§ 18:101 — Registration to vote; qualifications; more than one residence; presidential elections

§101. Registration to vote; qualifications; more than one residence; presidential elections
A.(1) Every citizen of Louisiana who is at least eighteen years of age or will attain
that age on or before the next election, is an actual bona fide resident of this state, and the
parish, municipality, if any, and precinct in which he offers to register as a voter, is not
disfranchised, and who complies with the provisions of this Chapter shall be eligible to
register to vote in local, state and national elections held in this state.
(2) Any person age seventeen and who is otherwise qualified to vote may register to
vote at any time prior to the first election at which he shall have attained the age of eighteen
years. However, no one, under the age of eighteen years shall be permitted to vote in any
election.
(3) A person who is sixteen years of age may register to vote in the manner provided
in R.S. 18:114(B)(1) or by making application in person at the office of the registrar of
voters. However, no one under the age of eighteen years shall be permitted to vote in any
election.
B. For purposes of the laws governing voter registration and voting, "resident" means
a citizen who resides in this state and in the parish, municipality, if any, and precinct in
which he offers to register and vote, with an intention to reside there indefinitely. If a citizen
resides at more than one place in the state with an intention to reside there indefinitely, he
may register and vote only at one of the places at which he resides. If a person claims a
homestead exemption, pursuant to Article VII, Section 20 of the Constitution of Louisiana,
on one of the residences, he shall register and vote in the precinct in which that residence is
located, except that a person who resides in a nursing home as defined in R.S. 40:2009.2 or
in a veterans' home operated by the state or federal government may register and vote at the
address where the nursing home or veterans' home is located. For purposes of voter
registration and voting, the residence of a married woman shall be determined in the same
manner as is required for any other citizen. A citizen of this state shall not be or remain
registered or vote in more than one place of residence at any one time.
C. Any bona fide full-time student attending an institution of higher learning in this
state may choose as his residence and may register to vote either at the place where he resides
while attending the institution or at the place where he resides when not attending such
institution, but he shall not have more than one residence at any one time for purposes of
registering to vote. Such a student need not have an intent to reside indefinitely at the place
where he offers to register.
D. A person who is otherwise qualified to vote in this state, who has begun residence
in another state or another political subdivision of this state after the close of the registration
records pursuant to R.S. 18:135 for an election for president and vice president of the United
States or for electors for president and vice president and who for that reason does not satisfy
the registration requirements set forth in this Chapter, may vote in such an election:
(1) In person in the place in this state where he resided immediately before his
removal, if he satisfied the requirements to vote in that place as of the date of his change of
residence, or
(2) By absentee by mail ballot in the place in this state where he resided immediately
prior to his removal, if he satisfies the requirements for absentee by mail voting in that place
except for his nonresident status and the reasons for his absence.
E.(1) A citizen of the United States residing outside the United States who was
domiciled in this state immediately prior to his departure from the United States and who is
at least eighteen years of age or will attain that age on or before the next national election,
and who is not disfranchised, shall be eligible to register absentee and vote absentee by mail
if he meets the following qualifications:
(a) He has complied with the registration procedures set forth in this Title;
(b) He does not maintain a domicile, is not registered to vote, and is not voting in any
other state or election district of another state or territory or in any territory or possession of
the United States; and
(c) He has a valid passport or card of identity and registration issued under the
authority of the secretary of state of the United States, or if he does not have a valid passport
or card of identity and registration, he has a certified copy of a birth certificate or a
naturalization certificate and a proof of identity, such as a vehicle operator's license or an
expired passport, that includes a photograph and handwritten signature. A short-form birth
certification card shall be acceptable as a certified copy of the birth certificate.
(2) A certain intent to return to the state of Louisiana shall not be necessary. Such
person shall be eligible to register and vote for any candidate.
F. A person who has been involuntarily displaced from his place of residence by the
effects of a gubernatorially declared state of emergency shall not be considered to have
vacated his residence and shall be considered to be an actual bona fide resident of the state
and parish in which he is registered to vote unless any of the following occurs:
(1) He changes his registration address.
(2) He claims a homestead exemption pursuant to Article VII, Section 20 of the
Constitution of Louisiana on a different residence.

Legislative History

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 544, §1 eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1988, No. 661, §1; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1997, No. 139, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 118, §3, eff. April 19, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 1032, §7; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 269, §1, eff. June 8, 2006; Acts 2009, No. 436, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2012, No. 451, §1; Acts 2014, No. 173, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2015; Acts 2015, No. 307, §2, eff. Jan. 15, 2016; Acts 2016, No. 183, §1, eff. Feb. 1, 2017.