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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE BILL NO. 69
BY SENATOR KOSTELKA
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
VOTERS/VOTING. Provides for mail voter registration applications received from public
assistance and disability offices. (8/1/13)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 18:116(E) and to repeal R.S. 18:115(A)(3), relative to2
registration of voters; to provide relative to the eligibility of the mail voter applicant3
received from public assistance and disability offices; and to provide for related4
matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 18:116(E) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 7
ยง116. Voter registration agencies8
E.(1) Upon receipt of the completed registration form, the registrar shall, if9
the information thereon establishes that the applicant meets the requirements for10
registration, register the applicant and mail notice of registration to the applicant's11
residence, as provided on the application determine the eligibility of the applicant12
as provided in R.S. 18:115(B). Any completed voter registration application13
transmitted to and received by a registrar by a designated voter registration agency14
shall be considered an update to any existing registration for that person. However,15
if a registrar accepts any application for registration, change of name, or change of16
address that has been received by a designated voter registration agency while the17 SB NO. 69
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
registration records are closed for a particular election as required by R.S. 18:135(A),1
none of the changes shall be effective until at least the day after the particular2
election has been held. In the case of a change of address, the change shall be3
effective in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 18:110(B).4
(2) If the information contained on the application form is insufficient to5
register the applicant, the registrar of voters shall mail a notice to the applicant at the6
address provided on the application form informing the applicant that he has ten days7
from the date on which the notice was mailed to provide the necessary information.8
If the applicant fails to provide the necessary information within that time, the9
applicant shall not be registered and the registrar shall so advise the applicant.10
* * *11
Section 2. R.S. 18:115(A)(3) is hereby repealed.12
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tim Prather.
DIGEST
Present law provides that state mail voter registration application forms received by a
registrar of voters from voter registration agencies (public assistance agencies, disability
services, recruitment offices, etc.) will be processed in the following manner:
(1)Upon receipt of the completed registration form, the registrar will, if the information
establishes that such mail voter registration applicant meets the requirements for
registration, register the applicant and mail notice of registration to the applicant's
residence, as provided on the application. Any completed voter registration
application transmitted to and received by a registrar by a designated voter
registration agency shall be considered an update to any existing registration for that
person. However, if a registrar accepts any application for registration, change of
name, or change of address that has been received by a designated voter registration
agency while the registration records are closed for a particular election as required
by present law, none of the changes will be effective until at least the day after the
particular election has been held. In the case of a change of address, the change will
be effective in accordance with present law.
(2)If the information contained on the application form is insufficient to register the
applicant, the registrar of voters will mail a notice to the applicant at the address
provided on the application form informing the applicant that he has 10 days from
the date on which the notice was mailed to provide the necessary information. If the
applicant fails to provide the necessary information within that time, the applicant
will not be registered and the registrar will so advise the applicant.
Proposed law changes present law and provides that state mail voter registration application
forms received by a registrar of voters from voter registration agencies will now be
processed as ordinary mail voter registration application forms and require the registrar of SB NO. 69
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
voters to determine the eligibility of such an applicant in the following manner:
(1)By mailing a verification mailing to the applicant at the address provided on the
application form. The mailing will instruct the postmaster to deliver only as
addressed or return to sender, with return postage guaranteed. If such mailing is not
returned to the registrar within 10 days from the date of mailing, the applicant will
be added to the official list of voters and the registrar of voters will send a notice of
registration to the applicant. If the verification mailing is returned to the registrar by
the U.S. Postal Service, the registrar will not add the applicant's name to the official
list of voters and will attempt to notify the applicant of such action.
(2)If an applicant fails to provide all of the required information on the application for
voter registration, the registrar will notify the applicant in writing of the missing
information and inform him that he has 10 days from the date on which the notice
was mailed to provide the information. This written notification will be considered
the verification mailing as required in present law. If the applicant provides the
information and the registrar determines he is eligible to register, the applicant will
be added to the official list of voters and the registrar will send a notice of
registration to the applicant. In the event the applicant does not respond to the
request for the missing information within ten days, the application will be rejected
and the registrar will advise the applicant in writing. If the registrar's request for the
missing information is returned by the U.S. Postal Service, the applicant's name will
not be added to the official list of voters and the registrar will attempt to notify the
applicant of such action.
Effective August 1, 2013
(Amends R.S. 18:116(E); repeals R.S. 18:115(A)(3))