Louisiana Earns Four Stars in Election Scorecard
The R Street Institute's 50-state review rates Louisiana's election administration among the higher-performing states.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Should Louisiana allow all voters to vote by mail without an excuse?
The R Street Institute released its Election Administration 50-State Scorecard, which rates Louisiana four out of five stars. The scorecard evaluates states on roughly 20 election-related policies, including voter ID, early voting, mail ballot deadlines and election security.
Why it matters
The ranking gives Louisiana voters a benchmark for how their state's election rules compare nationally. Louisiana's mixed record, with strong scores alongside aging voting equipment, shows where administrative upgrades could move the state's standing.
The scorecard assigns Louisiana four out of five stars across roughly 20 election policies, and Louisiana is one of about a dozen states requiring an excuse to vote by mail. The state's future ranking may depend on how quickly the Secretary of State's office replaces its aging voting machines.
The players
R Street Institute
A Washington-based libertarian-leaning think tank that publishes policy research on issues including elections and election administration.
Louisiana Secretary of State's office
The state agency responsible for overseeing Louisiana's elections, including the replacement of its voting equipment.
The details
The scorecard measures voter ID requirements, early voting, mail ballot deadlines and election security measures. Louisiana uses aging voting equipment, and the Louisiana Secretary of State's office is working to replace its voting machines.
Timeline
2026 Election Day: The election was held and an expert described the process as smooth and well-run.
November 4, 2026: The article discussing the scorecard and election administration was published.
Season Trajectory
The R Street Institute's scorecard ranks states on roughly 20 election policies, placing Louisiana among the middle-to-upper tier while Florida, Georgia, Utah and Ohio lead. Louisiana's ranking could shift as it replaces its aging voting machines.
Louisiana voters who want to vote by mail must provide an excuse, since the state is one of about a dozen that require one. Voters should expect the state's voting equipment to change as the Secretary of State's office replaces its aging machines.
The takeaway
Election administration varies widely across states, and a single scorecard can highlight both strengths and equipment gaps. Louisiana's four-star rating suggests a solid foundation, with voting machine replacement as the clearest path to improvement.
Further reading
For more on how states run their voting systems, see Elections coverage on Louisiana's election administration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Talk 107.3.
Live Poll
Should Louisiana allow all voters to vote by mail without an excuse?
