General Election, November 8, 2022
Louisiana held its general election on November 8, 2022, deciding the office of Public Service Commissioner District 4.
Highlights
- Voters turned down most of the constitutional amendments on the November ballot, approving 3 of 8.
- The headline result was Amendment 7, which would have removed language allowing involuntary servitude as criminal punishment. It failed by about 22 points, making Louisiana the only one of five states voting on the question in 2022 to reject such a ban; Vermont, Oregon, Alabama, and Tennessee approved theirs. Its own sponsor, state Rep. Edmond Jordan (D), ultimately opposed it over changes to the text, and supporters blamed confusing ballot wording.
- The other seven amendments:
- Passed: Amendment 2 (wider property tax exemptions for disabled veterans), Amendment 4 (letting local governments waive water charges for damage customers did not cause), and Amendment 8 (dropping annual income recertification for permanently disabled homeowners' special assessments).
- Failed: Amendment 1, which would have raised the cap on equity investments for certain state funds to 65%, drew only about 36% support; Amendment 3, letting civil service employees campaign for immediate family members, and Amendment 5, letting taxing bodies raise rates back up to their authorized maximum by a two-thirds vote, also failed.
- Closest: Amendment 6, which would have capped yearly increases in Orleans Parish residential assessments at 10%, failed by fewer than 7,000 votes statewide.
Legislature
- House (105 seats): 35 D, 68 R, 2 other or vacant before the election, 35 D, 68 R, 2 other or vacant after; control stayed with Republicans.
- Senate (39 seats): 12 D, 27 R before the election, 12 D, 27 R after; control stayed with Republicans.
Statewide races
Ballot measures
| Measure | Description | Result |
|---|
| Amendment 1 | Increase the portion of certain state funds that can be invested in equities from 35% to 65% | Failed (36% yes) |
| Amendment 2 | Expand property tax exemptions for disabled veterans with a service-related disability | Passed (73% yes) |
| Amendment 3 | Allow classified and civil service employees to publicly support the election campaigns of individuals in their immediate family when off duty | Failed (33% yes) |
| Amendment 4 | Allow local governments to waive water charges for customers when damages are not caused by the customer | Passed (75% yes) |
| Amendment 5 | Provide that property tax rates can be increased by a two-thirds vote of a taxing authority up to the maximum rate allowed by the constitution | Failed (43% yes) |
| Amendment 6 | Limit the increase in the assessed value of residential property in Orleans Parish to 10% of the property's assessed value | Failed (50% yes) |
| Amendment 7 | Repeal language allowing involuntary servitude as criminal punishments | Failed (39% yes) |
| Amendment 8 | Remove the annual income recertification requirement to receive special assessment property tax rates for homeowners that are permanently and totally disabled | Passed (55% yes) |
Runoffs, December 10, 2022
Louisiana held runoffs on December 10, 2022, deciding the office of Public Service Commissioner District 3.
Legislature
- House (105 seats): 35 D, 68 R, 2 other or vacant before the election, 35 D, 68 R, 2 other or vacant after; control stayed with Republicans.
- Senate (39 seats): 12 D, 27 R before the election, 12 D, 27 R after; control stayed with Republicans.
Statewide races
Ballot measures
| Measure | Description | Result |
|---|
| Amendment 1 | Prohibit the state and local governments from allowing noncitizens to vote | Passed (73% yes) |
| Amendment 2 | Amend the constitution to require senate confirmation of State Civil Service Commission appointees | Passed (71% yes) |
| Amendment 3 | Amend the constitution to require senate confirmation of State Police Commission appointees | Passed (72% yes) |