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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. 18:107(A) and (D), 109, 463(A)(1)(a) and 551(D), relative to the2
Louisiana 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. 18:107(A) and (D), 109, 463(A)(1)(a) and 551(D) are hereby8
amended and reenacted to read as follows:9
§107. Party affiliation not required for registration; change in party affiliation10
A. An applicant need not be a member of a political party or declare a party11
affiliation in order to be registered, but in such case the word "None" "no party" or12
an abbreviation thereof on the application form shall be circled.13
* * *14
D. If a registrant has registered with a declaration of party affiliation and15
afterwards desires to affiliate with no party, he shall make written application16
therefor to the registrar, and the registrar shall enter in the registrant's information17 SB NO. 107
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on the state voter registration computer system and, if the original application is1
available in hard copy in the registrar's office, on the original application form, the2
word "NONE" "no party" or an abbreviation thereof and the date of the change.3
* * *4
§109. Notice of registration and change in registration5
After receiving from the registrar the information concerning a new registrant6
or the information concerning a change made with respect to the registration of any7
person, the Department of State promptly shall mail a notice to the appropriate8
registrar that the person is registered or that his registration has been changed. The9
registrar shall then mail a notice, postage prepaid, to each new registrant and to each10
person whose registration was changed in any manner a notice that he is registered11
or that his registration has been changed. The notice shall show the parish, ward,12
precinct, and registration address, and party affiliation of the registrant. The notice13
shall list an abbreviation of the name of the political party if the registrant is14
registered as being affiliated with a recognized political party, "other" if the15
registrant is registered as being affiliated with a political party that is not16
recognized, or "no party" or an abbreviation thereof if the registrant is17
registered with no political party affiliation. However, the registrar shall not be18
required to send such a notice to any voter who has been on the inactive list of voters19
for at least two years unless the change in registration involves a change in the20
voter's address. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form to be used on the21
notice; however, the front of the notice shall contain directions to the postmaster to22
"deliver only as addressed; otherwise return to sender; address correction requested",23
and the return address shall be that of the registrar. When a notice is returned by the24
postmaster, the registrar shall proceed in accordance with the applicable provisions25
of Part V of this Chapter.26
* * *27
§463. Notice of candidacy; financial disclosure; political advertising; penalties28
A.(1)(a) A notice of candidacy shall be in writing and shall state the29 SB NO. 107
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candidate's name, the office he seeks, the address of his domicile, and the parish,1
ward, and precinct where he is registered to vote, and the political party, if any, with2
which he is registered as being affiliated. The candidate shall list on the notice of3
candidacy the name of the political party if he is registered as being affiliated4
with a recognized political party; "other" if he is registered as being affiliated5
with a political party that is not a recognized political party; or "no party" or6
an abbreviation thereof if he is registered with no political party affiliation. No7
candidate shall change or add his political party designation, for purposes of printing8
on the election ballot as required by R.S. 18:551(D), after he has qualified for the9
election.10
* * *11
§551. Ballots12
* * *13
D. Political party designation. The political party designation of a candidate14
who is registered as being affiliated with a recognized political party shall be listed15
on the primary or general election ballot on the same line and immediately after or16
below the candidate's name. If a candidate is affiliated with a political party, but such17
party is not a recognized political party, the space word "other" shall be placed18
after his name shall be left blank. If a candidate is not affiliated with any political19
party, the words "no party" or an abbreviation thereof shall be placed after his name.20
The secretary of state shall promulgate and adopt rules as necessary to effectuate the21
provisions and purposes of this Subsection.22
* * *23
Section 2. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2013; if vetoed by the24
governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on25
January 1, 2013, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.26 SB NO. 107
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Lauren Bailey.
DIGEST
Murray (SB 107)
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.
Proposed law changes references of "none" as a party affiliation to "no party".
Effective January 1, 2013.
(Amends R.S. 18:107(A) and (D), 109, 463(A)(1)(a) and 551(D))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Senate and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill.
1. Technical amendments adding proper citations
2. Changes references of "none" as a party affiliation to "no party".