, public assistance agencies, public schools, colleges and libraries; or by mail. Louisianians can also utilize the GeauxVote Mobile smartphone app to access registration, ballot and polling place information.

After registering, voters should download the GeauxVote Mobile smartphone app. The app provides registration information as well as voting districts, sample ballots, polling place information and election results.

Early voting for the April 30 election is scheduled for Saturday, April 16 through Saturday, April 23 (excluding Sunday, April 17), from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information about the Secretary of State's Elections Division, visit www.GeauxVote.com or call 225.922.0900.

- www.sos.la.gov -

BATON ROUGE, La. — Pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution 81 of the 2021 Regular Legislative Session, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor conducted an audit of the Louisiana Department of State’s policies, procedures, and practices regarding the integrity of elections in Louisiana to provide assurance as to whether the elections process in Louisiana is sufficient to provide for the integrity and security of all elections held within the state.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin issued the following statement on the release of the Legislative Auditor’s report on election integrity in Louisiana:

“I am extremely pleased at the findings of the Legislative Auditor’s report that reaffirms Louisiana’s stringent election integrity practices which keep our elections safe, secure, fair and accurate. I am thankful for the thoughtful and diligent work of the Auditor’s staff over the last year as they delved into our practices and worked with my staff to produce this report. I am most proud of Louisiana’s team of election professionals at every level, who work tirelessly to ensure that our elections are a model for the rest of the country. ”

Key findings in the report include:

● 77 out of 79 responsive Clerks of Court and Registrars of Voters rated Louisiana’s election integrity as “excellent” (63) or “good” (14).

● Many of the Auditor’s suggested revisions to the Louisiana Election Code have been or are being pursued by the Department of State, including introducing an auditable paper trail in Louisiana’s voting system and holding a second annual voter canvass to ensure the accuracy of the state’s voter registration list.

● The Department of State takes reports of voter fraud seriously, having seen the prosecution and conviction of four individuals since 2017.

Louisiana has been ranked 7^thin the nation by the Heritage Foundation and 12^thin the nation (including being ranked 1^stin the south) by the Electoral Integrity Project for election integrity.

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​ELECTION DAY REMINDERS​

​March 15, 2022

EARLY VOTING BEGINS MARCH 12 FOR THE MARCH 26 MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTION

March 11, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters that early voting for the  March 26 Municipal Primary Election begins Saturday, March 12, and continues through Saturday, March 19 (excluding Sunday, March 13) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Citizens who want to vote early may do so in person at their parish Registrar of Voters Office or at other designated locations. 

Voters are encouraged to utilize Louisiana's award-winning, free smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to locate parish early voting locations, Election Day voting site, or view their sample ballot. GeauxBot, the virtual voter assistant, is also available to access pertinent election information such as registration deadlines, election dates, polling locations, and hours. GeauxBot is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.

In addition to a Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana Special ID or a generally recognized ID with picture and signature, voters may use a digital license via LA Wallet.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.​

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ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINES FOR THE MARCH 26 MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTION

March 8, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters of the upcoming absentee ballot deadlines for the March 26 Municipal Primary Election. 

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, March 22 by 4:30 p.m. Requests can be made online by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov and selecting “Request Absentee Ballot," or in person at the parish Registrar of Voters office. Voters who have requested but not yet received an absentee ballot may check their absentee ballot status by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov, entering the appropriate voter information and selecting “Check Absentee Ballot Status."

The deadline to return a completed ballot is Friday, March 25 by 4:30 pm. This instructional video shows step-by-step how to properly fill out and return an absentee ballot. Completed ballots can be returned to the parish Registrar of Voters by mail, in-person by the voter or by a voter's immediate family member. Should a voter be unable to meet an absentee ballot deadline, they can still vote in-person on Election Day. Polling locations can also be found on voterportal.sos.la.gov or on the free GeauxVote mobile app.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov

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VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES FOR THE MARCH 26 MUNICIPAL PRIMARY​

February 21, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding Louisianians that the deadlines to register to vote in the March 26 Municipal Primary are fast approaching. The in-person or by mail registration deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 23, and the deadline for registering through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is Saturday, March 5. These deadlines are for citizens who have never registered to vote as well as voters who would like to make changes to their registration.

Citizens may check their registration or register to vote online at www.GeauxVote.com; at their parish's Registrar of Voters Office; while obtaining services at the Office of Motor Vehicles, public assistance agencies, public schools, colleges and libraries; or by mail. Louisianians can also utilize the GeauxVote Mobile smartphone app to access registration, ballot and polling place information.

After registering, voters should download the GeauxVote Mobile smartphone app. The app provides registration information as well as voting districts, sample ballots, polling place information and election results.

Early voting for the March 26 election is scheduled for Saturday, March 12 through Saturday, March 19 (excluding Sunday, March 13), from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information about the Secretary of State's Elections Division, visit www.GeauxVote.com or call 225.922.0900.

- www.sos.la.gov -

State Board of Election Supervisors Agenda​

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​QUALIFYING PROCEDURES FOR MARCH 26 ELECTION

January 24, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Qualifying for the March 26 Municipal Primary election will be held from Wednesday, January 26 through Friday, January 28.

All candidates for local municipal races must qualify with their parish clerk of court. Candidates may qualify for office by paying a qualifying fee or by filing a nominating petition, and are encouraged to check with their local clerk of court for specific parish hours. More information, including contact information for parish clerk of court offices, can be found by visiting GeauxVote.com and selecting the Election Qualifying link.

All judicial candidates qualifying for Court of Appeal, 2nd Circuit, 3rd District, Election Section 2C and Court of Appeal, 3rd Circuit, 3rd District, Election Section 1C will qualify at the Secretary of State's office located at 8585 Archives Avenue in Baton Rouge. Hours of operation for the Secretary of State's office are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Once qualified, candidates will appear on the Secretary of State's website in real-time on the home page at www.sos.la.gov.

Pursuant to Act 312 of the 2020 Regular Session, qualifying candidates will be required to present a valid Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana identification card. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, candidates are encouraged to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines. For more information on qualifying, visit the Secretary of State's website at www.sos.la.gov or call (225)922-0900.

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​VOTING SYSTEM COMMISSION DEADLINE SUSPENDED

January 21, 2022​​

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced that Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a proclamation suspending the deadline for the Voting System Commission's final report as a result of Hurricane Ida and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Act 480, the legislation that created the Voting System Commission, was passed and signed into law during the 2021 Regular Legislative Session. The act required the commission to produce a final report recommending a type of voting system to Secretary Ardoin by January 31, 2022.

