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