Louisiana Voting Rights Bill Fails in Committee

Incarcerated Voter Measure Also Rejected Despite Hours of Testimony

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:03pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty voting booth, with warm sunlight streaming in through a window and deep shadows enveloping the scene, conveying a sense of uncertainty and unease about the state of voting rights.The failure to pass new state-level voting protections in Louisiana casts a somber shadow over the future of voting rights in the region.Baton Rouge Today

A proposal to create a Louisiana Voting Rights Act, modeled after the federal Voting Rights Act, failed to advance in a state committee after hours of testimony from supporters. A separate measure addressing voting requirements for incarcerated voters was also rejected.

Why it matters

The failure of these bills raises concerns about the potential erosion of voting rights protections in Louisiana, especially if federal safeguards are weakened. The outcome highlights the ongoing debate over ballot access and the need to balance voting rights with election integrity.

The details

Senate Bill 365, sponsored by Democratic State Sen. Royce Duplessis, aimed to establish state-level voting rights protections in Louisiana. Supporters argued these protections are crucial given the potential for federal safeguards to be removed. The separate incarcerated voting measure sought to resolve a conflict in state law regarding voting methods for first-time incarcerated voters.

  • Senate Bill 365 failed on a four-to-three committee vote after hours of testimony from supporters.
  • The incarcerated voting measure was also rejected in the same committee.

The players

Royce Duplessis

A Democratic state senator representing Orleans Parish who sponsored Senate Bill 365.

Caitlin Peoples

A 10-year-old supporter who testified that 'voting is supposed to be a right, not something you get punished for.'

Shandra Foster

A representative from the Southern Poverty Law Center who highlighted issues voters face, such as confusion over last-minute changes and feeling discouraged from participating.

Liz Murrill

The Louisiana Attorney General who has stated that allowing abortion prescriptions like Mifepristone to be filled undermines the state's near-total abortion ban.

Jamie Davis

A Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate who announced his candidacy in December, citing concerns about the affordability of life in Louisiana.

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What they’re saying

“'Without those protections, there can be moves to dilute votes, to suppress votes, to make it harder for people to vote with no coverage at the state level, because we can't count on the federal government anymore. We have to take this stand as a state.'”

— Royce Duplessis, State Senator

“'Because in this country, voting is supposed to be a right, not something you get punished for.'”

— Caitlin Peoples, 10-year-old supporter

“'I've worked with voters who were confused by last-minute changes, unsure of their rights, or discouraged from participating because the process felt too complicated or out of reach.'”

— Shandra Foster, Southern Poverty Law Center

“'It's disappointing because not only should the bill have passed, if the bill wasn't going to pass, there should have been some explanation or rationale as to why they wouldn't vote for something as simple and as basic as protecting people's right to vote.'”

— Royce Duplessis, State Senator

“'Louisiana is at a crossroads right now. And if we don't head off the direction that our state is going, Lord knows I don't know where we'll be in the future. It's time for a change. And it has to stop, and it has to stop now.'”

— Jamie Davis, Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate

What’s next

A meeting about placing a lifetime term limit on former governors who served more than two consecutive terms is scheduled for Monday at 9:30 a.m.

The takeaway

The failure of the Louisiana Voting Rights Act and the incarcerated voter measure highlights the ongoing challenges in protecting voting rights at the state level, even as federal safeguards face potential erosion. This outcome underscores the need for continued advocacy and bipartisan cooperation to ensure fair and accessible elections for all Louisianans.