HLS 14RS-1419 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 501
BY REPRESENTATIVE WESLEY BISHOP
VOTING/REGISTRATION: Provides for voter registration at age sixteen
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 18:101(A), 114(B)(1), and 173(A) and (D)(1), relative to voter2
registration; to provide for the "Louisiana Preregistration Voting Act"; to provide3
relative to qualifications for voter registration; to allow persons who are least sixteen4
years of age to register to vote; to provide relative to voter registration at driver's5
license facilities; to provide relative to certain reports to election officials concerning6
deaths; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Louisiana9
Preregistration Voting Act".10
Section 2. R.S. 18:101(A), 114(B)(1), and 173(A) and (D)(1) are hereby amended11
and reenacted to read as follows: 12
§101. Registration to vote; qualifications; more than one residence; presidential13
elections14
A.(1) Every citizen of Louisiana who is at least eighteen sixteen years of15
age; or will attain that age on or before the next election, is an actual bona fide16
resident of this state, and the parish, municipality, if any, and precinct in which he17
offers to register as a voter,; is not disfranchised,; and who complies with the18
provisions of this Chapter shall be eligible to register to vote in local, state, and19
national elections held in this state.20
(2) Any person age seventeen and who is otherwise qualified to vote may21
register to vote at any time prior to the first election at which he shall have attained22 HLS 14RS-1419 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 501
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
the age of eighteen years. However, no one, under the age of eighteen years shall be1
permitted to vote in any election.2
* * *3
§114. Registration at driver's license facilities4
* * *5
B.(1) Each application to obtain, renew, or change the name or address on6
a driver's license or identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety and7
Corrections made by an applicant who is eighteen years or older shall also serve as8
an application for voter registration by the applicant unless the applicant declines to9
register to vote through specific declination or by failing to sign the voter registration10
application. In addition, any person who is at least sixteen years of age seventeen11
may register to vote at any time prior to the first election at which he shall have12
attained the age of eighteen years. However, no one under the age of eighteen years13
shall be permitted to vote in any election.14
* * *15
§173. Deaths16
A. By the tenth day of each month, the secretary of the Department of Health17
and Hospitals shall send to the registrar in each parish a report, certified as correct18
over his signature or the signature of his authorized representative, containing the19
name, address, and sex of each person of at least seventeen sixteen years of age who20
died in the parish within the preceding calendar month.21
* * *22
D.(1) By the tenth day of each month, the secretary of the Department of23
Health and Hospitals shall send to the Department of State a report, certified as24
correct over his signature or the signature of his authorized representative, containing25
the name, address, date of birth, sex, and social security number, as such information26 HLS 14RS-1419 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 501
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
exists in the database of the Department of Health and Hospitals, of any person1
seventeen sixteen years of age or older who died in each parish of the state within the2
preceding calendar month.3
* * *4
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)]
Wesley Bishop HB No. 501
Abstract: Allows persons who are least sixteen years of age to register to vote.
Present law (R.S. 18:101) provides that every citizen of La. who is at least 18 years of age
and meets certain other requirements shall be eligible to vote. Provides, however, that any
person who is 17 years old who is otherwise qualified to vote may register to vote at any
time prior to the first election at which the person shall have attained the age of 18.
Proposed law repeals provisions of present law relative to registration by a person who is 17
years old and provides that every citizen of La. who is at least 16 years of age and who meets
the other requirements of present law may register to vote.
Present law provides that no one under the age of 18 may vote in any election. Proposed law
retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 18:114) provides for voter registration at driver's license facilities.
Provides procedures and requirements. Provides that any person age 17 may register to vote
at any time prior to the first election at which he attains the age of 18 years.
Proposed law provides that any person who is at least 16 years of age, instead of 17 years
of age, may register to vote at any time prior to the first election at which he attains the age
of 18 years. Otherwise retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 18:173) provides for reporting by the Dept. of Health and Hospitals
regarding deaths. Requires the department to send a report each month to the registrar in
each parish regarding persons in the parish who died in the preceding month and to the Dept.
of State regarding persons in each parish in the state who died in the preceding month.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that the reports shall include information concerning persons who were
at least 17 years of age. Proposed law instead provides that the reports shall include
information concerning persons who were at least 16 years of age.
(Amends R.S. 18:101(A), 114(B)(1), and 173(A) and (D)(1))