Louisiana: Do you need an ID to vote?
Louisiana asks for photo ID, but a voter without one can sign an affidavit at the polls and vote.
Accepted IDs include a Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana special ID card, or another generally recognized photo ID with the voter's name and signature. A voter without one signs an affidavit supplied by the Secretary of State giving their date of birth and mother's maiden name, and can then vote, though the vote can still be challenged. A 2026 law (Act 5) changing these procedures takes effect July 1, 2027, so it does not apply to the November 3, 2026 election.
Conditions
- Without photo ID: sign an affidavit with date of birth and mother's maiden name
What the law says
Each applicant shall identify himself, in the presence and view of the bystanders, and present to the commissioners one of the following: ... If the applicant does not have one of the forms of identification provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the applicant shall complete and sign an affidavit, which is supplied by the secretary of state, to that effect before the commissioners, which affidavit shall include the applicant's date of birth and mother's maiden name.
Sources
- La. R.S. 18:562 Official · legis.la.gov
- Louisiana SB 319 (2026), Act 5 Official · legis.la.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Louisiana Secretary of State, Elections Division
- Phone
- 800-883-2805
- Website
- sos.la.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arkansas Photo ID requiredArkansas requires photo ID; a voter without it casts a provisional ballot that counts only if ID is shown by noon the following Monday.
- Mississippi Photo ID requiredMississippi requires photo ID at the polls. A voter without one votes an affidavit ballot and has five business days to show ID.
- Texas Photo ID requestedTexas asks for one of seven photo IDs; a voter who can't reasonably get one may sign a declaration and show a non-photo document.