Local Elections
This fall, New Orleans residents will vote on many seats of municipal government, including the office of the Mayor, City Council, numerous parish offices, and an amendment to the Home Rule Charter. At the City Archives, we hold historic resources informing the history of voter registration, voting districts, local charters, and the municipal and parish offices up for election. This post will guide researchers though our collection materials, highlighting the following collections as they relate to municipal elections:
- Voter Registration Records
- The 1954 Home Rule Charter
- Office of the Mayor
- City Council
- Parish Offices
Register to Vote
Click the link below for information about registering to vote in Orleans Parish.
Learn MoreVoter Registration Records
The Secretary of State oversees many aspects of local elections, including maintaining voter registration systems and enforcing election laws. Visit the State Archives to view election results and voter registration data dating back to 2000. New Orleans had a system of voter registration as early as the 1850s, long before most other cities passed such legislation. The City Archives’ collection of historic voter registration records dates from 1874-1962. Voter registration records can provide valuable genealogical information for researchers, including information about residency, naturalization status, and sometimes political affiliation.
Voter Registration Records
Explore voter registration records, 1874-1962. These contain a wealth of information about each registrant, including address, age, length of residency, political affiliation, and more.
Learn MoreUnderstanding Ward Boundaries
1954 Home Rule Charter
The city charter is to New Orleans what the constitution is to the State of Louisiana. It is the legal document that creates the municipal government and defines its purposes, duties, and privileges. The City of New Orleans currently operates under a Home Rule Charter, enacted in 1954. Home Rule Charters provide local governments the most authority and power under the Louisiana constitution, allowing autonomy over spending and legislation.
The Home Rule Charter has been amended and updated continuously since 1954. The current version of the Charter is available to view on Municode. The original version of the 1954 Charter is included to the right.
New Orleans sought a home rule charter in response to perceived government overreach and a desire for a more autonomous, efficient, and localized rule. Prior to 1954, New Orleans operated under several different state run charters. Read about the history of New Orleans’ charters dating back to 1805 in the exhibit New Orleans Incorporated: 200 Years of the City Charter.
Office of the Mayor
This fall, New Orleans will elect it’s new mayor. The City Archives & Special Collections has countless resources chronicling the history of the Office of the Mayor and its occupants. Mayor Morrison was the first to serve under the “new” Home Rule Charter, establishing a two term limit on all succeeding mayors. Although challenged since then, the current two term limit remains in place for the Mayor of New Orleans. Martin Behrman was the longest serving mayor in the history of New Orleans, serving from 1904-1920, prior to the Home Rule Charter and established term limitations.
Office of the Mayor
Learn about the history of the Office of the Mayor, and view a list of mayors of the City of New Orleans from 1803-present.
Learn MoreIndividual Mayors
Explores the Archives' finding aids of individual Mayor's Collections from the 1880s- the Nagin Administration.
Learn MoreHover over images to learn more
Mayor Ernest "Dutch" Morial
Morial was the first African American mayor elected in New Orleans, serving from 1978-1986.
Dutch unsuccessfully campaigned to amend the charter to allow for additional mayoral terms.
Mayor Marc Morial
Dutch's son Marc Morial, elected mayor in 1994, also supported a charter exception that would allow him to serve a third term. This too was unsuccessful.
Both Morials served two consecutive terms as Mayor of New Orleans.
Dutch and Marc Morial were not the only father and son to both serve as Mayor of New Orleans. Mayor Moon Landrieu and his son Mitch also both held the office of the mayor, also for two consecutive terms each. Moon served as mayor from 1970-1978, preceding Mayor Dutch Morial. Mitch Landrieu served as Mayor of New Orleans from 2010-2018, following Nagin’s term.
Mayor Moon Landrieu with Ernest Morial, ca. 1970s
Mayor Moon Landrieu
Originally named Maurice, Landrieu adopted his nickname "Moon" as his legal name prior to his first mayoral campaign in 1969.
Mayor Mitch Landrieu
Following Landrieu's second term, a charter amendment took effect moving mayoral elections from the Spring to the Fall, and inauguration day from May to January.
City Council
The 1954 Home Rule Charter established a mayor-council form of government in New Orleans. The City Council consists of seven members, two elected at-large and five elected from council districts. Council district boundaries are amended every 10 years based on census data to ensure accurate population representation, as outlined in the Home Rule Charter. In 1991, term limits were established for City Council members that are still in effect today. Council members may not serve the same district for more than two consecutive terms; Council members-at-large may not serve more than two consecutive at-large terms. Council members may (and often do) serve two terms as district representatives and then two terms at-large.
View a list of Councilmembers that have served since the passing of the 1954 Home Rule Charter.
New Orleans City Council
Explore the many iterations of the New Orleans City Council, dating back to the Spanish Cabildo of 1769.
Learn MoreResearching Ordinances
City Council enacts laws through the adoption of ordinances, outlined in the Official Proceedings of the City Council.
Learn MoreIndividual Councilmembers
Explore the finding aids of individual City Councilmember's records in the City Archives.
Learn MoreHover over images to learn more
1958
New Orleans City Council: Fred Cassibry, James E. Fitzmorris, Jr., Glenn Clasen, Victor H. Schiro, Henry B. Curtis, Theodore Hickey, and Paul V. Burke.
2001
Councilmeber Suzanne Terrell, District A, pictured in the City Archives' microfilm section.
1982
Prior to serving as Mayor (1986-1994), Sidney Barthelemy served as Councilmember At-Large from 1978-1986.
1980s
Mayor Ernest Morial addresses City Council in chambers.
Parish Offices
The City of New Orleans and Orleans Parish operate as a unified government. They are coterminous, with identical geographic boundaries. While often used interchangeably, the City of New Orleans and Orleans Parish actually refer to two slightly different things when it comes to government roles. The difference lies in where the office is defined/ codified into law. The Code of the City and the Home Rule Charter define city agencies. Parish offices and their duties are outlined in the Louisiana State Constitution. Offices like the ones listed below (which are all up for re-election this fall) are defined by the state constitution and as such report officially to the State, rather than the City. While they work very closely, if not completely enmeshed with city agencies and have aspects regulated by City Council and the Mayor through the Home Rule Charter, they are not considered city offices.
The State, not the City, functions as the official repository for parish records; however, the City Archives maintains some records for Orleans Parish, because of how closely parish and city function in New Orleans. Learn more about Orleans Parish records in the City Archives.
Assessor
The assessor determines the value of taxable property in Orleans Parish. Explore assessment records dating back to 1836.
Learn MoreClerks of Court
Clerks of Court maintain the records of the civil and criminal courts. Explore civil and criminal court records in the City Archives.
Learn MoreCoroner
Explore Coroner's day books, autopsy reports, record of views, and daily record journals dating back to 1844.
Learn MoreSheriff
Historic records include information regarding Sheriff sales and a record of transfers to the State Penitentiary, 1896-1935.
Learn MoreThis post was created by Brittanny Silva in 2025.