DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Arnold HB No. 498
Abstract: Provides that absentee by mail and early voting ballots are counted at the office of the
registrar of voters or at a public facility in the parish designated by the parish board of
election supervisors and repeals provisions for certain procedures relative to tabulation
and counting of such ballots.
Present law (R.S. 18:1313) provides that absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be
counted at a public facility within the parish designated by the registrar of voters at a time fixed
by the parish board of election supervisors, which time shall be on election day no later than 8:00
p.m.
Proposed law provides that absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be counted at the
office of the registrar of voters or at a public facility within the parish designated by the parish
board of election supervisors. Otherwise retains present law.
Present law provides that prior to the counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots on
election day, any person authorized by the secretary of state may assist the registrar of voters in
the challenge removal process on the early voting machines, in the reading of the early voting
machine results cartridges on the secretary of state's equipment, and in producing the early voting
machine results report. Provides that all early voting machine results reports shall be placed in
the special absentee by mail and early voting envelope or container. Proposed law repeals
present law.
(Amends R.S. 18:1313(B))