Politics
Louisiana Referendum Signature Rules Set Thresholds for Shreveport Local Measures
Shreveport residents proposing city charter amendments or tax measures must collect signatures from 8 percent of registered voters in Caddo Parish, a higher bar than the 5 percent threshold used in Lafayette.
How we reported this
The updated Louisiana election code provisions on local ballot measures, which take effect for the November 2026 election cycle, standardize signature requirements for municipal referendums across the state. In Shreveport these rules govern proposals that would alter property tax millage rates or authorize new sales taxes for city services.
State law now requires verification of signatures by the Caddo Parish Registrar of Voters within 30 days of submission. This change follows the 2025 legislative session and aligns Shreveport procedures with those already applied in several other Louisiana cities while leaving room for local charter variations.
How Shreveport Differs from Peer Cities
Under the new framework Shreveport requires signatures equal to 8 percent of registered voters, compared with 5 percent in Lafayette and 6 percent in Baton Rouge. Local advocates note that the higher threshold means organizers must reach roughly 11,000 valid signatures in Caddo Parish rather than the lower counts needed elsewhere.
Residents seeking to place a measure on the ballot for road repairs or fire department funding must therefore coordinate petition drives across more neighborhoods than their counterparts in those cities. The legislation states that all signatures must come from individuals who voted in the most recent municipal election.
Next Steps for Voters and City Officials
Petitions for the November ballot must be filed by early September. The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court will then certify the measure language before it appears on the ballot for Shreveport voters to decide funding questions that directly determine allocations within the city's annual operating budget.
Policy analysts say turnout in past Shreveport referendums has ranged between 18 and 25 percent of registered voters, figures that determine whether the new signature volume proves achievable for community groups.