§531.1. Exception to opening polls; alternative voting locations

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the polling place for a particular precinct shall not be required to be opened in either of the following circumstances:

(1) When it is determined by the registrar of voters that there are no voters eligible to vote in the voting district in the precinct for any office or proposition on the ballot.

(2) When it is determined by the registrar of voters after the close of early voting, that all voters eligible to vote in the precinct have voted absentee by mail or during early voting.

B. The registrar of voters shall notify the secretary of state and the other members of the parish board of election supervisors of all such determinations.

C. Whenever the polling place for a precinct to which a voter is assigned is not opened pursuant to the provisions of Subsection A of this Section and it is subsequently determined on election day that a voter is eligible to vote and has not voted absentee by mail or during early voting, the voter may cast his vote at the polling place nearest the precinct at which he is registered, provided such polling place has the ballot for which he is eligible to vote on a voting machine. The registrar of voters shall authorize a commissioner at the nearest polling place to allow the voter to vote after the voter completes and signs the affidavit of voter form. If no such polling place is available, the voter may cast his vote by paper ballot in the office of the registrar of voters or at a location designated by the registrar.

Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2014, No. 60, §1, eff. May 16, 2014.