§ La. R.S. 18:564(untitled)

Assistance in voting on election day
A. Voters entitled to assistance. A voter shall not receive assistance in voting unless he is unable
to read, or is unable to vote without assistance because of a physical disability, including being visually
impaired. If a voter who is entitled to receive assistance in voting chooses to vote using the audio ballot
instead of receiving assistance, and the audio ballot equipment fails, the voter shall be entitled to assistance
in voting as provided in this Section.
B. Persons prohibited from assisting voters. (1) No candidate in any election shall assist any voter
in casting his ballot in that election.
(2) No commissioner-in-charge can assist a voter.
(3) No employer or employer's agent can assist an employee in voting.
(4) No union agent can assist a union member in voting.
(5)(a) Except as provided in Paragraphs (1) through (4) of this Subsection, a voter entitled to
assistance in voting may receive the assistance of any person of his choice, including a commissioner.
(b) The voter, along with the person assisting the voter, shall complete a voter assistance form and
provide the name, address, and relationship to the voter of the person, including a commissioner, assisting
the voter and attest whether the person, other than a commissioner, assisting the voter was paid to provide
assistance. If the voter is not marked for assistance in voting in the precinct register, the voter shall attest on
the voter assistance form that the voter has a physical disability or is unable to read and requires assistance
in voting.
C. Procedure when voter receives assistance. The person or commissioners assisting the voter shall
enter the voting machine with the voter and assist him in voting. No other person shall enter the voting
machine or assist the voter in voting. No person selected by the voter to assist him shall reveal the name of
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R.S. 18:564
any person for whom the voter has voted, any proposition upon which he voted, or anything that took place
while the voter was being assisted. When a precinct is equipped with a voting machine which provides an
audio ballot, the commissioner shall offer the option of voting using the audio ballot to a visually impaired
voter or a voter who is unable to read. If the voter elects to vote using such method, the commissioner shall
assist the visually impaired voter or the voter who is unable to read with the headset and instruct the voter
and the person selected to assist the voter on the use of the audio ballot.
D.(1)(a) Prior to receiving assistance pursuant to this Section due to a disability, including visual
impairment, the voter shall file with the registrar in person or by mail a statement setting forth the necessity
and reasons for this assistance and shall furnish the registrar one of the following:
(i) A certificate of a medical doctor, optometrist, physician assistant as defined in R.S. 37:1360.22,
or nurse practitioner as defined in R.S. 37:913 certifying to the irremediable nature of the physical disability
as proof of disability.
(ii) A copy of a current mobility impairment identification card bearing a photograph of the voter
and the international symbol of accessibility issued by the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and
Corrections as authorized by the provisions of R.S. 47:463.4.
(iii) A copy of current documentation showing eligibility for social security disability benefits,
veteran's disability benefits, paratransit services, benefits from the office for citizens with developmental
disabilities, or benefits from Louisiana Rehabilitation Services.
(iv) A completed and signed voter registration application attesting that the voter has a physical
disability and requires assistance in voting.
(v) A completed and signed voter assistance form provided by the secretary of state wherein the
voter attests that he has a physical disability and requires assistance in voting.
(b) If the voter is submitting the information required by this Paragraph by mail, he shall also submit
to the registrar a copy of his Louisiana driver's license, his Louisiana special identification card issued
pursuant to R.S. 40:1321, or other generally recognized picture identification card that contains the name and
signature of the voter.
(c) If such statement with such documentation, if applicable, is filed with the registrar as provided
in this Paragraph or if a statement with such documentation, if applicable, is presented to the commissionerin-charge on election day pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the registrar shall indicate such facts
in the registrant's information on the state voter registration computer system and, if the original application
is available in hard copy in the registrar's office, on the original application for registration. The registrar
shall retain the statement and documentation, if applicable. Thereafter, the voter shall not be required to
present evidence of any kind at the polls or during early voting.
(2)(a) A voter shall also be entitled to assistance without having filed with the registrar a statement
setting forth the necessity and reasons for this assistance if, on election day, the voter presents to the
commissioner-in-charge one of the following as proof of disability:
(i) A certificate of a physician, optometrist, physician's assistant as defined in R.S. 37:1360.22, or
nurse practitioner as defined in R.S. 37:913 indicating the voter's inability to vote without assistance because
of a physical disability.
(ii) A current mobility impairment identification card bearing a photograph of the voter and the
international symbol of accessibility issued by the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and
Corrections as authorized by the provisions of R.S. 47:463.4.
(iii) A copy of current documentation showing eligibility for social security disability benefits,
veteran's disability benefits, paratransit services, benefits from the office for citizens with developmental
disabilities, or benefits from Louisiana Rehabilitation Services.
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R.S. 18:565
(iv) A completed and signed voter assistance form provided by the secretary of state wherein the
voter attests that he has a physical disability and requires assistance in voting.
(b) The commissioner-in-charge shall place any certificate, statement setting forth the necessity and
reasons for assistance, copy of proof of disability, or completed and signed voter assistance form presented
by a voter in the envelope marked "Registrar of Voters" and attach the envelope to the precinct register.
E. A voter who has a visible physical disability or who presents a current mobility impairment
identification card bearing a photograph of the voter and the international symbol of accessibility issued by
the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections as authorized by the provisions of R.S.
47:463.4, and the person who will be assisting him in voting, shall be allowed to go to the front of the line
to cast a ballot at the polls.