Louisiana § RS 18:1462 - Acts prohibited during early voting or on election day; electioneering; intimidation; exceptions; enforcement; penalties

§ RS 18:1462. Acts prohibited during early voting or on election day; electioneering; intimidation; exceptions; enforcement; penalties

            A. The Legislature of Louisiana recognizes that the right to vote is a right that is essential to the effective operation of a democratic government. In order to preserve the integrity of its election process, and to protect the right of citizens to vote freely for the candidates of their choice, the state has a compelling interest in establishing a zone securing polling locations against certain conduct and activities, including voter intimidation, election fraud, confusion, and general disorder, that would interfere with the exercise of the right to vote. The legislature, therefore, enacts this Subsection to provide for a six hundred foot campaign-free zone around polling places to provide to each voter such an environment in which to exercise his right to vote. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, it shall be unlawful for any person, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., to perform or cause to be performed any of the following acts within any polling place being used in an election on election day or during early voting, or within a radius of six hundred feet of the entrance to any polling place being used in an election on election day or during early voting:

            (1) To solicit in any manner or by any means whatsoever any other person to vote for or against any candidate or proposition being voted on in such election.

            (2) To remain within any such polling place or within a radius of six hundred feet of the entrance of any such polling place, except when exercising the right to vote, after having been directed by an election commissioner, law enforcement officer, registrar, or deputy registrar to leave the premises or area of a polling place.

            (3) To hand out, place, or display campaign cards, pictures, or other campaign literature of any kind or description whatsoever which advocate for or against any candidate, proposition, or political party appearing on the ballot in the election.

            (4) To place, wear, or display political signs, campaign apparel, pictures, or other forms of political advertising which advocate for or against any candidate, proposition, or political party appearing on the ballot in the election.

            (5) To circulate a petition or seek handwritten signatures to a petition.

            B. The provisions hereof shall not apply to the placing and displaying, either by the owner, lessee, or lawful occupant thereof, or with the consent of such owner, lessee or occupant, of political signs or pictures on private property which is not being used as a polling place.

            C. The provisions of this Section shall not be construed as prohibiting any appointed election commissioner or any official watcher from remaining in and about the polling place in which he was selected to serve.

            D. No election official shall wear any badge, button, pin, or other insignia identifying him with any political candidate or faction.

            E. No election official shall in any manner attempt to influence any voter to vote for or against any candidate or proposition being voted on in the election being held in that polling place.

            F. The duly constituted law enforcement officers of the political subdivision in which any such election is being held shall enforce the provisions of this Section when requested to do so by a clerk of court, registrar, deputy registrar, commissioner-in-charge, or commissioner. The clerk of court, registrar, deputy registrars, commissioners-in-charge, and commissioners likewise shall enforce the provisions of this Section at the polling places. The law enforcement officers, clerk of court, commissioners-in-charge, commissioners, deputy registrars, and registrar are authorized to seize, remove, and destroy any political cards, signs, pictures, or literature being used or displayed in violation of any of the provisions of this Section.

            G. Whoever violates any provision of this Section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. On a second offense or any succeeding offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

            Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 810, §1; Acts 1982, No. 778, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 2004, No. 626, §1; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2021, No. 85, §1, eff. June 4, 2021; Acts 2025, No. 75, §1; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.