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)]
HB 290 Original 2015 Regular Session Norton
Abstract: Provides for an extension in the closing of the polls on election day under certain
circumstances.
Present law creates a parish board of election supervisors for each parish to supervise the preparation
for and the conduct of all elections held in the parish. Provides that the board is composed of the
registrar of voters, the clerk of court, the chairman of the parish executive committee of each
recognized political party or his designee who shall be a member of the parish executive committee
of the same recognized political party, and one member appointed by the governor. Provides that
in a parish where a parish executive committee of a recognized political party has not been formed,
the chairman of the state central committee of that political party may appoint a voter who is
registered in the parish as being affiliated with the political party to serve on the board.
Present law (R.S. 18:541) provides that on election day the polls open at 7 a.m. Provides, however,
that in regularly scheduled congressional primary elections and elections held at the same time, the
polls open at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that on election day, the polls close in all elections at 8 p.m.
Proposed law provides an exception to present law. Provides that if a polling place is delayed in
opening or if, after opening, voting at a polling place is interrupted for more than 15 minutes, the
parish board of election supervisors for the parish in which the polling place is located shall order
an extension of the closing of the polls at the polling place by an equal number of minutes. Provides
that a polling place shall not be considered to be open until voting is able to take place.
Proposed law provides further that if a parish board of election supervisors orders an extension of
the closing of the polls pursuant to proposed law, the board shall take all reasonable steps necessary
to inform the voters and candidates of the extension, including but not limited to issuing public
service announcements and press releases to local news services and other media outlets and posting
notices.
Present law provides that a person who is in line to vote when the polls close on election day shall
be allowed to vote. Specifies that voting in a primary or general election shall terminate when the
polls close, if no one is in line to vote at that time, or when all the persons who were in line to vote
at 8 p.m. have been allowed to vote. Proposed law repeals the reference to 8 p.m. in present law and provides instead that voting
terminates when all persons who were in line to vote "when the polls closed" have been allowed to
vote. Otherwise retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 18:566) provides a procedure for provisional voting in federal elections when a
person declares that he is eligible to vote in the election but his name does not appear on the precinct
register, the registrar has not authorized the person to vote by affidavit, or the commissioners assert
that the person is not eligible to vote. Present law (R.S. 18:566.1) provides that if the poll hours in
an election for federal office are extended as a result of a federal or state court order or any other
order extending the time established for closing the polls, an individual who votes during the
extension shall vote by provisional ballot for federal offices as set forth in present law.
Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 18:542; Adds R.S. 18:541(C))