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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 1089
BY REPRESENTATIVE ST. GERMAIN
ELECTIONS: Authorizes the designation of an additional location for early voting in
certain parishes
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 18:133(D) and 1309(C), relative to early voting; to authorize the2
registrars of voters in certain parishes to establish a branch office for early voting3
under certain circumstances; to provide limitations; and to provide for related4
matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 18:133(D) and 1309(C) are hereby amended and reenacted to read7
as follows:8
§133. Branch offices; mobile registration units; mandatory registration drives9
* * *10
D. In addition to the offices required or authorized by this Section, the11
registrar of each parish, with prior approval of the parish governing authority, may12
establish, maintain, and operate additional temporary branch offices for the13
registration of voters and for early voting if designated pursuant to R.S.14
18:1309(C)(2). The location of these offices shall be determined by the registrar.15
* * *16
§1309. Early voting application and early voting17
* * *18
C.(1) In parishes which extend in one direction more than fifty miles and19
which are interspersed with navigable waters, the registrar may designate, in addition20 HLS 12RS-2323 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1089
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to the locations for early voting provided for in Subsections A and B of this Section,1
one additional branch office wherein early voting may be conducted. Any such2
branch office shall be located in a public building and the hours during which early3
voting may be conducted therein shall be fixed by the registrar.4
(2) In a parish that has a population of thirty-five thousand or less according5
to the latest federal decennial census and that is divided by a river, the registrar may6
designate, in addition to the locations for early voting provided for in Subsections7
A and B of this Section, one additional branch office wherein early voting may be8
conducted. Any such branch office shall be located in a public building and the9
hours during which early voting may be conducted therein shall be fixed by the10
registrar.11
* * *12
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not13
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature14
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If15
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become16
effective on the day following such approval.17
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)]
St. Germain HB No. 1089
Abstract: Authorizes the registrar of voters in certain parishes to establish a temporary
branch office to conduct early voting.
Present law (R.S. 18:1309) provides procedures and requirements for early voting. Provides
that early voting is conducted during the early voting period at the office of the registrar
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Authorizes the registrar to provide for an
alternate location if the office space of the registrar is insufficient or inconvenient to
accommodate early voting. Requires the alternate location to be in the courthouse or in a
public building in the immediate vicinity thereof.
Present law provides that for the purpose of facilitating early voting, the registrar may
additionally designate one branch office wherein early voting may be conducted. Requires
any such branch office to be located in a public building. HLS 12RS-2323 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1089
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Present law provides that in parishes which extend in one direction more than 50 miles and
which are interspersed with navigable waters, the registrar may designate, in addition to the
locations for early voting provided for in present law, one additional branch office wherein
early voting may be conducted. Requires any such branch office to be located in a public
building and that the hours during which early voting may be conducted therein shall be
fixed by the registrar.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally provides that in a parish that has a
population of 35,000 or less and that is divided by a river, the registrar may designate one
additional branch office wherein early voting may be conducted. Provides that any such
branch office shall be located in a public building and that the hours during which early
voting may be conducted therein shall be fixed by the registrar.
Present law (R.S. 18:133) provides that all branch offices of a registrar of voters, whether
temporary or permanent, shall be located in permanent buildings, except mobile registration
units. Provides certain exceptions for emergencies. Provides that branch offices in
operation on Dec. 31, 1977, may be continued in operation and shall continue to be funded
as provided prior to that date. Provides that the registrar of each parish, with prior approval
and at the expense of the parish governing authority, may additionally provide permanent
branch offices at sites selected by and operated by the registrar. Proposed law retains present
law.
Present law provides that the registrar of each parish, with prior approval of the parish
governing authority, may additionally establish, maintain, and operate additional temporary
branch offices for the registration of voters. Provides that the location of these offices shall
be determined by the registrar.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally provides that a registrar may establish,
maintain, and operate additional temporary branch offices for early voting pursuant to
proposed law.
(Amends R.S. 18:133(D) and 1309(C))