SLS 14RS-193 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
SENATE BILL NO. 60
BY SENATOR GALLOT
VOTERS/VOTING. Changes the designation of a candidate on an election ballot who is not
a member of a recognized party. (8/1/14)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 18:463(A)(1)(a) and 551(D) and to repeal R.S. 18:441(B)(4),2
relative to the Louisiana Election Code; to provide for the designation of political3
party affiliation of candidates on the notice of candidacy and ballot; to provide for4
recognition of certain political parties; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 18:463(A)(1)(a) and 551(D) are hereby amended and reenacted to7
read as follows:8
§463. Notice of candidacy; financial disclosure; political advertising; penalties9
A.(1)(a) A notice of candidacy shall be in writing and shall state the10
candidate's name, the office he seeks, the address of his domicile, and the parish,11
ward, and precinct where he is registered to vote. The candidate shall list on the12
notice of candidacy the name of the political party if he is registered as being13
affiliated with a recognized political party, "other" if he is registered as being14
affiliated with a political party that is not a recognized political party, or "no party"15
"independent" or an abbreviation thereof if he is registered with no political party16
affiliation. No candidate shall change or add his political party designation, for17 SB NO. 60
SLS 14RS-193 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
purposes of printing on the election ballot as required by R.S. 18:551(D), after he has1
qualified for the election.2
* * *3
§551. Ballots4
* * *5
D. Political party designation. The political party designation of a candidate6
who is registered as being affiliated with a recognized political party shall be listed7
on the primary or general election ballot on the same line and immediately after or8
below the candidate's name. If a candidate is affiliated with a political party, but such9
party is not a recognized political party, the word "other" shall be placed after his10
name. If a candidate is not affiliated with any political party, the words "no party"11
word "independent" or an abbreviation thereof shall be placed after his name. The12
secretary of state shall promulgate and adopt rules as necessary to effectuate the13
provisions and purposes of this Subsection.14
* * *15
Section 2. R.S. 18:441(B)(4) is hereby repealed in its entirety. 16
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Ashley Menou.
DIGEST
Gallot (SB 60)
Present law provides that a political candidate not registered with a political party will list
"no party" on the notice of candidacy and primary or general election ballot.
Proposed law allows a political candidate not registered with a political party to list
"independent" on the notice of candidacy and primary or general election ballot.
Present law prohibits a political party which declares its name solely to be "Independent" or
"the Independent Party" from being recognized.
Proposed law allows for the recognition of a political party that declares its name solely to
be "Independent" or "the Independent Party".
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Amends R.S. 18:463(A)(1)(a) and 551(D); repeals R.S. 18:441(B)(4))