HLS 14RS-1290 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 498
BY REPRESENTATIVE ARNOLD
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS: Provides relative to the tabulation and counting of absentee
by mail and early voting ballots
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 18:1313(B), relative to elections; to provide relative to the2
tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots; to provide3
relative to the place where such ballots are counted; to repeal provisions for certain4
procedures relative to the tabulation and counting of such ballots; and to provide for5
related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 18:1313(B) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 8
ยง1313. Tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots9
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B.(1) Absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be counted at the office11
of the registrar of voters or at a public facility within the parish designated by the12
registrar of voters parish board of election supervisors at a time fixed by the parish13
board of election supervisors, which time shall be on election day no later than 8:0014
p.m.15
(2) Prior to the counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots on16
election day, any person authorized by the secretary of state may assist the registrar17
of voters in the challenge removal process on the early voting machines, in the18
reading of the early voting machine results cartridges on the secretary of state's19
equipment, and in producing the early voting machine results report. All early20 HLS 14RS-1290 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 498
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
voting machine results reports shall be placed in the special absentee by mail and1
early voting envelope or container.2
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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))