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ACT No. 22
First Extraordinary Session, 2011
HOUSE BILL NO. 29
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEGER
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 18:402(C)(introductory paragraph), (D), (E)(1)(c) and (e) and2
(2)(c) and (e), and (F)(3) and (6), 467(3) and (4), and 514, relative to provisions of3
Title 18 (Louisiana Election Code) of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 which4
are limited in applicability to certain political subdivisions or local areas based upon5
population classifications; to adjust population categories to retain applicability of6
provisions relative to dates of local elections and dates associated with such7
elections; and to provide for related matters.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. R.S. 18:402(C)(introductory paragraph), (D), (E)(1)(c) and (e) and (2)(c)10
and (e), and (F)(3) and (6), 467(3) and (4), and 514 are hereby amended and reenacted to11
read as follows:12
§402. Dates of primary and general elections13
* * *14
C. Municipal and ward elections. In all municipalities with a population of15
less than four three hundred seventy-five thousand, elections for municipal and ward16
officers who are not elected at the same time as the governor or members of congress17
shall be held every four years.18
* * *19
D. Parochial and municipal elections in a parish containing a municipality20
with a population of four hundred seventy-five three hundred thousand or more.21
Elections for parochial and municipal officers in a parish containing a municipality22
with a population of four three hundred seventy-five thousand or more shall be held23
every four years, beginning in 2006, as follows:24 ENROLLEDHB NO. 29
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(1) Primary elections for parochial and municipal officers in a parish1
containing a municipality with a population of four hundred seventy-five thousand2
or more shall be held on the first Saturday in February of an election year.3
(2) General elections for parochial and municipal officers in a parish4
containing a municipality with a population of four hundred seventy-five thousand5
or more shall be held on the fourth Saturday after the first Saturday in February of6
an election year.7
E. Special elections to fill newly created office or vacancy in office. An8
election to fill a newly created office or vacancy in an existing office, except the9
office of state legislator or representative in congress, shall be held on the dates fixed10
by the appropriate authority in the proclamation ordering a special election as11
follows:12
(1) A special primary election shall be held on the first of the following days13
that is not less than eleven weeks after the date on which the proclamation calling the14
special primary election was issued:15
* * *16
(c) The first Saturday in April, when the special general election is held on17
the fourth Saturday after the first Saturday in April or on the second or third Saturday18
in February during the presidential election year, if the statewide presidential19
preference primary election is scheduled on the second or third Saturday in February20
of the presidential election year; however, commencing in 1986 and every fourth21
year thereafter, this date shall not be applicable in a parish containing a municipality22
with a population of four three hundred seventy-five thousand or more.23
* * *24
(e) The first Saturday in February of an election year for parish and25
municipal officers in a parish containing a municipality with a population of four26
three hundred seventy-five thousand or more.27
(2) A special general election shall be held on one of the following days:28
* * *29 ENROLLEDHB NO. 29
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(c) The fourth Saturday after the first Saturday in April of any year unless1
the primary election is held on the second or third Saturday in February; in such case2
the general election shall be held on the fourth Saturday after the second or third3
Saturday in February, as the case may be; however, commencing in 1986 and every4
fourth year thereafter, this date shall not be applicable in a parish containing a5
municipality with a population of four three hundred seventy-five thousand or more.6
* * *7
(e) The fourth Saturday after the first Saturday in February in a parish8
containing a municipality with a population of four three hundred seventy-five9
thousand or more, when the special primary election in such parish and municipality10
is held on the first Saturday in February of an election year for parish and municipal11
officers.12
* * *13
F. Bond, tax, or other elections. Every bond, tax, or other election at which14
a proposition or question is to be submitted to the voters shall be held only on one15
of the following dates:16
* * *17
(3) The first Saturday in April or the fourth Saturday after the first Saturday18
in April of any year or on the second or third Saturday in February or fourth Saturday19
after the second or third Saturday in February, as the case may be, during the20
presidential election year, if the statewide presidential preference primary election21
is scheduled on the second or third Saturday in February of the presidential election22
year; however, commencing in 1994 and every fourth year thereafter, the first23
Saturday in April shall not be applicable in a parish containing a municipality with24
a population of four three hundred seventy-five thousand or more.25
* * *26
(6) For a parish containing a municipality with a population of four three27
hundred seventy-five thousand or more, the first Saturday in February or the fourth28
Saturday after the first Saturday in February in 1986 and every fourth year thereafter.29
* * *30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 29
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§467. Opening of qualifying period1
The qualifying period for candidates in a primary election shall open:2
* * *3
(3) For candidates in a primary election for municipal and ward officers who4
are not elected at the same time as the governor or members of congress in5
municipalities with a population of less than four three hundred seventy-five6
thousand and those in any special primary election to be held at the same time, on7
the second Wednesday in February of the year of the election, unless the primary8
election is held on the second or third Saturday in February; in such case the9
qualifying period for candidates in such primary election shall open on the second10
Wednesday in December of the year prior to the election.11
(4) For candidates in a primary election for parochial and municipal officers12
in a parish containing a municipality with a population of four three hundred13
seventy-five thousand or more and in which the municipal and parochial elections14
are held at the same time, on the second Wednesday in December preceding the year15
of the election.16
* * *17
§514. Parish with municipality population of four three hundred seventy-five18
thousand or more; municipal and parochial officers; date of taking office19
A. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all All elected parochial and20
municipal officers in a parish containing a municipality with a population of four21
three hundred seventy-five thousand or more shall take office on the first Monday22
in May of 1982 and each four years thereafter.23
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: