The 2024 United States Presidential elections are underway. On Nov. 5, 2024, U.S. voters will take the polls and elect the next President. In the state of Louisiana, voters are allowed to vote early, online, through absentee ballots and in person on Election Day.
For absentee voting, ballots must be requested by 4:30 p.m., on Nov. 1. Voters must keep in mind expected mail carrier time delays, as absentee ballots are to be mailed back by 4:30 p.m., Nov. 4.
Early voting is offered in the state of Louisiana, from Oct. 18 through the 29, voters may vote in person at their designated locations within their parish. To check these locations, voters may check through the Secretary of State’s website, http://www.sos.la.gov/ ElectionsAndVoting.
When going to the polls, voters must have acceptable forms of photo identification. A Louisiana driver’s license, special ID card, LA Wallet digital driver’s license, United States military identification card that contains voter’s name and picture or some other generally recognized picture identification that contains voter’s full name and signature is required to be brought in order to cast a vote.
Voters can check their sample ballot, status of their mail ballot request, candidate details and other upcoming elections through the voter portal as well at https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/.
The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office is reminding, and enforcing, electioneering laws which prohibit campaign materials within 600 feet of polling locations.
Per Louisiana Revised Statute 18:1462, political paraphernalia, such as T-shirts, hats, buttons or any items displaying candidate names or political slogans are prohibited.
If voters are found in violation, they will be asked to remove the items, or leave the polling site. Voter fraud, vote buying, voter intimidation during early voting, absentee by mail voting and election day voting reports are investigated by The Division of Election Integrity, as well as allegations of persons providing false or misleading information to a registrar or to a commissioner during the registration or voting process by the division. To make a claim or report, voters may contact the Division of Election Integrity by calling 800-722-5305.
While voting is not mandatory in the United States, the right to vote is protected in the Constitution through several amendments, including the 15th Amendment (prohibiting racial discrimination in voting), the 19th Amendment (prohibiting gender-based voting restrictions), the 24th Amendment (banning poll taxes) and the 26th Amendment (lowering the voting age to 18).
Get out and Geaux Vote!