SUBPART E. WITHDRAWAL OF CANDIDATES

§501. Procedure for withdrawal

A.(1) A candidate in a primary election may withdraw from the election by filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary of state prior to 4:30 p.m. on the seventh day after the close of the qualifying period. The notice of withdrawal shall be signed by the candidate and duly acknowledged by him before an officer authorized to administer oaths.

(2)(a) The secretary of state shall not accept a notice of withdrawal that does not satisfy the requirements of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The secretary of state shall endorse the date and time of receipt of such a notice of withdrawal and return the notice forthwith, either personally or by registered or certified mail, to the candidate. The provisions of this Subparagraph shall not apply to a notice of withdrawal filed pursuant to a court order as provided in R.S. 18:494(B).

(b) The secretary of state shall forward a copy of a notice of withdrawal that satisfies the requirements of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection or was filed pursuant to a court order as provided in R.S. 18:494(B) and that was filed by a local or municipal candidate to the president of the board of election supervisors and the clerk of court of the parish in which the candidate has qualified.

B.(1) A candidate in a general election may withdraw from the election by filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary of state prior to 4:30 p.m. on the ninth day after the date of the primary election. The notice of withdrawal shall be signed by the candidate and duly acknowledged by him before an officer authorized to administer oaths.

(2)(a) The secretary of state shall not accept a notice of withdrawal that does not satisfy the requirements of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The secretary of state shall endorse the date and time of receipt of such a notice of withdrawal and return the notice forthwith, either personally or by registered or certified mail, to the candidate.

(b) The secretary of state shall forward a copy of a notice of withdrawal that satisfies the requirements of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and that was filed by a local or municipal candidate to the president of the board of election supervisors and the clerk of court of the parish in which the candidate has qualified.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections A and B of this Section, if there are only two candidates remaining in a primary or general election for a public office, the secretary of state shall accept a notice of withdrawal that is filed prior to 4:30 p.m. on the second day prior to the election. The candidate remaining after the withdrawal is declared elected by the people.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1984, No. 672, §1; Acts 1987, No. 831, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 329, §1; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2015, No. 410, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2016; Acts 2018, No. 657, §1, eff. June 1, 2018.