ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 132
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAINES
A RESOLUTION
To create and provide for a subcommittee of the House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to examine and study the advisability and feasibility of
instituting automatic voter registration through driver's license facilities in Louisiana.
WHEREAS, R.S. 18:114 requires voter registration services to be provided at all
driver's license facilities in the state; and
WHEREAS, this statute provides: "It is the intention of the legislature to encourage
the broadest possible participation in the electoral process by the citizens of this state"; and
WHEREAS, when a person applies to obtain, renew, or change the name or address
on a driver's license or identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety and
Corrections, the person can also apply for voter registration; and
WHEREAS, the law requires the applicant to complete a registration application
form and return it to an authorized employee at the driver's license facility; and
WHEREAS, completed voter registration applications are periodically sent to
registrars of voters, who determine whether the applicants are registered to vote; and
WHEREAS, earlier this year, Oregon enacted an automatic voter registration system,
whereby each person who applies for a driver's license is automatically registered to vote
using driver's license data, unless the person opts out of voter registration; and
WHEREAS, in light of Louisiana's interest in encouraging the broadest possible
participation in the electoral process, it is desirable to study automatic voter registration to
determine whether it should be implemented in this state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby create a subcommittee of the House Committee on
House and Governmental Affairs to examine and study the advisability and feasibility of
instituting automatic voter registration through driver's license facilities in Louisiana.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the House Committee on House
and Governmental Affairs shall appoint the members of the subcommittee and designate the
chairman and vice chairman of the subcommittee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall be responsible for
examining all matters relating to automatic voter registration and any related issues that the
subcommittee deems appropriate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall make such studies as it
shall find necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes; for the purposes of conducting
such studies, the subcommittee may call upon the staffs of any department, agency, or
official of the state for data and assistance; all such departments, agencies, and officials shall
cooperate with the subcommittee; and the subcommittee may request and utilize the
assistance of any and all public and private sources.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall solicit input,
recommendations, and advice from the following:
(1) The secretary of state.
(2) The commissioner of elections.
(3) The attorney general.
(4) The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services.
(5) The Louisiana Registrars of Voters Association.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall have the power and
authority of a standing committee to hold hearings, require the production of books and
records, and do all other things necessary to discharge its duties and responsibilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall make a report of its
findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the House Committee on
House and Governmental Affairs no later than thirty days prior to the 2016 Regular Session
of the Legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall be dissolved upon the
adjournment sine die of the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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