Voting in Louisiana, 2026
Every date and deadline for the November 3 general election, from registering to the final certificate, and who signs off on the result.
Every date, in order
- Tue, Oct 20 · passedEarly voting begins
- Tue, Oct 27 · todayEarly voting endsEarly voting runs from Tuesday October 20 through Tuesday October 27, 2026.1
- Fri, Oct 30 · 3 daysLast day for mail ballot applicationsAbsentee applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday October 30, 2026, 4 days before Election Day.1
- Mon, Nov 2 · 6 daysMail ballots must arriveMost absentee ballots must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Monday November 2, 2026, the day before Election Day. Ballots from voters who are members of the military, overseas, hospitalized, or sequestered members of a jury may be accepted until 8 PM on Election Day.1
- Tue, Nov 3 · 7 daysElection Day
- Mon, Nov 9 · 13 daysCounty/Local canvass; County/Local certificationParishes canvass by noon on the sixth day after the election, November 9.2
- Thu, Nov 12 · 16 daysDeadline to contest the resultA contest must be filed by 4:30 p.m. on the ninth day after the election, November 12, 2026.3
- Tue, Nov 17 · 21 daysState canvassThe statewide canvass is complete on or before the 14th day after the election, November 17, if no contest has been filed.2
Questions people ask about voting in Louisiana
Q. When does early voting end in Louisiana?
Early voting runs from Tuesday October 20 through Tuesday October 27, 2026.
Q. When is the deadline to register to vote in Louisiana?
Voters may register online until 20 days before Election Day
Q. What is the last day to request a mail ballot in Louisiana?
Absentee applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday October 30, 2026, 4 days before Election Day.
Q. When does my mail ballot have to arrive in Louisiana?
Most absentee ballots must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Monday November 2, 2026, the day before Election Day. Ballots from voters who are members of the military, overseas, hospitalized, or sequestered members of a jury may be accepted until 8 PM on Election Day.
Q. Who certifies the election in Louisiana, and by when?
The parish board of election supervisors, the registrar, the clerk of court, the party chairs and one appointee of the Governor, tabulates the parish canvass and sends it to the Secretary of State. County/Local results must be certified by Monday, November 9, 2026. Clerks of the Court transmit results to the Secretary of State by noon on the 6th day. The Secretary of State receives and tabulates the parish results, prepares the statewide canvass and certifies it. The Secretary of State shall certify the election results within 30 days
Q. What happens after the count in Louisiana, and when is there a recount?
An election contest must be instituted not later than 4:30 p.m. of the ninth day after the date of the election, November 12, 2026 (La. R.S. 18:1405(B)).
Q. How long is there to contest an election in Louisiana?
A contest must be filed by 4:30 p.m. on the ninth day after the election, November 12, 2026.
Sources
- Vote.org, Louisiana Election Center, https://www.vote.org/state/louisiana/
- NCSL, Canvass Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/canvass-deadlines
- NCSL, Contested Election Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/contested-election-deadlines
- Bolts, Who counts our elections, https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/who-counts-our-elections/
- ncsl.org, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines
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