Louisiana Proof of Citizenship Requirement Challenge
League of Women Voters of Louisiana v. Landry
A pro-voting lawsuit challenging a Louisiana law requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Background
Civil rights and voter advocacy organizations — including the League of Women Voters of Louisiana, Voice of the Experienced, and the Louisiana NAACP — sued Louisiana officials over Senate Bill 436, a law that requires voter registration applicants to submit proof of U.S. citizenship. The plaintiffs argue the law violates the National Voter Registration Act and the U.S. Constitution by creating unnecessary barriers to registration. They also point out that state officials have provided no clear guidance on how the law will work, leaving voters and registration groups in limbo. The lawsuit asks the court to block the law from being enforced.
Why It Matters
SB 436 could disenfranchise thousands of eligible Louisiana voters, particularly low-income residents, young people, and those impacted by the criminal legal system, who may not have access to documents like birth certificates or passports. The law also threatens to shut down key voter registration efforts across the state by making it too difficult or risky for groups to assist voters.
Latest Updates
- May 14, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their complaint