Louisiana Jail Voting Restrictions Challenge

A pro-voting lawsuit challenging Louisiana laws which bar eligible, first-time voters in jail from voting. 

Background

Voice of the Experienced (VOTE) and an incarcerated first-time voter filed a lawsuit against Louisiana challenging election laws that prevent eligible, first-time voters who are in jail from voting. The plaintiffs argue that four provisions of Louisiana’s Election Code operate together to create a “Catch-22” that completely disenfranchises certain jailed voters who are legally eligible to vote under the Louisiana constitution. Under Louisiana law, many people held in jail – such as pretrial detainees – retain their right to vote because they are not under an order of imprisonment for a felony conviction. However, the challenged statutes require first-time voters who registered by mail or online to vote in person, and prohibit polling places from being located in jails. But they simultaneously require incarcerated voters to vote only by absentee ballot. As a result, first-time voters in jail cannot vote in person due to their incarceration and cannot vote absentee because they are first-time voters. The plaintiffs argue that these laws violate the right to vote under the Louisiana constitution, and are asking the court to order the state to provide a lawful mechanism for these voters to obtain and cast a ballot.

Why It Matters

Voters who are in jail already face significant barriers to participating in elections, including limited access to voter registration forms and information about the voting process. These challenges prevent hundreds of thousands of eligible voters in jail from casting a ballot on election day. Louisiana’s laws exacerbate this problem by creating a legal dead end for first-time voters in jail, effectively denying them any opportunity to vote.

Latest Updates

• Dec. 11, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their petition.