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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE BILL NO. 28
BY SENATOR MORRELL
ELECTION CODE. Provides for an all-purpose "super" poll watcher. (1/1/11)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 18:435(A), relative to poll watchers; to provide that candidates2
for certain elective offices are entitled to a "super watcher" who shall be admitted to3
any precinct in the designated parish where the office the candidate seeks is voted4
on in a primary or general election; to provide for qualifications, powers, and duties5
of a "super watcher"; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 18:435(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 8
ยง435. Watchers; appointment and commission9
A. Right to have watchers. (1) Each candidate is entitled to have one watcher10
at every precinct where the office he seeks is voted on in any primary or general11
election. The candidate or his authorized representative shall file one list of watchers12
on a form provided by the secretary of state or on a form which contains the same13
information as required by the form provided by the secretary of state. When a14
candidate's list of watchers is filed by the candidate's authorized representative, a15
letter of authorization from the candidate shall accompany the list of watchers.16
However, in the case of a presidential election, each slate of candidates for17 SB NO. 28
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
presidential elector is entitled to have one watcher at every precinct. The state central1
committee of each recognized political party shall be responsible for filing the list2
of watchers for its slate of candidates for presidential elector. The list of watchers for3
an independent or other party slate of candidates for presidential elector shall be filed4
by any person so authorized by the presidential candidate supported by the slate of5
electors. A letter of authorization from the presidential candidate, or an authorized6
agent of his campaign, shall accompany the list of watchers.7
(2) In addition to the watchers provided for in Paragraph (1), each8
candidate in a parish containing a municipality with a population of four9
hundred seventy-five thousand or more may designate one watcher as a "super10
watcher" who shall have the qualifications, powers, and duties of watchers11
provided for by R.S. 18:427, and who shall be admitted as a watcher in every12
precinct in the designated parish where the office the candidate seeks is on the13
ballot in the primary and general election. The selection of the super watcher14
shall be made in the same manner as for watchers set forth in this Section.15
(2) (3) Any person who is supporting or opposing a proposition or question16
to be submitted to the voters or supporting or opposing the recall of a public officer17
and who has filed a report required by R.S. 18:1486 for such election is entitled to18
have one watcher at every precinct where the issue he seeks to influence is voted on19
in an election. For the purposes of this Subsection, "person" means any individual,20
partnership, association, labor union, political committee, corporation, or other legal21
entity, including its subsidiaries.22
(3) (4) The commissioners shall regulate the number of watchers inside the23
polling place as provided in R.S. 18:427.24
* * *25
Section 2. This act shall become effective on January 1, 2011.26 SB NO. 28
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alden A. Clement, Jr.
DIGEST
Morrell (SB 28)
Present law provides that each candidate is entitled to have one watcher at every precinct
where the office he seeks is voted on in any primary or general election.
Proposed law provides that in addition to the watchers provided for in present law, each
candidate in a parish containing a municipality with a population of 475,000 or more may
designate one watcher as a "super watcher" who is to be admitted as a watcher in every
precinct in the designated parish where the office the candidate seeks is on the ballot.
Proposed law further provides that the selection of these "super watchers" is to be made in
the same manner as for watchers set forth in present law.
Proposed law otherwise retains present law.
Effective January 1, 2011.
(Amends R.S. 18:435(A))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Senate and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill.
1. Adds that each candidate in a parish containing a municipality with a
population of 475,000 or more may designate one"super watcher" who is to
be admitted in every precinct in the designated parish where the office the
candidate seeks is on the ballot.
2. Changes effective date from August 15, 2010 to January 1, 2011.