Louisiana 2014 2014 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HB383 Enrolled / Bill

                    ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 383
BY REPRESENTATIVE TIM BURNS
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 18:58(B), 104(A)(15), 154(C)(1)(introductory paragraph),2
(D)(3), and (G)(introductory paragraph), 425(A)(1)(b), 433(B)(8), 435(B),3
465(E)(1)(a), 531.1(B), 566.2(B), 571(A)(6) and (7), 573(B), 1284(F)(1), 1299.1(A),4
1300.3(A) and (B)(1), 1300.7(A), 1300.32(A) and (B)(1), 1302(2), 1308(A)(1)(b),5
(h)(i), and (i), 1309(M)(1)(a), 1353(B) and (C)(2), 1361(A) and (B), and 1362, to6
enact R.S. 18:154(D)(4) and (F)(3), and to repeal R.S. 18:174 and Part I-A of7
Chapter 5 of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S.8
18:411 through 417, relative to the Louisiana Election Code; to revise the system of9
laws comprising the Louisiana Election Code; to provide relative to the duties of10
registrars of voters; to require registrars to assign voters according to voting districts;11
to provide deadlines; to provide relative to requirements and procedures for12
application for voter registration; to provide relative to disclosure of certain voter13
information; to repeal provisions requiring certain reports regarding changes of name14
and remarriage; to repeal provisions applicable to certain elections held in 1992; to15
provide relative to the selection of commissioners and commissioners-in-charge; to16
provide relative to the deadline for filing a list of watchers; to provide relative to the17
deadline for submitting a nominating petition; to provide relative to notification that18
a polling place will not be opened; to provide relative to the counting and tabulation19
of votes; to provide relative to the verification of election results; to provide relative20
to requirements for a proposition submitted to the voters at an election; to provide21
relative to the deadline for certifying a recall petition; to provide relative to the22
deadline for removing or adding a signature to a recall petition; to provide relative23 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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to the deadline for the governor to issue a proclamation ordering a recall election; to1
provide relative to certain deadlines for petitions relative to neighborhood and crime2
prevention districts; to provide relative to early voting at additional locations; to3
provide relative to procedures and requirements for absentee voting by mail; to4
provide relative to voting machines and absentee by mail and early voting counting5
equipment; to provide relative to the authority of the secretary of state relative to6
voting machines and absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment; to7
provide relative to the ownership of voting machines; to provide relative to parish8
board commissioners; to provide relative to the counting and tabulation of absentee9
by mail, early voting, and provisional ballots; to provide for effectiveness; and to10
provide for related matters.11
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:12
Section 1. R.S. 18:58(B), 104(A)(15), 154(C)(1)(introductory paragraph), (D)(3),13
and (G)(introductory paragraph), 425(A)(1)(b), 433(B)(8), 435(B), 465(E)(1)(a), 531.1(B),14
566.2(B), 571(A)(6) and (7), 573(B), 1284(F)(1), 1299.1(A), 1300.3(A) and (B)(1),15
1300.7(A), 1300.32(A) and (B)(1), 1302(2), 1308(A)(1)(b), (h)(i), and (i), 1309(M)(1)(a),16
1353(B) and (C)(2), 1361(A) and (B), and 1362 are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.17
18:154(D)(4) and (F)(3) are hereby enacted to read as follows:18
§58.  Powers and duties of registrars19
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B.(1) The registrar shall be responsible for conducting absentee by mail and21
early voting in the parish he serves, as provided by Chapter 7 of this Code.22
(2)  The registrar shall assign voters in the state voter registration computer23
system according to each voting district in the parish from which an election is to be24
conducted.  For a primary election, the assignment of voters shall be completed on25
or before the fifth business day prior to the opening of qualifying for the primary26
election. For a general election, the assignment of voters shall be completed on or27
before the fifty-first day prior to the general election.28
*          *          *29 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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§104.  Application for registration; form1
A. The secretary of state, subject to approval by the attorney general as to2
content, shall prescribe the form that shall be used uniformly by each registrar in the3
state and any person authorized to accept voter registration applications in registering4
qualified citizens to vote.  The form shall contain spaces for at least the following5
information with respect to the applicant:6
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(15)  The application form also shall inform the applicant of the penalty for8
violation of applicable laws relating to registration of voters and shall contain an9
affidavit to be subscribed, through a handwritten signature, before the registrar,10
deputy, or any person authorized to accept voter registration applications attesting11
that the applicant is a United States citizen and that the facts given by him on this12
application are true to the best of his knowledge and belief.  When the registration13
application is completed at the office of motor vehicles of the Department of Public14
Safety and Corrections or electronically on the secretary of state's website, an15
electronically captured signature of the applicant may shall suffice as a handwritten16
