The Women’s Suffrage Movement, Civil Rights Movement, Disability Rights Movement — activists fought for centuries to receive the right to vote. As a new generation of voters enters the polls, thousands wonder where to receive up-to-date information about voting locations, candidates’ platforms, absentee ballots and voter registration.

1. Where to find voting information in Louisiana?

The Louisiana Secretary of State Office established the GeauxVote! website and mobile app in a statewide effort to “increase voter participation throughout Louisiana.” The website compiles information for future voters and candidates, listing election-day information, candidate qualifications and voter registration requirements.

For voters anxious to view a ballot, the website offers sample ballots that differ for each congressional district. To receive a digital sample ballot, a registered voter needs to enter their full name, birth date and zip code. In minutes, they can access a sample ballot that matches what will appear in the polls on Nov. 5.

Along with the GeauxVote! website, the Louisiana Secretary of State Office created an election hotline. If a Louisianan has a voting-related question, they can call 800-883-2805 to receive answers from poll commissioners.

Sophomore toxicology major Gwendolyn Abadie shares how the GeauxVote! website facilitates the election process, especially for first-time voters.

“It is super helpful for figuring out how to vote, where to vote, who is on your ballot and who aligns with your political views. That was what I did since it’s my first time voting,” Abadie said.

1. How to learn about a candidate’s policies or beliefs?

Voters hoping to stay informed about candidates’ policies and beliefs can visit Ballotopedia. Founded in 2007, Ballotopedia is a nonpartisan nonprofit that reports on candidates in national, state and local elections. The website tracks campaign spending, lists endorsements and records PAC fundraising.

After reviewing candidates’ interviews and media coverage, Ballotopedia lists the candidates’ positions on hot-topic issues. Abortion, gun control, climate change—Ballotopedia includes excerpts from each candidate’s website about these issues. As a result, voters can quickly locate a candidate’s position on different policies.

Ballotopedia launched the 2024 Voter Toolkit this election cycle, which includes policy guides, political podcasts and daily newsletters. The user-friendly toolkit allows voters to incorporate politics into their daily routines by breaking down complex issues into five-minute summaries.

Following every election, Ballotopedia releases an analysis that reviews election trends. The nonprofit counts the number of ballot measures involving public policy and categorizes the number of ballot measures based on the issue addressed. For example, Ballotopedia found that in 2022, six states created ballot measures centered around reproductive rights, the highest number in history.

Abadie explains how she used Ballotopedia to prepare for the Nov. 5. Election.

“Ballotopedia is also super helpful for decoding the sometimes-vague language on a ballot and learning about who the candidates are and what they’re running for,” Abadie said.

1. What are the voting locations in Monroe?

For early voters, Ouachita Parish had two voting locations: the Registrar of Voter’s Office in Monroe and the West Ouachita Senior Center in West Monroe. Since early voting ended on Oct. 29, voting locations changed for Election Day.

The Ouachita Parish Registrar of Voters assigns registrants a voting location based on their place of residence. Polling locations tend to be in nearby government buildings, recreation centers or schools. To find this information, future voters can visit the GeauxVote! website.

Louisiana students who are not residents of Ouachita Parish must return to their home parish for in-person voting. ULM released a statement that acknowledged the challenges of fitting voting into the average college student’s schedule. The university stated that students who miss class to visit the polls may be excused.

“Given the range of polling hours, most students should be able to schedule their voting around their classes,” Mark Arant, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said. “However, in cases where students have unique scheduling conflicts or specific circumstances that prevent this, they may arrange to miss all or part of a class to vote.”

1. How to request an absentee ballot?

If visiting the polls in person is inconvenient or impossible, absentee ballots allow select citizens to vote via mail. Louisiana allows residents to request an absentee ballot if they meet one of the established parameters, including pursuing higher education.

To receive an absentee ballot, Louisiana voters need to visit the GeauxVote! website to see if they are eligible. Once they have determined their eligibility, the voter will complete an electronic form. The potential voter must include the following items:

• The reason for their absentee ballot request
• The type (open primary or general) of election
• The date of the election
• Their date of birth
• Their driver’s license number and audit code
• Their social security number

College students who plan to vote absentee for the first time must mail a copy of their student I.D. or fee bill to the Registrar’s Office in their home parish. 

Junior political science major Maddison Hebert’s designated location is St. Tammany Parish. She speaks about her experience casting an absentee ballot.

“St. Tammany is where I’m registered to vote, but that’s a really long drive. I requested an absentee ballot through the Louisiana voting website and voted from my dorm room,” Hebert said.

1. How to register to vote in Louisiana?

Louisiana digitized the voter registration process, so registering only requires a few clicks. Similar to requesting an absentee ballot, a potential voter must visit the GeauxVote! website to register online.

While online voter registration simplifies the process, potential voters can still register in person at their local Registrar’s Office or Office of Motor Vehicles. A Louisianian under the age of 17 must register in person, not online. 

Louisiana law requires that a registered vote must meet the following requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be 18 years old before or on Election Day.
• Not currently be “under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony or, if under such an order, not have been incarcerated pursuant to the order within the last five years and not be under an order of imprisonment related to a felony conviction for election fraud or any other election offense pursuant to R.S. 18:1461.2 [state law].”
• Not currently be “under a judgment of full interdiction or limited interdiction where your right to vote has been suspended.”

Potential voters using the online registration system must apply at least 20 days before the election. In-person registration is delayed by ten days, so a registrant must apply almost a month before the election.

While voter registration for the Nov. 5 election closed, potential voters can still register for the Dec. 7 election.