HLS 15RS-1333 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 686
BY REPRESENTATIVE HUNTER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
VOTERS/VOTING: Provides with respect to voter eligibility
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:1303(G) and to repeal R.S. 18:2(8), 102(A)(1) and (B),
3 104(A)(5), 171, 171.1, 176(A), 177(A), and 177.1, relative to registration and voting;
4 to repeal provisions of law providing relative to suspension of registration and voting
5 rights based on conviction of a felony; to provide relative to procedures for voter
6 registration and voting; to provide relative to reinstatement of voter registration; to
7 provide relative to notice and reporting of felony convictions; and to provide for
8 related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1 R.S. 1303(G) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
11 §1303. Persons entitled to vote in compliance with this Chapter
12 * * *
13 G. Persons incarcerated. A person incarcerated in an institution inside or
14 outside the parish in which he is qualified to vote, who is not under an order of
15 imprisonment for conviction of a felony, may only vote absentee by mail and only
16 upon meeting the requirements of this Chapter and certification to the appropriate
17 registrar by the sheriff of the parish where the person is incarcerated that he is not
18 a convicted felon.
19 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1333 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 686
1 Section 2. R.S. 18:2(8), 102(A)(1) and (B), 104(A)(5), 171, 171.1, 176(A), 177(A),
2and 177.1 are hereby repealed in their entirety.
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 686 Original 2015 Regular Session Hunter
Abstract: Repeals provisions of law providing relative to suspension of registration and
voting rights based on conviction of a felony.
Present constitution (Const. Art. I, §10) provides that every citizen of the state, upon
reaching 18 years of age, shall have the right to register and vote, except that this right may
be suspended while a person is interdicted and judicially declared mentally incompetent or
is under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony.
Present law (R.S. 18:102–La. Election Code) prohibits a person who is under an order of
imprisonment for conviction of a felony from registering to vote. Present law (R.S. 18:2(8))
provides that this prohibition applies during a sentence of confinement, whether or not
suspended, whether or not the subject of the order has been placed on probation, with or
without supervision, and whether or not the subject of the order has been paroled.
Present law (R.S. 18:171 and 171.1) provides for recordation and reporting of felony
convictions in state and federal courts for which there are orders of imprisonment.
Reporting is ultimately to the registrar of voters in each parish.
Present law (R.S. 18:176) provides for suspension of the registration of a person listed on
a report received pursuant to present law (R.S. 18:171 and 171.1) and anyone the registrar
believes has been convicted of a felony and is under an order of imprisonment. Requires
notice and an opportunity to appear before the registrar prior to suspension.
Present law (R.S. 18:177) provides for reinstatement of voter registration. Provides that
when the registration of a person is suspended based on a felony conviction, the registration
shall be reinstated when the person appears in the office of the registrar and provides
documentation from the appropriate correction official showing that such person is no longer
under an order of imprisonment.
Present law (R.S. 18:177.1) requires the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections to provide
each person who completes all orders of imprisonment applicable to him for felony
convictions with information apprising the person of the requirements and procedures for
registering to vote and for reinstatement of registration and a state mail voter registration
application.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law (R.S. 18:1303(G)) provides that a person incarcerated in an institution inside or
outside the parish in which he is qualified to vote, who is not under an order of imprisonment
for conviction of a felony, may only vote absentee by mail and only upon meeting the
requirements of present law provisions relative to absentee by mail and early voting and
certification to the appropriate registrar by the sheriff of the parish where the person is
incarcerated that he is not a convicted felon.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1333 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 686
Relative to the present law authorization for voting absentee by mail, proposed law repeals
the limitation relative to persons under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony.
Repeals requirement that sheriff certify that the person is not a convicted felon. Otherwise
retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 18:1303(G); Repeals R.S. 18:2(8), 102(A)(1) and (B), 104(A)(5), 171, 171.1,
176(A), 177(A), and 177.1)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.