Read the F*ing directions
for

Are registered to vote by October 5th in person or by mail (or October 13th online).

Have submitted an application for an absentee ballot by October 30th.

Have one of the “reasons” listed on this page for why you need to vote absentee.

Are not required to vote in person: if you are voting in your parish for the first time and registered by mail, you must vote in person.
There are a few exceptions: people who can’t vote in person due to a disability, students away at college, active-duty military and their families, voters enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program, and Americans living abroad are allowed to vote for the first time by mail. You can also visit your registrar’s office in person before early voting starts and show an acceptable ID if you really need to vote by mail for this election. (If you’re not sure whether you can vote by mail, ask your parish registrar — they'll help you out.)

Click here for information about accessible voting for folks with disabilities.

Click here for information on your eligibility if you have a criminal conviction.

Active duty military, military family member, or living overseas? You have additional voting options! Visit FVAP.GOV for details specific to your situation.

Register to vote by October 5th (or October 13th online). If you miss this deadline, register anyway — you might have runoff elections to vote in! More on that below.

Your request for an absentee ballot must be RECEIVED by 4:30pm on October 30th — but earlier is better! We recommend applying at least two weeks before Election Day. (There are a few different applications — make sure you use the right one for your situation.)

Exceptions for medical emergencies: if you are hospitalized after the regular deadline and can provide proof of hospitalization or other documentation from a doctor, you can apply up until 4:30pm the day before Election Day.

Ballots must be received by November 2nd at 4:30pm, the DAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY. So if you’re putting it in the mail, you should really do so by October 27th to be safe. Or you can take it to your parish registrar's office.

Heads up that Louisiana has runoff elections on December 12th for any races where no candidate gets over 50% of the vote! Keep an eye on local news after Election Day to find out if you have any runoff elections to vote in. Deadlines are:

• Register by November 12 (in person/by mail) or November 21 (online)
• Request an absentee ballot by December 8
• Return ballot by December 11

This is important: USPS recently changed its policies and won’t always postmark mail the same day it’s picked up from a mailbox — or even the day after. To guarantee a same-day postmark, you’ll need to go to a post office and ask for a manual postmark. All the more reason to mail things early!

Put your ballot inside the affidavit envelope provided and seal it.

DO NOT tear off the affidavit flap — it must remain attached to the envelope that your ballot is in.

Fill out the affidavit flap completely with:

• Date of Election — November 3rd, 2026
• Your full name
• Home address
• Ward, precinct, and parish information (you can find this on the envelope that your ballot came in, and on the return envelope they provide.)
• Mother’s maiden name
• Sign in the space provided and write your name under your signature.
• Have a witness (any adult) sign in the witness box and have them write their name under their signature too.

Put the sealed affidavit envelope inside the return envelope provided and seal that too.

Put TWO stamps on the return envelope if you’re returning it by mail. Make sure to put it in the mail by October 27th, or as early as you can.

No need for stamps if you’re taking it directly to your parish elections office, which you can do up until 4:30pm on November 2nd, the day before Election Day.

Louisiana has new rules about who else can return your ballot for you.

DO NOT take your ballot to your polling place on Election Day, unless you want to surrender it and vote normally.