signature of the applicant.17
*          *          *18
§154.  Records open to inspection; copying; exceptions19
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C.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, 	neither21
the registrar, the clerk of court, nor the Department of State, the office of motor22
vehicles of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and any entity that23
contracts with the office, each voter registration agency and any entity that contracts24
with a voter registration agency, and any person who handles the voter registration25
application form of another person shall circulate be prohibited from circulating on26
a commercial list or otherwise disclose disclosing the following:27
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D.29
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(3)  Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, the clerk1
of court shall not disclose the name and address of a law enforcement officer if the2
state voter registration computer system indicates that certification has been received3
from the law enforcement agency employing the officer that the officer is engaging4
in hazardous activities to the extent that it is necessary for his name and address to5
be kept confidential.6
(4) Any agency employing a law enforcement officer availing himself of7
Paragraph (1) or (2) of this Subsection shall also issue decertification notices to the8
registrar of voters and the secretary of state when the officer is no longer engaging9
in hazardous activities to the extent that it is necessary for his name and address to10
be kept confidential.11
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F.13
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(3)  Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, the clerk15
of court shall not disclose the name and physical address of a program participant in16
the Department of State Address Confidentiality Program, as provided in R.S. 44:5117
et seq.18
G. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, 	neither the19
registrar, the clerk of court, nor and the Department of State shall disclose be20
prohibited from disclosing the following:21
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§425.  Commissioners23
A. Number.  (1)  In addition to the commissioner-in-charge, at the following24
elections there shall be the following number of additional commissioners at each25
precinct:26
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(b) For all elections not specifically provided for in Subparagraph (a) of this28
Paragraph or in Part III of Chapter 6 of this Code:29 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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(i)  Three commissioners for precincts with more than three hundred active1
registered voters eligible to vote in the election.2
(ii) Two commissioners for precincts with three hundred or fewer active3
registered voters or less eligible to vote in the election.4
*          *          *5
§433. Commissioners-in-charge; course of instruction; selection; commission;6
disqualification; replacement7
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B.  Selection.9
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(8) After the commissioners-in-charge are selected, the parish board of11
election supervisors shall compile a list containing the name, social security number,12
party affiliation, and mailing address of each and shall mail the list to the secretary13
of state the clerk of court shall enter the list in the state voter registration computer14
system.15
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§435.  Watchers; appointment and commission17
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B. Lists of watchers. A list of watchers shall be filed with the clerk of court19
before 5:00 4:30 p.m. on the tenth day before the primary or general election;20
however, if the tenth day before the primary or general election falls on a Saturday,21
Sunday, or other legal holiday, the list shall be filed on the next day which is not a22
Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday.  Except for a candidate or recognized23
political party filing for a slate of candidates for presidential elector, any person24
filing a list of watchers must attach a certified statement that the report required by25
R.S. 18:1486 has been filed with the supervisory committee in compliance with the26
Campaign Finance Disclosure Act.  If any candidate submits a list for the primary27
election and does not submit a list for the general election, the list submitted in the28
primary election shall be treated as his list submitted for the general election. A list29
of watchers shall contain only one watcher and one alternate watcher for each30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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precinct where the candidate or person submitting the list is entitled to have a1
watcher. The list shall be typed or legibly written, and it shall contain the name and2
mailing address of each watcher and a designation of the precinct where he is to3
serve.4
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§465.  Nominating petitions6
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E. Certification.  (1)(a)  A nominating petition shall be submitted to the8
registrars of voters in the parishes where the signers reside.  A nominating petition9
shall be submitted to the registrars in such parishes not less than thirty days before10
the qualifying period ends for candidates in the primary election or, in the case of11
presidential electors, in the presidential election, except that in a special election12