“As chairman of the Voting System Commission, I am grateful to the governor for suspending the deadline for the report. The Voting System Commission has already had to delay its meetings due to Hurricane Ida and has canceled one meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision will give the commission the time it needs to hold its final meetings and carefully weigh its decision. The task of recommending a new type of voting system is far too important to rush the process," Ardoin stated.

The commission will vote to recommend a type of voting system after its final meeting this year. All meetings are open to the public.

​For more information about the Voting System Commission, contact John Ryan McGehee in the Communications Office at 225.922.0820 or visit www.GeauxVote.com. If members of the public would like to view recordings of previous meetings, please visit www.senate.la.gov.

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​ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINES FOR THE JAN. 15 CATAHOULA POLICE JUROR ELECTION

​January 4, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters of the upcoming absentee ballot deadlines for the Jan. 15 Special General Catahoula Parish Police Juror, Dist. 3 Election.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Jan. 11 by 4:30 p.m. Requests can be made online by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov and selecting “Request Absentee Ballot," or in person at the parish Registrar of Voters office. Voters who have requested but not yet received an absentee ballot may check their absentee ballot status by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov, entering the appropriate voter information and selecting “Check Absentee Ballot Status."

The deadline to return a completed ballot is Friday, Jan. 14 by 4:30 pm. This instructional video shows step-by-step how to properly fill out and return an absentee ballot. Completed ballots can be returned to the parish Registrar of Voters by mail, in-person by the voter or by a voter's immediate family member. Should a voter be unable to meet an absentee ballot deadline, they can still vote in-person on Election Day. Polling locations can also be found on voterportal.sos.la.gov or on the free GeauxVote mobile app.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov

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​ELECTION DAY REMINDERS

EARLY VOTING BEGINS JAN. 3 FOR THE JAN. 15 SPECIAL CATAHOULA PARISH POLICE JUROR ELECTION​

January 3, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters that early voting for the  Jan. 15 Special General Catahoula Parish Police Juror, Dist. 3 Election begins Monday, Jan. 3, and continues through Saturday, Jan. 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Citizens who want to vote early may do so in person at their parish Registrar of Voters Office or at other designated locations. 

Voters are encouraged to utilize Louisiana's award-winning, free smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to locate parish early voting locations, Election Day voting site, or view their sample ballot. GeauxBot, the virtual voter assistant, is also available to access pertinent election information such as registration deadlines, election dates, polling locations, and hours. GeauxBot is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and wipe down voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required.

In addition to a Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana Special ID or a generally recognized ID with picture and signature, voters may use a digital license via LA Wallet.

​For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

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​LOUISIANA RANKED IN TOP 10 IN THE NATION FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY

December 20, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is pleased to announce that Louisiana was ranked in the top 10 states for election integrity by the Heritage Foundation. The 2021 Election Integrity Scorecard, which was released last week, ranks Louisiana seventh in the nation. Scores were calculated from 12 different categories, including voter ID implementation, absentee ballot management, vote counting practices and verification of citizenship.

“Louisiana is among the nation's leaders when it comes to election integrity due to our agency's sound procedures and best practices, along with our team of dedicated civil servants who work incredibly hard to ensure our elections run smoothly," Ardoin said. “While we are proud to be named in the top 10, our goal is perfection, so we will continue working to improve our system. Louisianians deserve the most secure, accurate and transparent elections possible—we strive to make it easy to vote, but hard to cheat."

Ardoin was recently designated as a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA), the nation's highest professional achievement for election officials. This distinction is earned through a multi-year course conducted by the Election Center's Professional Education Program at Auburn University.

The Heritage Foundation Election Integrity Scorecard compares states' election laws that affect election security and integrity. 

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​ELECTION DAY REMINDERS

December 10, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding everyone that Saturday, Dec. 11 is Election Day. Certain precincts in 35 parishes will have items on the ballot: Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Avoyelles, Ascension, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Catahoula, Concordia, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Orleans, Rapides, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Terrebonne, Union, Vernon, Washington, and West Carroll.

In preparation for the election, Secretary Ardoin encourages voters to remember:

• Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
• Voters can find their polling location and sample ballot by downloading the GeauxVote Mobile app for smartphones or by visiting www.GeauxVote.com.
• Voters may also utilize the virtual voter assistant, GeauxBot, to access pertinent election information. GeauxBot is accessible by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.
• Voters can sign up for text alerts via GeauxVote Mobile.
• Voters should bring an ID with them to vote (Louisiana driver's license, Louisiana Special ID card, a generally recognized picture identification card with name and signature such as a passport or a digital license via LA Wallet). Voters without an ID will be required to fill out an affidavit but will be allowed to vote.
• Election results can be viewed in real-time via GeauxVote Mobile or at www.sos.la.gov. 

All absentee ballots must be returned to the Registrar's office by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10. Voters are encouraged to check their polling location and sample ballot by logging into the online voter portal at www.voterportal.sos.la.gov, on the award-winning GeauxVote Mobile app, or by calling the Elections Division hotline at 800.883.2805.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required.

​For more information, please contact our Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

- www.sos.la.gov -

Dec. 7, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. —Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin's office will test its electronic election results system ahead of the upcoming Dec. 11 election on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. During the test period, mock results will be displayed on the secretary of state's website. These election results are only for testing purposes and do not reflect any actual results.

Media outlets are strongly urged to test their election night broadcast systems, graphics and websites in conjunction with our testing so that any technical issues can be identified and remedied with assistance from the Secretary of State's IT staff prior to election night. In an effort to combat misinformation, we urge outlets to put banners on their websites showing their readers/viewers that the results are only test results and not official.

In preparation for election night, media outlets should reserve their seat at the Secretary of State's office if they are interested in watching results via our Elections Registration Information Network. This seat can also serve as a backup for your election night plans.

If any issues are encountered, to sign up for the XML feed or to reserve a seat at ERIN, please contact Kaylee Trisler in the Communications Office at 225.362.5086 or kaylee.trisler@sos.la.gov.

Finally, the Communications Office for Election Day will be staffed by Deputy Secretary, Communications John W. Tobler and Public Information Officer Kaylee Trisler. Tobler can be reached at 225.362.5111 (office) or john.tobler@sos.la.gov. Trisler can be reached at the information listed above.

