§ 18:521 — Qualifications of voters

§521. Qualifications of voters
A. Candidates for public office. All persons who have registered to vote in this state
prior to the time the registration records are closed as required in R.S. 18:135 may vote in
the election for any candidates except as otherwise provided in Part I-A of this Chapter and
those seeking membership on a committee of a political party with which the voter is not
registered as being affiliated.
B. Candidates for party office. (1) In a primary or general election at which
members of a political party committee are voted on, only qualified voters who are registered
as being affiliated with the same political party as the candidates for membership on a
political party committee may vote on such candidates. The secretary of state shall adjust
the voting machines so that the candidates for membership on a political party committee
may only be voted on by voters who are registered as being affiliated with the same political
party as the candidates.
(2) The qualification of a voter to vote on a candidate for membership on a political
party committee shall be subject to the following provisions:
(a) A change of party affiliation in his registration shall qualify the registrant to vote
for any candidate for membership on a committee of the political party to which the
registrant has thus affiliated only if the change in the registrant's party affiliation is made
prior to the close of registration as provided in R.S. 18:135.
(b) A designation of party affiliation by a registrant previously not affiliated with a
party renders the registrant eligible to vote in the election next following the designation only
if the change in the registrant's party affiliation is made prior to the close of registration as
provided in R.S. 18:135.
(c) A designation of no party affiliation by a registrant previously affiliated with a
party shall be effective for an election only if the change in the registrant's party affiliation
is made prior to the close of registration as provided in R.S. 18:135.
C. Change of residence. (1) A registrant who changes his residence from one
precinct to another in the same parish shall retain the right to vote in the precinct from which
he has removed, as to all issues upon which he was entitled to vote prior to his change of
residence, until he changes his registration as provided in R.S. 18:110(A). Upon changing
registration, such registrant shall have the right to vote in the precinct to which he has moved
in accordance with law.
(2) A registrant who changes his residence from one parish to another shall retain the
right to vote in the parish from which he has removed, as to all issues upon which he was
entitled to vote prior to his change of residence, until he registers in the parish to which he
has moved or until three months after he has moved, whichever is sooner. Upon registering
in the parish to which he has moved, such registrant shall have the right to vote in such
parish in accordance with law. After the three-month period, he shall no longer have the
right to vote in the parish from which he has moved.

Legislative History

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1983; Acts 1985, No. 754, §1; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2024, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. See Act; Acts 2024, No. 434, §1; Acts 2024, No. 640, §2, eff. See Act; Acts 2025, No. 386, §§ 3, 7, eff. June 20, 2025 .