called pursuant to R.S. 18:402(E), 601(A)(2), or 1279, a nominating petition shall13
be submitted by the candidate to the registrars of voters in such parishes not less than14
fourteen days before the qualifying period ends for candidates in the special election.15
If the final day for submitting a nominating petition to the registrars of voters falls16
on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday,17
Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for submitting the18
nominating petition.19
*          *          *20
§531.1.  Exception to opening polls; alternative voting locations21
*          *          *22
B. The registrar of voters shall notify the secretary of state 	and the other23
members of the parish board of election supervisors of all such determinations.24
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§566.2.  Tabulation and counting of provisional ballots for federal office26
*          *          *27
B. The parish board of election supervisors in each parish shall be28
responsible for the counting and tabulation of all provisional ballots for federal29
office.  The board may utilize 	absentee by mail and early voting parish board30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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commissioners to count the provisional ballots in the parish. If the board determines1
that absentee by mail and early voting parish board commissioners are necessary to2
count and tabulate the provisional ballots, it shall select absentee by mail and early3
voting parish board commissioners in accordance with the provisions of R.S.4
18:1314(D).  In a parish where no absentee by mail and early voting parish board5
commissioners are utilized during the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail6
and early voting ballots, the board may utilize commissioners to count the7
provisional ballots. The selection and compensation of such commissioners to count8
and tabulate provisional ballots shall be in the same manner as absentee by mail and9
early voting parish board commissioners as provided for in R.S. 18:1314(D) and (E).10
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§571.  Counting and tabulating the votes12
A. At the termination of voting in a primary or general election, the13
commissioners shall announce that voting is terminated. The commissioners in the14
presence of the watchers shall immediately:15
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(6) Complete in duplicate an affidavit. The affidavit shall be prepared by the17
secretary of state and shall contain the name, address, and last four digits of the18
social security number of each commissioner and an acknowledgment that the law19
prohibits disclosure of confidential voter information listed in the precinct register.20
The affidavit shall be signed by each commissioner, and the original affidavit shall21
be placed in the bag that is delivered to the clerk of court.22
(7) Place the duplicate affidavit, all duplicate records of challenges, all23
duplicate precinct register corrections, all voter identification affidavits, any24
physicians' certificates, and any address confirmation cards in the envelope marked25
"Registrar of Voters", seal it and attach it to the precinct register, and seal the26
precinct register.27
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§573.  Evidence of election results1
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B. Verification of election results.  After the machines are opened, the clerk3
of court, in the presence of the parish board of election supervisors or the members4
of the board selected by the board as its representatives and the candidates or their5
representatives, shall immediately verify the total votes cast for each candidate and6
the total votes cast for and against each proposition as shown on the voting machines7
or voting machine election result sheets and the total number of absentee by mail and8
early voting votes cast for each candidate and the total number of absentee by mail9
and early voting votes cast for and against each proposition as shown by the10
tabulation blanks of absentee by mail and early voting votes final absentee by mail11
and early voting report filed with the clerk by the parish board of election12
supervisors. The machine votes cast shall be shown separately by each precinct, and13
the absentee by mail and early voting votes cast shall be shown as the total number14
of votes cast for each candidate and the total number of votes cast for and against15
each proposition.16
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§1284.  Resolution calling election; proposition18
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F.(1)  The preparation of the proposition to be submitted to the voters at an20
election shall be the responsibility of the governing authority of the political21
subdivision ordering the election. The proposition shall include the information22
required by this Section in simple, unbiased, concise, and easily understood language23
and be in the form of a question. The proposition shall not exceed two hundred24
words in length and shall not include words that are struck through, underscored, or25
in boldface type.26
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§1299.1.  Question or proposition to be voted on; length28
A. The preparation of a question or proposition to be submitted to the voters29
at an election shall be the responsibility of the governing authority or other entity30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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calling the election or submitting the question or proposition. The proposition shall1
be comprised of simple, unbiased, concise, and easily understood language and be2