​###

​

ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINES FOR THE DEC. 11 ELECTION

November 30, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters of the upcoming absentee ballot deadlines for the Dec. 11 election.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Dec. 7 by 4:30 p.m. Requests can be made online by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov and selecting “Request Absentee Ballot," or in person at the parish Registrar of Voters office. Voters who have requested but not yet received an absentee ballot may check their absentee ballot status by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov, entering the appropriate voter information and selecting “Check Absentee Ballot Status."

The deadline to return a completed ballot is Friday, Dec. 10 by 4:30 pm. This instructional video shows step-by-step how to properly fill out and return an absentee ballot. Completed ballots can be returned to the parish Registrar of Voters by mail, in-person by the voter or by a voter's immediate family member. Should a voter be unable to meet an absentee ballot deadline, they can still vote in-person on Election Day. Polling locations can also be found on voterportal.sos.la.gov or on the free GeauxVote mobile app.

Voters relying on mail service are encouraged to request, fill out and return their absentee ballots to their parish Registrar of Voters office right away.  

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov

​###

EARLY VOTING BEGINS NOV. 27 FOR THE DEC. 11 ELECTION

November 24, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters that early voting for the Dec. 11 election begins Saturday, Nov. 27, and continues through Saturday, Dec. 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, excluding Sunday, Nov. 28. Citizens who want to vote early may do so in person at their parish Registrar of Voters Office or at other designated locations. 

• 7 parishes will have local propositions and candidate races: Ascension, Bossier, Catahoula, East Baton Rouge, Iberia, Orleans and Rapides.
• 26 parishes will only have local propositions: Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Caddo, Calcasieu, Concordia, DeSoto, Grant, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Natchitoches, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Terrebonne, Union, Washington, and West Carroll.
• 1 parish will only have candidate races: Vernon.
• 1 parish will have a local proposition and a recall election: Ouachita.
• 29 parishes will have no elections: Caldwell, Cameron, Claiborne, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Martin, Vermilion, Webster, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, and Winn.

Voters are encouraged to utilize Louisiana's award-winning, free smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to locate parish early voting locations, Election Day voting site, or view their sample ballot. GeauxBot, the virtual voter assistant, is also available to access pertinent election information such as registration deadlines, election dates, polling locations, and hours. GeauxBot is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and wipe down voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required.

In addition to a Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana Special ID or a generally recognized ID with picture and signature, voters may use a digital license via LA Wallet.​

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

sos.la.gov

​

Nov. 9, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. —Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin's office will test its electronic election results system ahead of the upcoming Nov. 13 election on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. During the test period, mock results will be displayed on the secretary of state's website. These election results are only for testing purposes and do not reflect any actual results.

Media outlets are strongly urged to test their election night broadcast systems, graphics and websites in conjunction with our testing so that any technical issues can be identified and remedied with assistance from the secretary of state's IT staff prior to election night. In an effort to combat misinformation, we urge outlets to put banners on their websites showing their readers/viewers that the results are only test results and not official.

In preparation for election night, media outlets should reserve their seat at the Secretary of State's Office if they are interested in watching results via our Elections Registration Information Network. This seat can also serve as a backup for your election night plans.

If any issues are encountered, to sign up for the XML feed or to reserve a seat at ERIN, please contact Kaylee Trisler in the Communications Office at 225.362.5086 or kaylee.trisler@sos.la.gov.​

Finally, the Communications Office for Election Day will be staffed by Deputy Secretary, Communications John W. Tobler and Public Information Officer Kaylee Trisler. Tobler can be reached at 225.362.5111 (office) or john.tobler@sos.la.gov. Trisler can be reached at the information listed above.

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​

ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINES FOR THE NOV. 13 ELECTION​

November 2, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters of the upcoming absentee ballot deadlines for the Nov. 13 election.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Nov. 9 by 4:30 p.m. Requests can be made online by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov and selecting “Request Absentee Ballot," or in person at the parish Registrar of Voters office. Voters who have requested but not yet received an absentee ballot may check their absentee ballot status by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov, entering the appropriate voter information and selecting “Check Absentee Ballot Status."

The deadline to return a completed ballot is Friday, Nov. 12 by 4:30 pm. This instructional video shows step-by-step how to properly fill out and return an absentee ballot. Completed ballots can be returned to the parish Registrar of Voters by mail, in-person by the voter or by a voter's immediate family member. Should a voter be unable to meet an absentee ballot deadline, they can still vote in-person on Election Day. Polling locations can also be found on voterportal.sos.la.gov or on the free GeauxVote mobile app.

Absentee ballots that were requested or received prior to the governor's proclamation to reschedule fall elections will still count for the Nov. 13 election. Voters relying on mail service are encouraged to request, fill out and return their absentee ballots to their parish Registrar of Voters office right away.  

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov

###

​

SECRETARY ARDOIN ANNOUNCES NEW EARLY VOTING SITE​

October 25, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is announcing a new, temporary early voting site in New Orleans. The new, temporary site will be at the LSU Health Sciences Center, located at 2020 Gravier Street. The site features ample free parking for voters.

“Due to the lingering effects of COVID-19, and in an effort to provide for adequate social distancing for New Orleans voters, we are temporarily holding early voting at the LSU Health Sciences Center in addition to our other early voting sites," Secretary Ardoin said. “I thank the staff at LSU HSC and Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters Dr. Sandra Wilson for their help in securing this site, and for working with our team so closely."

​Early voting runs 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., from October 30 through November 6 for the November 13 primary election, and from November 27 through December 4 for the December 11 general election. Both early voting periods will exclude Sundays.  

For more information, contact our Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

- www.sos.la.gov -

​

EARLY VOTING BEGINS OCT. 30 FOR THE NOV. 13 ELECTION

 October 25, 2021​

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters that early voting for the Nov. 13 election begins Saturday, Oct. 30, and continues through Saturday, Nov. 6, excluding Sunday, Oct. 31. Citizens who want to early vote may do so in person at their parish Registrar of Voters office or at other designated locations.

• 12 parishes will vote in local races and on propositions and Constitutional Amendments: Bossier, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lafourche, Morehouse, Orleans, Ouachita, St. Landry, St. Tammany, Vernon, and Washington.

