§ 18:1254 — Slates of candidates not affiliated with a recognized political party; nominating

§1254. Slates of candidates not affiliated with a recognized political party; nominating
petitions and qualifying by payment of qualifying fees
A. A slate of candidates for presidential elector who are not affiliated with a
recognized political party may be nominated by nominating petition or may qualify by the
payment of a qualifying fee of one thousand dollars. Such qualifying fee shall be paid in
accordance with the provisions of R.S. 18:464(A). The candidate shall also pay a qualifying
fee pursuant to R.S. 18:464(B)(5). The period for filing such qualifying fee shall begin on
the third Tuesday in July and shall end at 4:30 p.m. on the first Friday following the third
Tuesday in August of each year in which a presidential election is to be held. Each
qualifying fee shall be accompanied by the notice of candidacy and notarized affidavit of
each candidate for elector signifying his acceptance of the nomination. A candidate for
presidential elector who is not affiliated with a recognized political party may be registered
to vote with or without a declaration of party affiliation.
B. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Part, a nominating petition for
a slate of candidates for the offices of presidential elector shall be signed, filed, and certified
as provided in Chapter 5 of this Title for state candidates voted on throughout the State.
C. Nominating petitions for the office of presidential elector shall be in the form
prescribed by R.S. 18:465(D), except that in lieu of including the recognized political party
with which the candidates are affiliated, the petition shall contain, in not more than three
words, the political principle which the candidates represent. Also, in lieu of the date of the
primary election for which the candidates seek to qualify, the petition shall include the date
of the general election. The petition also shall include the names of the candidate for
president and the candidate for vice president whom the candidates for elector support;
however, neither the candidate for president nor the candidate for vice president supported
by the slate of candidates for electors shall be a candidate for that office supported by a
recognized political party or by a slate of candidates for elector who have previously filed
a nominating petition or qualified by the payment of a qualifying fee for that election. Each
petition shall contain a full slate of candidates for elector, one from each congressional
district and two from the state at large. In designating the office for which the candidate is
nominated, the petition shall designate the particular office of presidential elector, that is, the
district in which the candidate is a qualified elector if he is nominated for the office for that
district, or the designation "At large" in the case of the two offices to be filled at large. Each
nominating petition shall be accompanied by the notice of candidacy and notarized affidavit
of each candidate for elector signifying that the certificate constitutes his acceptance of the
nomination.
D. Any slate of candidates for presidential elector that qualifies by payment of a
qualifying fee shall be a full slate of candidates for elector, one from each congressional
district and two from the state at large, and shall submit with the qualifying fee the following
information for each candidate:
(1) The candidate's name;
(2) The address of his domicile;
(3) The office sought;
(4) The names of the candidate for president and the candidate for vice president
whom the candidates for elector support; however, neither the candidate for president nor the
candidate for vice president supported by the slate of candidates for elector shall be a
candidate for that office supported by a recognized political party or by a slate of candidates
for elector who have previously filed a nominating petition or qualified by the payment of
a qualifying fee for that election;
(5) The recognized political party, if any, with which each candidate for presidential
elector is affiliated;
(6) In not more than three words, the political principle that he represents; and
(7) The date of the election for which he seeks to qualify.
E. If the notice of candidacy and notarized affidavit of each candidate for elector,
together with the qualifying fee or a nominating petition, are not filed timely with the
secretary of state, the secretary of state shall endorse the date and time of receipt upon all
documents and shall return them forthwith, either personally or by registered or certified
mail, to the candidate or the person who filed them.

Legislative History

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 588, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1977 No. 523, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1993, No. 418, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 640, §2, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 213, §§ 1, 2, eff. See Act.