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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
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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 words "None" "no12
party" or 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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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
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 words "NONE" "no party" or an abbreviation thereof and the date of the3
change.4
* * *5
§109. Notice of registration and change in registration6
After receiving from the registrar the information concerning a new registrant7
or the information concerning a change made with respect to the registration of any8
person, the Department of State promptly shall mail a notice to the appropriate9
registrar that the person is registered or that his registration has been changed. The10
registrar shall then mail a notice, postage prepaid, to each new registrant and to each11
person whose registration was changed in any manner a notice that he is registered12
or that his registration has been changed. The notice shall show the parish, ward,13
precinct, and registration address, and party affiliation of the registrant. The notice14
shall list an abbreviation of the name of the political party if the registrant is15
registered as being affiliated with a recognized political party, "other" if the16
registrant is registered as being affiliated with a political party that is not17
recognized, or "no party" or an abbreviation thereof if the registrant is18
registered with no political party affiliation. However, the registrar shall not be19
required to send such a notice to any voter who has been on the inactive list of voters20
for at least two years unless the change in registration involves a change in the21
voter's address. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form to be used on the22
notice; however, the front of the notice shall contain directions to the postmaster to23
"deliver only as addressed; otherwise return to sender; address correction requested",24
and the return address shall be that of the registrar. When a notice is returned by the25
postmaster, the registrar shall proceed in accordance with the applicable provisions26
of Part V of this Chapter.27
* * *28
§463. Notice of candidacy; financial disclosure; political advertising; penalties29 SB NO. 107
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A.(1)(a) A notice of candidacy shall be in writing and shall state the1
candidate's name, the office he seeks, the address of his domicile, and the parish,2
ward, and precinct where he is registered to vote, and the political party, if any, with3
which he is registered as being affiliated. The candidate shall list on the notice of4
candidacy the name of the political party if he is registered as being affiliated5
with a recognized political party, "other" if he is registered as being affiliated6
with a political party that is not a recognized political party, or "no party" or7
an abbreviation thereof if he is registered with no political party affiliation. No8
candidate shall change or add his political party designation, for purposes of printing9
on the election ballot as required by R.S. 18:551(D), after he has qualified for the10
election.11
* * *12
§551. Ballots13
* * *14
D. Political party designation. The political party designation of a candidate15
who is registered as being affiliated with a recognized political party shall be listed16
on the primary or general election ballot on the same line and immediately after or17
below the candidate's name. If a candidate is affiliated with a political party, but such18
party is not a recognized political party, the space word "other" shall be placed19
after his name shall be left blank. If a candidate is not affiliated with any political20
party, the words "no party" or an abbreviation thereof shall be placed after his name.21
The secretary of state shall promulgate and adopt rules as necessary to effectuate the22
provisions and purposes of this Subsection.23
* * *24
Section 2. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2013; if vetoed by the25
governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on26
January 1, 2013, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.27 SB NO. 107
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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 was prepared by Lauren Bailey. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Alan Miller.
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.
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".
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill.
1. Technical amendments changing punctuation.
2. Changes references of "word" to "words".