File A Notice of Vacancy

A vacancy in an elected office may occur due to a variety of reasons, such as the resignation or retirement of the elected officer, death, removal from office, failure to take office for any reason, being elected and sworn into another office, moving out of the jurisdiction of a specific district, being recalled or by judgment.

All letters of resignation and retirement must be an original and must be notarized. The resignation shall become valid upon receipt of the original notarized letter in the Secretary of State's Office. When an original, notarized letter of resignation is received, the Commissions Division of the Secretary of State's Office will transmit the notice to the local governing authority who is required by law to make an appointment to fill the vacancy and call a special election to fill the vacancy, if more than one year remains in the term of office for certain elected officials or if more than 18 months remains in the term of office for certain parish or municipal governing authority members. Special elections are sometimes not necessary when the regular election will be held within one year to 18 months. Contact the Elections Division for specific information.

A notification of a death should include the name of the deceased elected official, the office title and date of death. Faxed or emailed copies are acceptable for a notification of death only.

Please refer to La. R.S. 18:591; 601-604; 621; 652-654; and 671 for detailed information on specific elected offices.