HLS 15RS-3942 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 206
BY REPRESENTATIVE PUGH
ELECTIONS: Provides for a study of certain election and voter registration procedures and
activities
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To create and provide with respect to a study committee to study elections processes and
3 procedures, including candidate elections and third party voter registration drives;
4 to develop recommendations for changes to the Louisiana Election Code related
5 thereto; and to report its findings and recommendations to the legislature.
6 WHEREAS, in some elections for local and municipal offices there are two or more
7offices of the same character to be filled in one election; and
8 WHEREAS in these elections, voters are allowed to vote for the maximum number
9of officers to be elected, and the Louisiana Election Code provides for a formula to be used
10to determine what constitutes a majority; and
11 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Election Code provides that a candidate who receives a
12majority of the votes cast for an office in a primary election is elected and that the candidates
13who qualify for each office remaining to be filled in the general election are those who
14received the two highest numbers of votes, the four highest number of votes, and so on
15among those not elected in the primary election, until the maximum number of candidates
16for each office on the general election ballot is reached; and
17 WHEREAS, for example, in an election where five municipal officers are to be
18elected and only two officers are elected in the primary election by a majority vote, the
19remaining top six candidates qualify for the general election; and
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HCR NO. 206
1 WHEREAS, some states and counties provide for a plurality vote to elect officers in
2a primary election when there are two or more offices of the same character to be filled,
3which reduces the number of elections needed to fill such offices; and
4 WHEREAS, a study is needed to analyze the processes and procedures for elections
5in Louisiana where two or more offices of the same character are to be filled; and
6 WHEREAS, during federal election years, out-of-state third party groups have
7attempted to register voters in Louisiana through door to door and mail voter registration
8drives using voter registration applications that were previously completed and various
9incorrect mailing lists; it has been reported that some groups have used lists that included
10the names of voters who were already registered to vote, deceased individuals, children, and
11pets, thereby raising security concerns and causing confusion; and
12 WHEREAS, these third party groups do not always communicate with state and local
13election officials to obtain accurate information and reliable data, nor do they alert media
14outlets of their activities for outreach to the general public; and
15 WHEREAS, a study is needed to develop recommendations for processes and
16procedures for the conduct of third party voter registration drives in Louisiana.
17 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
18create a study committee to study elections processes and procedures, including candidate
19elections and third party voter registration drives; to hold hearings as necessary; to develop
20recommendations for changes to the Louisiana Election Code; and to report its findings and
21recommendations to the legislature.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall consist of the following
23members:
24 (1) The secretary of state or a designee of the secretary of state.
25 (2) The commissioner of elections or a designee of the commissioner of elections.
26 (3) The attorney general or a designee of the attorney general.
27 (4) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs or
28a designee of the chairman.
29 (5) The chairman of the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs or
30a designee of the chairman.
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HCR NO. 206
1 (6) The president of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association or a designee of the
2president.
3 (7) The president of the Louisiana Registrar of Voters Association or a designee of
4the president.
5 (8) The president of the Louisiana Municipal Association or a designee of the
6president.
7 (9) The president of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana or a designee of the
8president.
9 (10) The commissioner of administration or a designee of the commissioner.
10 (11) One member, who shall be appointed by the governor from a list of nominees
11submitted by the presidents of Centenary College of Louisiana, Dillard University, Louisiana
12College, Loyola University of New Orleans, Tulane University, and Xavier University of
13Louisiana, each of whom shall submit one nominee who shall not be an elected or appointed
14public official.
15 (12) The chairperson of the Louisiana Democratic Party or a designee of the
16chairperson.
17 (13) The chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party or a designee of the chairman.
18 (14) A representative of the Advocacy Center appointed by the executive director
19of the Advocacy Center.
20 (15) The president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana or a designee
21of the president.
22 (16) The president of the Council for A Better Louisiana or a designee of the
23president.
24 (17) The president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry or a
25designee of the president.
26 (18) The president of the Louisiana AFL-CIO or a designee of the president.
27 (19) A member of the League of Women Voters appointed by the secretary of state
28from a list of nominees submitted by each chapter of the League of Women Voters in the
29state of Louisiana.
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HCR NO. 206
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of state or a designee of the
2secretary of state shall call the first meeting of the study committee, and at the meeting the
3study committee shall elect a chairman and such other officers as the study committee deems
4necessary.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the study committee shall
6appoint a recorder to serve without compensation as the need may arise.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of the secretary of state shall provide
8staffing along with appropriate legislative staff as approved by the presiding officers of the
9legislature to facilitate the duties of the study committee.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall report its findings and
11recommendations to the legislature no later than March 1, 2016.
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)]
HCR 206 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Pugh
Creates a study committee to study elections processes and procedures, including candidate
elections and third party voter registration drives; to develop recommendations for changes
to the La. Election Code related thereto; and to report its findings and recommendations to
the legislature no later than March 1, 2016. Additionally, provides for the composition of
the study committee.
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