ENROLLED
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 48
BY REPRESENTATIVES SMITH, BADON, BARROW, WESLEY BISHOP, BURRELL,
COX, DIXON, GAINES, HONORE, HUNTER, KATRINA JACKSON, JAMES,
JEFFERSON, TERRY LANDRY, MORENO, PRICE, AND ALFRED WILLIAMS
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Louisiana Secretary of State, the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association,
the Louisiana Commissioner of Elections, the Louisiana Registrar of Voters
Association, and the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
to meet and develop reasonable, practical solutions that allow pretrial inmates who
are held in parish prisons to exercise their right to vote, including the possible
enactment of a special program for voting by such incarcerated persons similar to the
program for disabled voters residing in nursing homes, and to report their findings
and recommendations to the legislature prior to the convening of the 2014 Regular
Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, voting is a civic duty of paramount importance; and
WHEREAS, the right to vote is protected by the Constitution of the United States of
America and the Constitution of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, a person who is incarcerated in an institution inside or outside of the
parish in which he is qualified to vote, but who is not under an order of imprisonment for
conviction of a felony, may vote; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Election Code provides that an incarcerated person may
only vote absentee by mail in accordance with the requirements of the code and only upon
certification to the appropriate registrar by the sheriff of the parish where the person is
incarcerated that he is not a convicted felon; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Election Code provides procedures and requirements for
a special program for certain disabled voters residing in nursing homes whereby the registrar
goes to each nursing home in the parish with materials and supplies to allow eligible voters
to cast absentee by mail ballots; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 48
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, the legislature is committed to exploring every possible means that may
improve opportunities for each eligible citizen to participate in the democratic process by
voting.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Louisiana Secretary of State, the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, the
Louisiana Commissioner of Elections, the Louisiana Registrar of Voters Association, and
the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to meet and develop
reasonable, practical solutions that allow pretrial inmates who are held in parish prisons the
ability to exercise their right to vote, including possibly a program similar to the special
program for voting by disabled voters in nursing homes, and to report their findings and
recommendations to the legislature prior to the convening of the 2014 Regular Session of
the Legislature of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any findings and recommendations shall not be
implemented without legislative action.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to:
(1)The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
(2)The secretary of state.
(3)The Louisiana Registrar of Voters Association.
(4)The Louisiana Sheriffs' Association.
(5)The Louisiana Commissioner of Elections.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE