Your ballot, explained.

Heard this? Here are the facts

Each claim gets a plain status: True, False, or Promised, not law.

• Heard this? "Everyone on my ballot on Nov. 3 is in a final election." False
  The facts: The U.S. Senate race on Nov. 3 is final (party nominees Letlow and Davis). But U.S. House races are an open primary this year. If no House candidate gets more than half the votes, the top two go to a runoff on Dec. 12, 2026. source: websterparishjournal.com
• Heard this? "My vote in the spring U.S. House primary still counts." False
  The facts: The spring U.S. House party primaries were canceled after the map was struck down. Votes cast in those House races do not count. House candidates had to qualify again in August for Nov. 3. source: axios.com
• Heard this? "I can register to vote at the polls on Election Day." False
  The facts: Louisiana has no same-day registration. For Nov. 3, the deadline was Oct. 5 (in person, by mail or at the OMV) and Oct. 13 (online). For a Dec. 12 runoff, the deadlines are Nov. 12 (in person/mail) and Nov. 21 (online). source: splcenter.org
• Heard this? "I can't vote this November without a photo ID." False
  The facts: Louisiana asks for a photo ID at the polls. If you do not have one, for Nov. 3 you can still vote by signing an affidavit and answering questions about yourself. A new law (SB 319) ends the affidavit option, but not until July 1, 2027. source: news.ballotpedia.org
• Heard this? "Any Louisiana voter can vote by mail." False
  The facts: You need a reason to vote by mail in Louisiana, such as being 65 or older, being away from your parish on Election Day, or certain disabilities. Military and overseas voters can also vote by mail. source: sos.la.gov
• Heard this? "If you have a felony conviction, you can never vote again in Louisiana." False
  The facts: You cannot vote while in prison for a felony. But if you are on probation or parole and have not been in prison for that felony in the last 5 years, you can register and vote. People with certain election-crime convictions cannot. Your right also comes back when your sentence is done. source: splcenter.org
• Heard this? "You'll get $5,000 after the election." Promised, not law
  The facts: On Sept. 9, 2026 the President promised every adult $5,000, a "Trump Dividend", if Republicans keep both the House and the Senate. It is a campaign promise that depends on the election results; no law or payment exists today. Congress would have to pass it, and AP estimates it would cost over $1 trillion. Is this legal? Experts disagree. Richard Painter, chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, wrote: "No, Mr. President you can't offer voters $5000 if the Republicans win the House and Senate." Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner called it a completed crime under the federal vote-buying law (18 U.S.C. 597). Election attorney John Day told AP it is legal because it would go to everyone regardless of how they vote: "This is a campaign promise." Rice University political scientist Mark Jones: "It's unsavory, but it's legal." Your ballot is secret, so no payment can depend on how you personally vote. source: kold.com source: internazionale.it source: newsweek.com source: ibtimes.co.uk source: katv.com
• Heard this? "Someone can legally pay you to vote, or to vote a certain way." False
  The facts: No. Paying or offering to pay anyone to vote or to register to vote in a federal election is a federal crime (52 U.S.C. 10307(c)). Accepting the payment is a crime too. source: law.cornell.edu
• Heard this? "The $1 million-a-day giveaway in 2024 paid people for voting." False
  The facts: That contest was open only to registered voters in seven swing states, and entering meant signing a petition, not voting. The group's lawyer told a Pennsylvania court the winners were "not chosen by chance". The judge let it continue. source: aljazeera.com

Checked against official sources, court records and news reports. We update this as new claims go around.