HLS 10RS-4636 ENGROSSED
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 236
BY REPRESENTATIVE ROSALIND JONES
VOTERS/VOTING: Requests a report regarding efforts to make the opportunity to vote by
absentee by mail available to any incarcerated person who is eligible to vote
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Louisiana Municipal Association, the Police Jury Association of2
Louisiana, the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, and the Louisiana Association of3
Chiefs of Police to survey their members and the Department of Public Safety and4
Corrections to survey any private entity that operates a correctional facility on efforts5
to make voting by absentee by mail available to every person who is incarcerated in6
an institution inside or outside the parish in which he is qualified to vote who is not7
under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony or who has had his8
registration reinstated after completing the sentence imposed following a felony9
conviction and to report their findings and recommendations, including an estimate10
of any costs associated with such efforts, to the House Committee on House and11
Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental12
Affairs by February 25, 2011.13
WHEREAS, voting is a civic duty of paramount importance and is a constitutionally14
protected right; and15
WHEREAS, it is important that all eligible citizens of Louisiana be able to exercise16
their right to vote; and17
WHEREAS, an individual incarcerated in an institution inside or outside the parish18
in which he is qualified to vote who is not under an order of imprisonment for conviction of19 HLS 10RS-4636 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 236
Page 2 of 3
a felony or who has had his registration reinstated under the provisions of R.S. 18:1771
should be able to exercise his constitutional right to vote and in doing so make his voice2
heard and participate in the democratic process; and3
WHEREAS, the legislature is committed to exploring every possible means that may4
improve opportunities for each eligible citizen to participate in the life of his community and5
state by voting; and6
WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon each mayor, sheriff, chief of police, parish7
governing authority, and private entity that operates a correctional facility to take every8
possible step to facilitate voting by absentee by mail by those persons incarcerated yet9
eligible to vote; and10
WHEREAS, in Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 64 of the 2007 Regular Session11
of the Legislature, the legislature requested that every mayor, sheriff, and chief of police in12
the state of Louisiana make available to every person who is incarcerated but not convicted13
of a felony the opportunity to vote by absentee by mail in all elections.14
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby15
urge and request the Louisiana Municipal Association, the Police Jury Association of16
Louisiana, the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, and the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of17
Police to survey their members and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to18
survey any private entity that operates a correctional facility on efforts to make voting by19
absentee by mail available to every person who is incarcerated in an institution inside or20
outside the parish in which he is qualified to vote who is not under an order of imprisonment21
for conviction of a felony or who has had his registration reinstated after completing the22
sentence imposed following a felony conviction and to report their findings and23
recommendations, and including an estimate of any costs associated with such efforts, to the24
House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate25
and Governmental Affairs by February 25, 2011.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the27
executive director of the Louisiana Municipal Association, the executive director of the28
Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of29 HLS 10RS-4636 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 236
Page 3 of 3
Chiefs of Police, the executive director of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana, and the1
secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.2
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Rosalind Jones HCR No. 236
Requests the L.M.A., the Police Jury Association, the La. Sheriffs' Association, and the La.
Association of Chiefs of Police to survey their members and the Dept. of Public Safety and
Corrections to survey any private entity that operates a correctional facility on efforts to
make voting by absentee by mail available to every person who is incarcerated in an
institution inside or outside the parish in which he is qualified to vote who is not under an
order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony or who has had his registration reinstated
after completing the sentence imposed following a felony conviction and to report their
findings and recommendations, including an estimate of the costs associated with such
efforts, to the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate
Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs by Feb. 25, 2011.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and Governmental
Affairs to the original resolution.
1. Changes resolution from direct to urge and request.
2. Adds the Police Jury Association and the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections
to the list of entities requested to survey and report pursuant to the resolution.
3. Adds requirement that report to legislature contain an estimate of costs
associated with allowing incarcerated persons to vote by absentee by mail.