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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE BILL NO. 107
BY SENATOR MURRAY
VOTERS/VOTING. Provides for consistency of presentation of political party affiliations
on voter identification cards, notices of candidacy, voter registration cards and precinct
registers. (1/1/13)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 18:109, 463(A)(1)(a) and 551(D), relative to the Louisiana2
Election Code; to provide for consistency of presentation of political party3
affiliations on voter identification cards, notices of candidacy, voter registration4
cards and precinct registers; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for5
related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 18:109, 463(A)(1)(a) and 551(D) are hereby amended and reenacted8
to read as follows: 9
§109. Notice of registration and change in registration10
After receiving from the registrar the information concerning a new registrant11
or the information concerning a change made with respect to the registration of any12
person, the Department of State promptly shall mail a notice to the appropriate13
registrar that the person is registered or that his registration has been changed. The14
registrar shall then mail a notice, postage prepaid, to each new registrant and to each15
person whose registration was changed in any manner a notice that he is registered16
or that his registration has been changed. The notice shall show the parish, ward,17 SB NO. 107
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precinct, and registration address, and party affiliation of the registrant. The notice1
shall list an abbreviation of the name of the political party if the registrant is2
registered as being affiliated with a recognized political party, "other" if the3
registrant is registered as being affiliated with a political party that is not4
recognized, or "none" if the registrant is registered with no political party5
affiliation. However, the registrar shall not be required to send such a notice to any6
voter who has been on the inactive list of voters for at least two years unless the7
change in registration involves a change in the voter's address. The secretary of state8
shall prescribe the form to be used on the notice; however, the front of the notice9
shall contain directions to the postmaster to "deliver only as addressed; otherwise10
return to sender; address correction requested", and the return address shall be that11
of the registrar. When a notice is returned by the postmaster, the registrar shall12
proceed in accordance with the applicable provisions of Part V of this Chapter.13
* * *14
§463. Notice of candidacy; financial disclosure; political advertising; penalties15
A.(1)(a) A notice of candidacy shall be in writing and shall state the16
candidate's name, the office he seeks, the address of his domicile, and the parish,17
ward, and precinct where he is registered to vote, and the political party, if any, with18
which he is registered as being affiliated. The candidate shall list on the notice of19
candidacy the name of the political party if he is registered as being affiliated20
with a recognized political party; "other" if he is registered as being affiliated21
with a political party that is not a recognized political party; or "none" if he is22
registered with no political party affiliation. No candidate shall change or add his23
political party designation, for purposes of printing on the election ballot as required24
by R.S. 18:551(D), after he has qualified for the election.25
* * *26
§551. Ballots27
* * *28
D. Political party designation. The political party designation of a candidate29 SB NO. 107
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who is registered as being affiliated with a recognized political party shall be listed1
on the primary or general election ballot on the same line and immediately after or2
below the candidate's name. If a candidate is affiliated with a political party, but such3
party is not a recognized political party, the space word "other" shall be placed4
after his name shall be left blank. If a candidate is not affiliated with any political5
party, the words "no party" or an abbreviation thereof word "none" shall be placed6
after his name. The secretary of state shall promulgate and adopt rules as necessary7
to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Subsection.8
* * *9
Section 2. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2013; if vetoed by the10
governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on11
January 1, 2013, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.12
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Lauren Bailey.
DIGEST
Present law provides for the manner in which political party affiliations are presented on
voter identification cards, notices of candidacy, voter registration cards and precinct
registers.
Proposed law provides for consistency of presentation of political party affiliations on voter
identification cards, notices of candidacy, voter registration cards and precinct registers.
Effective January 1, 2013.
(Amends R.S. 18:109, 463(A)(1)(a) and 551(D))