The Clerk of Court serves as Jefferson Parish’s chief elections officer and ex-officio custodian of voting machines. The Clerk qualifies candidates for municipal, parish, state legislative, and certain judicial elections. Statewide, congressional, appellate, supreme court, BESE, and public service commission elections are handled by the Louisiana Secretary of State. The Jefferson Parish Council sets poll locations and precinct boundaries, and the Registrar of Voters — a council appointee — registers voters, maintains the voter roll, and conducts early voting.
After the qualifying period, the Secretary of State prepares the ballot and programs the voting machines. The Clerk’s elections department trains commissioners and commissioners-in-charge, and notifies precinct custodians and candidates. One month before the election, the five-member Board of Election Supervisors randomly selects qualified commissioners to staff each precinct; the Board also meets annually to designate commissioners-in-charge. On election day, commissioners run each precinct with support available from the Clerk and Secretary of State. After polls close, deputy clerks tabulate results from voting machine cartridges delivered by the commissioners-in-charge, while the Board counts early-vote ballots. The Board then certifies the result and submits it to the Secretary of State.
Poll Commissioners
For each election, the Clerk must staff 268 precincts across 114 locations throughout Jefferson Parish — a task requiring nearly 1,400 trained commissioners. Each precinct is staffed by a commissioner-in-charge and four commissioners. Citizens interested in serving as a commissioner are encouraged to contact the Clerk’s office; fully-staffed precincts are essential to a smooth election.
6-Minute Limit to Cast a Vote
Voters may not remain in the voting booth for more than six minutes. Poll commissioners will notify voters when the limit is approaching and may remove any voter who exceeds it.
Assistance to Voters
Voters who need assistance casting their ballot must notify the Registrar of Voters in advance and provide a physician’s or optometrist’s statement certifying the nature of the physical impairment. This statement may also be provided at the polls; the commissioner will forward it to the Registrar. Assistance is also available to voters who present a mobility-impaired ID card (issued by the LA Dept. of Motor Vehicles), a paratransit card, or a disability award letter. Voters who are unable to read are likewise entitled to assistance.
Office Hours & Location
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (excluding legal holidays)
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East Bank — Joseph S. Yenni Building
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Suite 603, Jefferson, LA 70123
(504) 736-6394
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