Early voting for the Nov. 3, 2026, election officially closed in Rapides Parish on Tuesday, Oct. 27, with 12,203 ballots cast during the seven-day early voting period.
According to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s final early voting statistical report, 9,879 voters cast their ballots in person, while 2,324 absentee ballots were recorded.
With early voting now closed, voters who have not yet cast their ballots may vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at their assigned polling locations.
Voter Demographics
The demographic breakdown for Rapides Parish’s seven-day early voting period is as follows:
- Race: 7,926 White voters, 3,885 Black voters, and 392 voters identified as Other.
- Sex: 6,943 Female voters and 5,258 Male voters, as reported by the state.
Party Affiliation
Republicans represented the largest turnout group during the early voting period:
- Republicans: 5,569
- Democrats: 4,623
- Other/Other Parties: 2,011 (1,966 No Party/Independent voters and 45 affiliated with other parties)
Final Seven-Day Early Voting Recap
With the seven-day early voting period complete, a total of 12,203 ballots were recorded in Rapides Parish.
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Total Votes | 12,203 |
| In-Person | 9,879 |
| Absentee | 2,324 |
| Republicans | 5,569 |
| Democrats | 4,623 |
| Other Parties | 2,011 |
Note: The Other Parties category combines voters registered with no party affiliation and those registered with other political parties.
Election Day Information
Although early voting has ended, the election is not over.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Voters who have not already voted should report to their assigned Election Day polling locations, which may differ from early voting locations.
For eligible absentee voters, the deadline to request an absentee ballot is Friday, Oct. 30, at 4:30 p.m. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the parish registrar of voters by Monday, Nov. 2, at 4:30 p.m., except for certain military, overseas and other qualifying voters.
The 12,203 ballots reported represent Rapides Parish’s recorded turnout through the close of early voting. Additional eligible absentee ballots may still be received before Election Day.