in the form of a question. The proposition shall not exceed two hundred words in3
length and shall not include words that are struck through, underscored, or in4
boldface type.5
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§1300.3. Certification of registrar of voters; addition or withdrawal of signatures;7
form of names8
A.  The registrar of voters of each parish in the voting area wherein a recall9
election is sought shall certify on the recall petition, within fifteen working days after10
it is presented to him for that purpose, the number of names appearing thereon, the11
number of qualified electors of the voting area within the parish whose handwritten12
signatures appear on the petition, and also the total number of electors of the voting13
area within the parish as of the date of the filing of the petition with the secretary of14
state. However, if any parish wholly or partially within the voting area has more15
than fifty thousand registered voters, the registrar of voters for each parish within the16
voting area shall complete such certification on the recall petition within twenty17
working days after it is presented to him for that purpose.  If the final day for the18
registrar to certify the recall petition falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday,19
then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed20
to be the final day for certifying the recall petition. Each registrar also shall indicate21
on the petition the names appearing thereon who are not electors of the voting area.22
Each person who participates in the review of the names on the petition for23
certification by the registrar as required in this Section shall initial each of those24
portions of the petition which he reviews for certification by the registrar.25
B.(1) The registrar of voters shall honor the written request of any voter who26
either desires to have his handwritten signature stricken from the petition or desires27
to have his handwritten signature added to the petition at any time after receipt of the28
signed petition as provided in R.S. 18:1300.2(C) but prior to certification of the29
petition or within five days after receipt of such signed petition, whichever is earlier.30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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If the deadline for removing or adding a signature to the petition falls on a Saturday,1
Sunday, or legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal2
holiday shall be deemed to be the deadline for removing or adding a signature to the3
petition. The written request of the voter shall include the name and address of the4
voter, the signature of the voter, the date of birth of the voter, and the date.5
*          *          *6
§1300.7.  Governor to order election; proclamation; publication7
A.  If the required number of qualified electors of the voting area sign the8
petition for recall, the governor shall issue a proclamation ordering an election to be9
held for the purpose of voting on the question of the recall of the officer.  The total10
number of registered voters in the voting area and the total number of registered11
voters in the voting area signing the petition shall be calculated from the totals on the12
certificates of all of the registrars of voters received by the governor. The governor13
shall issue such proclamation within fifteen days after he receives the certified14
petitions from all of the registrars of voters in the voting area who have received15
petitions for certification.  If the final day for the governor to issue the proclamation16
falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the next day which is not a17
Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for issuing the18
proclamation. The proclamation shall order the election to be held on the next19
available date specified in R.S. 18:402(F). If the election is to be held on a primary20
election date, the proclamation shall be issued on or before the last day for21
candidates to qualify in the election. If the election is not to be held on a primary22
election date, then the proclamation shall be issued on or before the forty-sixth day23
prior to the election.24
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§1300.32. Certification of registrar of voters; addition or withdrawal of signatures;26
form of names27
A. The registrar of the parish shall certify on the petition within fifteen28
working days after it is presented to him for that purpose, the number of names29
appearing thereon, the number of qualified electors of the voting area within the30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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parish whose handwritten signatures appear on the petition, and also the total number1
of electors of the voting area within the parish as of the date of the filing of the2
petition with the appropriate local governing authority.  If the final day for the3
registrar to certify the petition falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the4
next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the5
final day for certifying the petition. The registrar also shall indicate on the petition6
the names appearing thereon who are not electors of the voting area.  Each person7
who participates in the review of the names on the petition for certification by the8
registrar as required in this Section shall initial each of those portions of the petition9
which he reviews for certification by the registrar.10
B.(1) The registrar of voters shall honor the written request of any voter who11
either desires to have his handwritten signature stricken from the petition or desires12