• 7 parishes will vote in local races and on Constitutional Amendments: Ascension, Avoyelles, Caddo, Catahoula, Iberia, Rapides, and Richland.
• 24 parishes will vote on local propositions and Constitutional Amendments: Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Beauregard, Bienville, Claiborne, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Plaquemines, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Union, Vermilion, West Carroll, and West Feliciana.
• 21 parishes will only vote on Constitutional Amendments: Caldwell, Cameron, Concordia, DeSoto, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Livingston, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Red River, St. Helena, St. James, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Webster, West Baton Rouge, and Winn.

Secretary Ardoin is also pleased to announce a new, temporary early voting site in New Orleans. The new, temporary site will be at the LSU Health Sciences Center, located at 433 Bolivar Street at the corner of Gravier and Bolivar. The site features ample free parking for voters. More information on this site is forthcoming.

Voters are encouraged to utilize Louisiana's free, award-winning smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to locate parish early voting locations, Election Day voting site, or view their sample ballot. GeauxBot, the virtual voter assistant, is also available to access pertinent election information such as registration deadlines, election dates, polling locations, and hours. GeauxBot is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and wipe down voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required.

In addition to a Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana Special ID or a generally recognized ID with picture and signature, voters may use a digital license via LA Wallet.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

-sos.la.gov-

​

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES FOR RESCHEDULED FALL 2021 ELECTIONS

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding Louisianans of fast-approaching dates and registration deadlines for the Nov. 13 election. In preparation for the fall elections, which were rescheduled to Nov. 13 and Dec. 11 due to Hurricane Ida, Secretary Ardoin encourages voters to remember the following dates and deadlines:

Additionally, several polling locations have changed due to damage from Hurricane Ida. Voters in areas affected by Hurricane Ida are encouraged to check their polling location by logging into the online voter portal at www.voterportal.sos.la.gov, on the award-winning GeauxVote Mobile app, or by calling the Elections Division hotline at 800.883.2805. ​

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required.

For more information, please contact our Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

- www.sos.la.gov -

​

October 19, 2021

SECRETARY ARDOIN ANNOUNCES RESCHEDULED VOTING SYSTEM COMMISSION DATE​

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced today the rescheduled first meeting of the Voting System Commission will occur at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 17. The meeting will take place at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. 

“After being delayed by Hurricane Ida, I'm pleased that we are beginning this important work with a diverse group of dedicated citizens from around the state," Ardoin said. “I look forward to hearing from experts and members of the public on how to best advance Louisiana's voting system."

The November 17 meeting is open to the public and will be held in the John Hainkel Senate Committee Room.

- www.sos.la.gov -

​

September 20, 2021

SECRETARY ARDOIN TO TRAVEL TO AREAS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IDA​

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced that he will visit several parishes in South Louisiana that were affected by Hurricane Ida, beginning Tuesday, September 21 and ending Thursday, September 23.

“Our communities were ravaged by Hurricane Ida. The storm might have passed, but we still have work to do getting some of our operations and facilities back in working order," Ardoin said. “I want to hear directly from our local officials about what remains to be done to get our Registrar of Voters and Clerk of Court offices, early voting locations and Election Day polling places ready for the fall elections on November 13."

Secretary Ardoin will be traveling to 10 of the parishes affected by Hurricane Ida. His tentative schedule is as follows::

Tuesday, September 21

• Orleans Parish Criminal District Courthouse, Orleans Parish, 10 a.m.
• Lafitte Town Hall, Jefferson Parish, 11:30 a.m.
• St. Charles Emergency Operations Center Office, St. Charles Parish, 1:30 p.m.
• Edgard Courthouse, St. John the Baptist Parish, 3 p.m.
• St. James Parish Warehouse, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, September 22

• St. Helena Clerk of Court, St. Helena Parish, 10 a.m.
• Amite Courthouse, Tangipahoa Parish, 11:30 a.m.
• St. Tammany Justice Center, St. Tammany Parish, 2 p.m.

Thursday, September 23

• Matthews Government Complex, Lafourche Parish, 10 a.m.
• Terrebonne Parish Government Tower, Terrebonne Parish, 1 p.m.

For press availability, please contact Kaylee Trisler at 225.362.5086 or kaylee.trisler@sos.la.gov.

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​Executive Order 2021 JBE 13 Rescheduling Fall Elections​

​

SECRETARY OF STATE ARDOIN ANNOUNCES RESCHEDULING OF FALL 2021 ELECTIONS

September 8, 2021

Baton Rouge, LA – Today, Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced that Governor John Bel Edwards has agreed with his recommendation to reschedule the fall 2021 elections in light of the devastation brought on by Hurricane Ida. 

“I am thankful that the Governor has recognized the importance of our recommendation to move the October 9 election to November 13 and the November 13 election to December 11," Secretary Ardoin said. “This will allow our staff and local partners more time to properly prepare for a statewide election while ensuring the integrity of our election processes and that our voters' traditional voting habits are as undisturbed as possible."

Further announcements including an emergency certification and election-related deadlines are forthcoming.

-sos.la.gov-​

​

September 7, 2021

SECRETARY OF STATE ARDOIN CALLS ON GOVERNOR TO RESCHEDULE FALL 2021 ELECTIONS​

Baton Rouge, LA – Today, Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin met with Governor John Bel Edwards and requested that the Governor reschedule the October 9 election for November 13 and the November 13 election for December 11.

“With a number of deadlines forthcoming, such as voter registration deadlines, and early voting set to commence in less than three weeks, I am calling on Governor Edwards to approve rescheduling the October 9 and November 13 elections," Secretary Ardoin said. “A number of issues stemming from Hurricane Ida's devastation, including questions about nursing home operations, postal service delivery, extensive power outages, polling location damages, and election commissioners and staff members still displaced, would make holding the election on its original dates virtually impossible without impairing the integrity of the election."

A number of local election officials and civic groups have expressed support for rescheduling the October 9 and November 13 elections.

-sos.la.gov-​

​

SECRETARY ARDOIN POSTPONES VOTING SYSTEM COMMISSION MEETING

August 30, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La.— As a result of the impact of Hurricane Ida, Secretary Ardoin has postponed the inaugural meeting of the Louisiana Voting System Commission (VSC), originally scheduled to meet at 10:00 a.m. on September 1, 2021 in the Hainkel Meeting Room of the Louisiana Senate. 

“Due to the myriad impact of Hurricane Ida throughout Southeast Louisiana and other parts of the state, I am postponing the first meeting of the VSC to allow theCommission and interested members of the public the opportunity to assess their individual circumstances at this time,” said Ardoin. “Because Act 480 of the 2021 Legislature requires the VSC to begin considerations on or before September 1, 2021, I have asked Governor John Bel Edwards to suspend that provision of Act 480 in his next emergency declaration.” 

The Louisiana Secretary of State  has responsibilitiesfor Elections, Business Services, Notarial Licensing, the Louisiana State Archives and a number of State Museums including the Old State Capitol and Louisiana State Exhibit Museum. In addition to inspecting all polling locations, early voting sites and Registrar of Votersoffices across the state, our staff is inspecting our facilities and working to protect state assets at our offices​, warehouses and museums.

- www.sos.la.gov -

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES FOR THE JUNE 12 SPECIAL PRIMARY​

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding Louisianians that the deadlines to register to vote in the June 12 Special Primary for State Senate District 7 are fast approaching. The in-person or by mail registration deadline is Wednesday, May 12, and the deadline for registering through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is Saturday, May 22. These deadlines are for citizens who have never registered to vote as well as voters who would like to make changes to their registration.

Citizens may check their registration or register to vote online at www.GeauxVote.com; at your parish's Registrar of Voters Office; while obtaining services at the Office of Motor Vehicles, public assistance agencies, public schools, colleges and libraries; or by mail. Louisianians can also utilize our smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to access registration, ballot and polling place information.

After registering, voters should download the GeauxVote Mobile smartphone app. The app provides registration information as well as voting districts, sample ballots, polling place information and election results.

Early voting for the June 12 election is scheduled for Friday, May 28 through Saturday, June 5 (excluding Sunday, May 30 and Memorial Day, May 31), from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information about the Secretary of State's Elections Division, visit www.GeauxVote.com or call 225.922.0900.

- www.sos.la.gov -

​ELECTION DAY REMINDERS FOR JUNE 12 SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding everyone that Saturday, June 12, 2021 is Election Day for the State Senate District 7 Special Primary. There are three parishes in which voters will participate: Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines. Voters are encouraged to visit www.GeauxVote.com to determine whether their precinct is included in this special election.

 In preparation for the June 12 special election, Secretary Ardoin encourages voters to remember:

• Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
• Voters can find their polling location and sample ballot by downloading the GeauxVote Mobile app for smartphones or by visiting www.GeauxVote.com.
• Voters may also utilize the virtual voter assistant, GeauxBot, to access pertinent election information. GeauxBot is accessible by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.
• Voters can sign up for text alerts via GeauxVote Mobile.
• Voters should bring an ID with them to vote (Louisiana driver's license, Louisiana Special ID card, a generally recognized picture identification card with name and signature such as a passport or a digital license via LA Wallet). Voters without an ID will be required to fill out an affidavit but will be allowed to vote.
• Election results can be viewed in real-time via GeauxVote Mobile or at www.sos.la.gov. 
  
  

For more information, contact our Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

- www.sos.la.gov -

​MEDIA ADVISORY: SECRETARY OF STATE TO TEST ELECTION RESULTS FOR THE APRIL 24 ELECTION

​April 15, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Ahead of the upcoming April 24 election, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin's office will test its electronic election results system on Tuesday, April 20 at 2 p.m. During the test period, mock results will be displayed on the secretary of state's website. These election results are only for testing purposes and do not reflect any actual results.

Media outlets are strongly urged to test their election night broadcast systems, graphics and websites in conjunction with our testing so that any technical issues can be identified and remedied with assistance from the secretary of state's IT staff prior to election night. In an effort to combat misinformation, we urge outlets to put banners on their websites showing their readers/viewers that the results are only test results and not official.

In preparation for election night, media outlets should reserve their seat at the Secretary of State's Office if they are interested in watching results via our Elections Registration Information Network. This seat can also serve as a backup for your election night plans.

If any issues are encountered, to sign up for the XML feed or to reserve a seat at ERIN, please contact Tamisha Ashworth in the Communications Office at 225.362.5108 or tamisha.ashworth@sos.la.gov.

Finally, the Communications Office for Election Day will be staffed by Deputy Secretary, Communications John W. Tobler and Public Information Officer Tamisha Ashworth. Tobler can be reached at 225.362.5111 (office) or john.tobler@sos.la.gov. Ashworth can be reached at the information listed above.

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​ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINES FOR THE APRIL 24 ELECTION

April 15, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters of the upcoming absentee ballot deadlines.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, April 20 at 4:30 pm. Requests can be made online by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov and selecting “Request Absentee Ballot," or in person at the parish registrar of voters office. Voters who have requested but not yet received an absentee ballot may check their absentee ballot status by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov, entering the appropriate voter information and selecting “Check Absentee Ballot Status."

The deadline to return a completed ballot is Friday, April 23 at 4:30 pm. This instructional video shows step-by-step how to properly fill out and return an absentee ballot. Completed ballots can be returned to the parish registrar of voters by mail, in-person by the voter or by a voter's immediate family member. Should a voter be unable to meet an absentee ballot deadline, they can still vote in-person on Election Day. Polling locations can also be found on voterportal.sos.la.gov or on the free GeauxVote mobile app.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov

###

​EARLY VOTING BEGINS APRIL 10 FOR THE APRIL 24 ELECTION​

April 9, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters that early voting begins Saturday, April 10, and continues through Saturday, April 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, excluding Sunday, April 11. Citizens who want to vote early may do so in person at the parish Registrar of Voters Office or at other designated locations. 

• Five parishes will vote in both multi-parish races (such as United States Representative) and local/municipal offices: DeSoto, Jefferson, Morehouse, Sabine and Winn.
• 21 parishes will vote only on state offices (such as United States Representative): Ascension, Assumption, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, Iberville, Madison, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Red River, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, Tensas, Vernon, Webster, West Baton Rouge and West Carroll.
• Two parishes will vote only on local/municipal offices: Calcasieu and Lafourche.
• 13 parishes will have proposition elections only: Acadia, Allen, Evangeline, Franklin, Iberia, Jackson, Livingston, Richland, St. Bernard, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Vermilion.
• 23 parishes will have no elections: Avoyelles, Beauregard, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, East Feliciana, Grant, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, LaSalle, Lincoln, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Union, Washington and West Feliciana.
  

Voters are encouraged to utilize Louisiana's award-winning, free smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to locate parish early voting locations, Election Day voting site, or view their sample ballot. GeauxBot, the virtual voter assistant, is also available to access pertinent election information such as registration deadlines, election dates, polling locations, and hours. GeauxBot is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and wipe down voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required.

In addition to a Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana Special ID or a generally recognized ID with picture and signature, voters may use a digital license via LA Wallet.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.​

​SECRETARY ARDOIN ANNOUNCES THE LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON ELECTION INTEGRITY AND VOTING

April 6, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — In an effort to ensure Louisiana's continued confidence in election administration, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announces the formation of the Louisiana Commission on Election Integrity and Voting.

“Despite the challenges brought on by natural disasters and a global pandemic, the 2020 Presidential election in Louisiana was free from controversy as seen in other states around the country," Ardoin said. “With a record turnout of 70.1% in approximately 4,000 precincts across the state, our results were fully uploaded just after midnight."

In the months since the Presidential election, despite being a national leader in election administration, questions have been raised regarding the integrity of Louisiana's election processes and procedures by voters concerned with stories of voting issues in other parts of the country.

This bipartisan commission seeks to provide an overview of our election processes and answer these questions for the people of Louisiana:​

• How do we assure continued confidence in our elections?
• How do we combat voter fatigue?
• How do we improve voters' experiences?
  

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ARDOIN CONTRIBUTES TO REPORT BY REPUBLICAN STATE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

April 6, 2021

BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced his contribution to a report on election integrity, published by the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC). In a first-of-its-kind report, the RSLC has provided a roadmap which encourages states to adopt measures that embody key principles aimed at ensuring voter access and participation without sacrificing security, fairness, or transparency. This commission's ongoing efforts recognize the importance of each state's sovereign right to effectively manage their own elections.

“I was pleased to contribute to this report, cataloging a wide variety of statutory and procedural best practices in Louisiana and other states throughout the country," said Ardoin. “The work done by this commission provides a direct conduit for state legislatures and secretaries of state to work together and restore voter confidence."

Among the report's proposed “best practices," Louisiana has already implemented:

• Post-election audits.
• Seven days of early voting at 104 sites across the state.
• Maintenance of voter registration list through cooperation with government partners.
• Photo ID requirements.
• Allowing representatives from campaigns to serve as poll watchers.
• Pre-election testing of machines by the bipartisan Board of Election Supervisors, which is open to the public.
• Allowing any registered voter to be trained and serve as a poll commissioner, either during early voting or on Election Day.
• A robust system of communicating with voters to keep voters engaged and to provide accurate information about elections.​
  

Among the report's proposed “best practices," Secretary Ardoin has proposed:

• Legislation to require the Louisiana Department of Health to share additional information concerning death records with the Department of State to ensure the continued accuracy of the voter registration list.

• Requiring any future voting machine in Louisiana to have a voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT).
• A more robust system of electronically verifying signatures on absentee ballots.
  

A copy of the report can be found here.

- www.sos.la.gov -

​VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES FOR THE APRIL 24 ELECTION

March 24, 2021

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding Louisianians that the deadlines to register to vote in the April 24 Municipal General and Special Congressional General election are fast approaching. The in-person or by mail deadline is today, March 24, and the online deadline is Saturday, April 3. These deadlines are for citizens who have never registered to vote as well as voters who would like to make changes to their registration.

Citizens may check their registration or register to vote online at www.GeauxVote.com; at your parish's Registrar of Voters Office; while obtaining services at the Office of Motor Vehicles, public assistance agencies, public schools, colleges and libraries; or by mail. Louisianians can also utilize our smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to access registration, ballot and polling place information.

After registering, voters should download the GeauxVote Mobile smartphone app. The app provides registration information as well as voting districts, sample ballots, polling place information and election results.

Early voting for the April 24 election is scheduled for Saturday, April 10 through Saturday, April 17 (excluding Sunday, April 11), from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information about the Secretary of State's Elections Division, visit www.GeauxVote.com or call 225.922.0900.

 - www.sos.la.gov -

ELECTION DAY REMINDERS

March 19, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding everyone that Saturday, March 20, 2021 is Election Day. There are 20 parishes in which there will be both multi-parish races (such as United States Representative) and local races/propositions: Ascension, Avoyelles, Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, Grant, Jefferson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Charles, St. Landry, Washington, Webster, and Winn. 23 parishes will vote only on multi-parish races (such as U.S. Representative): Assumption, Bienville, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Franklin, Iberville, Jackson, Madison, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, and West Feliciana. There are 10 parishes in which there will only be local races and/or propositions: Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Livingston, St. Mary, St. Tammany, and Vermilion. 11 parishes will have no elections: Acadia, Allen, Claiborne, Iberia, Lafayette, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Martin, Terrebonne, and Union.

In preparation for Saturday's election, Secretary Ardoin encourages voters to remember:

• Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
• Voters can find their polling location and sample ballot by downloading the GeauxVote Mobile app for smartphones or by visiting www.GeauxVote.com.
• Voters may also utilize the virtual voter assistant, GeauxBot, to access pertinent election information. GeauxBot is accessible by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.
• Voters can sign up for text alerts via GeauxVote Mobile.
• Voters should bring an ID with them to vote (Louisiana driver's license, Louisiana Special ID card, a generally recognized picture identification card with name and signature such as a passport or a digital license via LA Wallet). Voters without an ID will be required to fill out an affidavit but will be allowed to vote.
• Election results can be viewed in real-time via GeauxVote Mobile or at www.sos.la.gov. 
  

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required.

For more information, contact our Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

- www.sos.la.gov -

​ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINES FOR THE MARCH 20 ELECTION

March 15, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters of the upcoming absentee ballot deadlines.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, March 16 at 4:30 pm. Requests can be made online by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov and selecting “Request Absentee Ballot," or in person at the parish Registrar of Voters Office. Voters who have requested but not yet received an absentee ballot may check their absentee ballot status by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov, entering the appropriate voter information and selecting “Check Absentee Ballot Status." 

The deadline to return a completed ballot is Friday, March 19 at 4:30 pm. This instructional video shows step-by-step how to properly fill out and return an absentee ballot. Completed ballots can be returned to the parish registrar of voters by mail, in-person by the voter or by a voter's immediate family member. Should a voter be unable to meet an absentee ballot deadline, they can still vote in-person on Election Day. Polling locations can also be found on voterportal.sos.la.gov or on the free GeauxVote mobile app.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

 - www.sos.la.gov -

​Act 425 of the 2018 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature requires that lists of absentee by mail and early voters be posted on the secretary of state's website.

The names of voters includes those who voted in person during early voting and those whose absentee ballots have been received by the registrar of voters. This list of voters does not account for subsequent changes, if any, made by a registrar. Those changes will be found on the cumulative report at the end of early voting.​

​EARLY VOTING BEGINS MARCH 6 FOR THE MARCH 20 ELECTION

March 5, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters that early voting begins Saturday, March 6, and continues through Saturday, March 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, excluding Sunday, March 7. Citizens who want to vote early may do so in person at the parish Registrar of Voters Office or at other designated locations. 

There are 20 parishes in which there will be both multi-parish races (such as United States Representative) and local races/propositions: Ascension, Avoyelles, Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, Grant, Jefferson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Charles, St. Landry, Washington, Webster, and Winn. 23 parishes will vote only on multi-parish races (such as U.S. Representative): Assumption, Bienville, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Franklin, Iberville, Jackson, Madison, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, and West Feliciana. There are ten parishes in which there will only be local races and/or propositions: Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Livingston, St. Mary, St. Tammany, and Vermilion. 11 parishes will have no elections: Acadia, Allen, Claiborne, Iberia, Lafayette, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Martin, Terrebonne, and Union.

Voters are encouraged to utilize Louisiana's award-winning, free smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to locate their early voting site, Election Day voting site, or view their sample ballot. GeauxBot, the virtual voter assistant, is also available to access pertinent election information such as registration deadlines, election dates, polling locations, and hours. GeauxBot is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and wipe down voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required.

In addition to a Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana Special ID, or a generally recognized ID with picture and signature, voters may use a digital license via LA Wallet.​

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

​ARDOIN WITHDRAWS VOTING MACHINE PROCUREMENT

March 3, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — The state of election administration in our country is virtually unrecognizable from that of just a few years ago, yet Louisiana remains an unparalleled leader in election process and procedures - free from the controversy that has surrounded so many states. Because of our unwavering commitment, Louisiana remains a national leader in delivering safe, secure, accurate and transparent elections.

After consultation with the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced the immediate cancelation of the Request for Proposal (RFP) #3000016411 for the phased acquisition of new voting systems in replacement of Louisiana's nearly thirty-year-old fleet of voting machines. While the RFP is compliant with all aspects of Louisiana's election and procurement laws, questions have arisen regarding the applicability of Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machine technology (presently required by law) and how it impacts the level of competition for this solicitation.

“While our current election-day voting machines has served Louisiana well, it is imperative that we seek the prompt engagement of the Louisiana Legislature to help our office to clarify these matters of law and to ensure that our citizens receive the highest level of competition in this important procurement," said Ardoin. “We cannot let election administration become just another political football for politicians or voting machine vendors to kick around, without any understanding or concern for the consequences. Simply put, no other agency in Louisiana has a higher requirement for precision than the Secretary of State in conducting our elections."

“Because of this, I am withdrawing the RFP to spend the next few months seeking to undo the damage to voter confidence done by those who willfully spread misinformation and disinformation. While we respect calls for more discussion of the process, it must be noted that Louisiana began preparing for this acquisition following the 2016 federal election cycle. It was never rushed or inconsistent with accepted budgetary or procurement laws. A glaring omission from the calls for more discussion is any credible criticism of our current election process."

“We remain vigilant in our mission to deliver safe, secure, accurate, and transparent elections to the voters of Louisiana."
 -       Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin

"I believe Secretary of State Ardoin has made the right call to pull back on the procurement process for new voting machines. Louisiana elections are some of the most safe and secure elections in the United States and giving more oversight to the process will only strengthen that."
-        Louisiana Speaker of the House Clay Schexnayder

"I am in complete support of Secretary of State Ardoin's decision to withdraw the current procurement process for new voting machines in Louisiana. I believe this will bring an opportunity for full transparency on the purchasing process and election systems for all levels of government." -         Louisiana Senate President Page Cortez

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​ONLINE REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR THE MARCH 20 ELECTION

February 25, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La.— Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding Louisianians that Saturday, February 27 is the online registration deadline for the March 20 election. This deadline is for citizens who are unregistered, as well as registered voters who would like to make changes to their registration. Citizens can check their registration or register to vote online at www.GeauxVote.com. In order to submit electronically, a Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana special ID card must be used.

After registering, voters should download the GeauxVote mobile smartphone app which provides registration information as well as voting districts, sample ballots, polling place information and election results. Voters may also utilize the virtual voter assistant, GeauxBot, to access pertinent election information such as registration deadlines, election dates, polling locations and hours. GeauxBot is accessible by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on sos.la.gov.

Early voting for the March 20 election is scheduled for Saturday, March 6 through Saturday, March 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m (excluding Sunday, March 7).

For more information, contact the Elections Division by calling 1.800.883.2805 or emailing elections@sos.la.gov.

- www.sos.la.gov -

​View the annual report​ of the State Board of Election Supervisors.

STATE BOARD OF ELECTION SUPERVISORS TO MEET VIRTUALLY

January 27, 2021

Who: State Board of Election Supervisors

What: The State Board of Election Supervisors will hold its annual meeting in a virtual format. The agenda and notice for the meeting are attached. State board recommendations are viewable on the main page of our website.  

When: Thursday, January 28, 2021

             10:00am

Where: Virtually, accessible via Zoom or Telephone

Web Access/Zoom App:

Link to Meeting:https://zoom.us/j/94720743004?pwd=MEhCbUtOVXNYb29zM3l2dy9nMlRxUT09

Meeting ID: 947 2074 3004
Password: 018536
Note: You will be asked to download Zoom if you have not downloaded the app.

Telephone Access

Call: 1-346-248-7799.
Enter Meeting ID: 947 2074 3004, followed by #.
When prompted to enter your participant ID, either wait or press # to skip.
Enter Security Code: 018536, followed by #.
To unmute your call to speak, press *6 when prompted by the meeting organizer.
Note: When using the phone only option, participant phone numbers are visible to all attendees. Additionally, meeting video is recorded and will be archived and attendee lists are visible.

- www.sos.la.gov -

​

STATE RELEASES REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL​​

​January 27, 2021

​BATON ROUGE, La. — The Office of State Procurement has issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) to secure new voting equipment to replace the state's current stock of approximately 10,000 machines. These machines have long served the voters of Louisiana without major incident. We cannot maintain the status quo, as the lifespan of these machines nears the end. It is financially and operationally prudent to procure new voting equipment so that voters continue to have confidence in their election infrastructure.

“I am excited to begin the RFP process" Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin said. “While the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the release of this RFP, we are excited to begin the process of bringing the best voting technology to Louisiana and continuing our tradition of delivering safe, secure, accurate and transparent elections."

Continuing Louisiana's reputation of election integrity is the driving force behind this RFP as the state seeks to bring the most secure and transparent voting technology to our state. This RFP allows Louisianans to continue our tradition and overwhelming preference of in-person voting. It also preserves Louisiana's leadership in elections nationwide by continuing our accurate and timely reporting of election results on elction night. 

Some of the specifications of the RFP are as follows:

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT): A VVPAT system provides voters with the peace of mind that their vote is recorded accurately by allowing them to verify their vote on paper before casting their vote electronically on a voting machine.  This feature will also enhance the continued accuracy of state elections by providing a mechanism for a full paper audit of each election.

Background Checks For Those Working On Project: This security measure requires proposers to disclose background checks and security training protocols for all employees who would be working on this project. This requirement is a security measure to prevent nefarious individuals from coming into contact with Louisiana's election system.

Disclosure Of Foreign Ownership: Proposer must disclose any foreign ownership and if there is any foreign ownership, provide a detailed plan that ensures the foreign entity cannot control, influence, or direct the company in any manner that would compromise or influence, or give the appearance of compromising or influencing, the independence and integrity of an election.

Disclose All Countries In Which The Proposer Operates: The proposer must disclose all countries in which their election system and equipment is used. Additionally, the corporate structure and ownership (e.g., publicly traded corporation, privately held partnership, nonprofit), all board members or any entity with more than 10% ownership in the organization, and any ownership in the company by foreign persons or entities, regardless of ownership percentage, including but not limited to any citizens or residents of a country other than the United States must be disclosed.

Forbid Political Spending From Contract Funds: Contractor agrees not to use contract proceeds to urge any elector to vote for or against any candidate or proposition on an election ballot nor shall such funds be used to lobby for or against any proposition or matter having the effect of law being considered by the Louisiana Legislature or any local governing authority.

Follow All Applicable Laws: Proposal must be lawful. The proposed voting system shall meet all relevant requirements the Louisiana Election Code, Help America Vote Act, Louisiana Procurement Code, and Information Technology Procurement Code and any other relevant state and federal laws.

The state's Request for Proposals for new voting equipment can be found online at:

https://wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/agency/pdf/7549800-02.pdf

Responses for the New Voting System RFP will be accepted no later than 10:00 AM on March 30, 2021.

WATCH: Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin's comments on the release of the request for proposal.

-www.sos.la.gov -

​View the fact sheet​ for the Request for Proposals for new voting machines.

​View agenda for the Jan. 28 meeting of the State Board of Election Supervisors.
​
​

View the following document for more information on the Spring 2021 Emergency Election Plan​. 

​SECRETARY ARDOIN STATEMENT ON
PASSAGE OF EMERGENCY ELECTION PLAN

January 21, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin issued the following statement following the Legislature's overwhelming passage of the most recent emergency election plan.

“I am pleased that this emergency plan passed with overwhelming, bipartisan support at every step of this process. This plan is a pragmatic response to the recent unprecedented surge in the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, the Clerks of Court, Registrars of Voters and their staff's along with the entire SOS elections staff will provide the people of Louisiana safe, secure and accurate elections to which they are accustomed."

-www.sos.la.gov -

​QUALIFYING PROCEDURES FOR MARCH 20 ELECTION

January 15, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Qualifying for the March 20 Municipal Primary and Special Congressional Primary (U.S. Representative, Districts 2 and 5) election will be held from Wednesday, January 20 through Friday, January 22.

All candidates for state and federal office will qualify at the Louisiana State Archives located at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. All candidates for local municipal races will qualify with their parish clerk of court. Hours of operation for the secretary of state are 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily. Check with the local clerk of court for specific parish hours.

In response to COVID-19, some qualifying procedures have changed:

• Qualifying at the Secretary of State's Office will be held at the Louisiana State Archives located at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809.
• Candidates are asked to bring only one additional person to the signing room as they file their paperwork.
• The media will have an opportunity to interview candidates in the Archives auditorium, but will not be allowed to be in the signing rooms as candidates file their paperwork.
• In accordance to public health guidelines; masks are strongly encouraged, social distancing will be in place and the building capacity will not exceed 50 people.
  

Pursuant to Act 312 of the 2020 Regular Session, qualifying candidates will be required to present a valid Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana identification card. For more information on qualifying, visit the secretary of state's website at www.sos.la.gov.​

- www.sos.la.gov -

​SPECIAL ELECTION CALLED FOR VACANT HOUSE DISTRICT 82 SEAT

January 12, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Following a proclamation from the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives regarding the resignation of State Representative Charles Henry, a special election has been called to fill the vacancy of State Representative District 82.  

The special primary election will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021 and the general election will be held April 24, 2021. The qualifying period for the special primary election has been scheduled for Jan. 25—27. Candidates qualify with the clerk of court in the parish in which they are registered to vote (contact your local clerk of court for office hours). 

Qualifying fees must be paid in the form of cash; certified or cashier's check on a state or national bank or credit union; U.S. postal money order; or money order issued by a state or national bank or credit union and must be accompanied by the qualifying form.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov. 

- www.sos.la.gov - 

​QUALIFYING FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 35 VACANCY

January 6, 2021

BATON ROUGE, La. — Qualifying for the special election to fill the House District 35 State Representative vacancy begins today, January 6 through Friday, January 8. Candidates will qualify with the clerk of court in the parish in which they are registered to vote (contact your local clerk of court for office hours).

Qualifying fees must be paid in the form of cash; certified or cashier's check on a state or national bank or credit union; U.S. postal money order; or money order issued by a state or national bank or credit union and must be accompanied by the qualifying form.

The special primary election will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021 and the general election will be held March 20, 2021. For more information on qualifying, visit the secretary of state's website at www.sos.la.gov.​

- www.sos.la.gov -