Louisiana Absentee Voting Restrictions Challenge

Lawsuit filed by Disability Rights Louisiana (DRLA) against Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry (R) and Louisiana Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill (R) challenging several recently passed voter suppression laws that could disenfranchise absentee voters with disabilities. 

Absentee Ballot Delivery Restriction

Two of the recently passed statutes, Louisiana Acts No. 380 and 317, prohibit any person from assisting with the delivery with more than one absentee ballot or absentee ballot application. Under the new laws, any person who assists more than one absentee voter can be criminally penalized. 

Absentee Ballot Witness Restriction

The remaining two statutes, Louisiana Acts No. 302 and 712, prohibit any person from serving as a witness or providing any other assistance for more than one absentee ballot. Any person who assists with or serves as a witness for more than one absentee voter can be criminally penalized. 

DRLA argues that by restricting how many absentee voters a person may assist, many of whom have disabilities, the new statutes could disenfranchise hundreds or thousands of voters with disabilities in the state. The organization claims that these statutes violate Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act, which mandates that voters with disabilities can receive assistance from any person of their choice. The group asks the court to ban the state from implementing or enforcing these statutes. On July 29, 2024, the court denied DRLA’s motion for preliminary injunction.

STATUS: On July 29, 2024, the district court denied DRLA’s motion for preliminary injunction. Louisiana’s absentee ballot witness and delivery restrictions will remain in place for the November 2024 election while litigation is ongoing.

Last updated: November 20, 2024 2:52 pm EST