to have his handwritten signature added to the petition at any time after receipt of the13
signed petition as provided in R.S. 18:1300.31(D) but prior to certification of the14
petition or within five days after receipt of such signed petition, whichever is earlier.15
If the deadline for removing or adding a signature to the petition falls on a Saturday,16
Sunday, or legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal17
holiday shall be deemed to be the deadline for removing or adding a signature to the18
petition. The written request of the voter shall include the name and address of the19
voter, the signature of the voter, the date of birth of the voter, and the date.20
*          *          *21
§1302.  Definitions22
As used in this Chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the23
following terms shall have the meanings hereafter ascribed to each:24
*          *          *25
(2) "Board" means the parish board of election supervisors of each parish.26
If absentee by mail and early voting parish board commissioners are utilized by the27
parish board of election supervisors to count and tabulate absentee votes by mail and28
early voting ballots, the term "board" for the purposes of R.S. 18:1306, 1311, 1312,29 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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1313, 1315, and 1316 may shall also mean absentee by mail and early voting parish1
board commissioners.2
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§1308.  Absentee voting by mail4
A.(1)5
*          *          *6
(b)  If the voter feels he will not have time to vote timely by mail, the voter7
may request that the registrar transmit to him by facsimile a ballot	, including the8
affidavit, or a second ballot, as the case may be, along with a certificate and waiver9
of the right to a secret ballot, and the registrar shall do so if he has a facsimile10
machine in his office. However, the registrar shall not be required to send a second11
ballot by facsimile if the voter received a ballot by mail.  The waiver of the right to12
a secret ballot shall contain the following statement: "My ballot was transmitted by13
facsimile to me, and I am voluntarily waiving my right to a secret ballot." The14
waiver shall also contain spaces for the voter's handwritten signature, the date, and15
the last four digits of the voter's social security number. The voter may then mail his16
voted ballot, including the affidavit, and completed certificate and waiver back to the17
registrar or transmit it the documents by facsimile if the registrar has a facsimile18
machine in his office. If the voter transmits his voted ballot to the registrar by19
facsimile, the documents to be transmitted shall contain the following statement: "I20
understand that by faxing my voted ballot I am voluntarily waiving my right to a21
secret ballot." This statement shall be followed by the voter's handwritten signature,22
date, and social security number at the facsimile machine number designated by the23
registrar. Upon receipt of the transmittal, the registrar shall place the voted ballot24
along with the signed statement and affidavit completed certificate and waiver in an25
appropriately marked envelope and seal it. The registrar and his staff shall take the26
steps necessary to keep the voted ballots received by facsimile as confidential as27
practicable.28
*          *          *29 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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(h)(i) For electronically transmitted ballots, the registrar shall transmit the1
ballot or ballots, certificate, and waiver of the right to a secret ballot to the voter for2
each ballot mailing. The waiver of the right to a secret ballot shall contain the3
following statement: "My ballot was transmitted electronically to me	, and I am4
voluntarily waiving my right to a secret ballot."  The statement waiver shall also5
contain a space spaces for the voter's handwritten signature, the date, and the last6
four digits of the voter's social security number. The voter shall return by 	mail7
facsimile or any means authorized by Subsection B of this Section his voted ballot8
or ballots, and completed certificate, and signed waiver of the right to a secret ballot9
for each ballot mailing.  The registrar and his staff shall take the steps necessary to10
keep each voted ballot that was transmitted electronically as confidential as11
practicable.12
*          *          *13
(i)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraphs (a) through (f) of this14
Paragraph, a voter who is a member of the United States Service or who resides15
outside the United States and who feels he will not have time to vote timely by mail,16
may request that the registrar transmit to him by facsimile a ballot, including the17
certificate, or a second ballot, as the case may be, along with a certificate and waiver18
of the right to a secret ballot, and the registrar shall do so.  The waiver of the right19
to a secret ballot shall contain the following statement: "My ballot was transmitted20
by facsimile to me, and I am voluntarily waiving my right to a secret ballot."  The21
waiver shall also contain spaces for the voter's handwritten signature, the date, and22
the last four digits of the voter's social security number. The voter may then either23
mail or transmit by facsimile his voted ballot and completed certificate and waiver24
back to the registrar or transmit the documents by facsimile at the facsimile machine25
number designated by the registrar. If the voter chooses to transmit his voted ballot26
to the registrar by facsimile, the documents to be transmitted shall contain the27
following statement:  "I understand that by faxing my voted ballot I am voluntarily28
waiving my right to a secret ballot." This statement shall be followed by the voter's29
handwritten signature, date, and social security number. Upon receipt of the30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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transmittal, the registrar shall place the voted ballot along with the signed statement1
and completed certificate and waiver in an appropriately marked envelope and seal2
it. The registrar and his staff shall take the steps necessary to keep the voted ballots3
received by facsimile as confidential as practicable.4
*          *          *5
§1309.  Early voting; verification6
*          *          *7
M.(1)(a) In a parish where early voting is conducted at an additional location8
pursuant to R.S. 18:1309.2, the registrar may fix the hours and days during which9
early voting shall be conducted at the additional location during the early voting10
period if such hours and days of voting are approved by the secretary of state no later11
than seven twenty-five days after the close of qualifying for prior to the election.12
*          *          *13
§1353.  Secretary of state; powers and duties; voting machines; voter registration14
*          *          *15
B.  The secretary of state shall prescribe uniform rules and regulations with16
respect to matters pertaining to the purchase procurement, preparation, and use of17
voting machines and absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment in the18
conduct of elections and the duties of each category of persons charged with19
responsibility for any matter relating to voting machines or absentee by mail and20
early voting counting equipment. The rules and regulations shall be approved by the21
attorney general and thereafter shall be distributed by the secretary of state to the22
election officials having responsibilities relating to elections.  The rules and23
regulations shall be applied uniformly throughout the state.24
C. In addition to any other duties and functions now or hereafter provided25
by law, the secretary of state shall:26
*          *          *27
(2) Be responsible for all purchases procurement, sales, and transfers of28
voting machines and absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment and for29 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
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all matters in connection with issuing competitive bids or requests for proposals or1
the advertising for and opening of bids for or in connection therewith.2
*          *          *3
§1361. Approval of machines and equipment; certificate; expenses of examination4
A. The secretary of state may examine any type or make of voting machine5
upon the request of a representative of the maker or supplier thereof, and if he6
determines that the machine complies with the requirements of this Chapter and that7
it meets standards acceptable to him as to durability, accuracy, efficiency, and8
capacity, he shall approve that type or make of machine for use in this state and shall9
issue his certificate of approval thereof. In addition, any electronic voting machine10
acquired procured or used in the state must have been certified by NASED11
Independent Testing Authorities according to the voting systems standards adopted12
by the Federal Election Commission.  This certificate, together with any relevant13
reports, drawings, and photographs, shall be a public record.14
B. Any absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment to be 	acquired15
procured for use in this state shall be certified by the secretary of state as meeting16
standards acceptable to him as to durability, accuracy, efficiency, and capacity.17
*          *          *18
§1362. Method of acquiring procuring voting machines; parts and supplies; and of19
contracting for the maintenance of voting machines20
A.(1) All voting machines used in this state shall be purchased procured by21
the secretary of state, out of state funds appropriated for that purpose, on the basis22
of a competitive request for proposals process or public bids submitted to the23
secretary of state in accordance with specifications prepared by him.  The24
specifications may require tests and examinations of the operation of the machines,25
and the secretary of state, for that purpose, may employ experts to report thereon and26
charge the expense thereof to the responders or bidders. Advertisement and letting27
of contracts for the purchase procurement of voting machines shall be in accordance28
with the Louisiana Procurement Code contained in Chapter 17 of Title 39 of the29
Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 383
Page 16 of 16
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, particularly the1
provisions of Chapter 17 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, the2
secretary of state is authorized to purchase procure directly from the supplier,3
through the Department of State, voting machine parts, supplies, and other election4
paraphernalia and to contract with the manufacturer through the Department of State5
for the maintenance of the voting machines.6
B. Title to all voting machines purchased by the secretary of state shall vest7
in the state.8
Section 2. R.S. 18:174 and Part I-A of Chapter 5 of Title 18 of the Louisiana9
Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 18:411 through 417, are hereby repealed in their10
entirety.11
Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not12
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature13
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana.  If14
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become15
effective on the day following such approval.16
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: