HLS 16RS-415 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 230
BY REPRESENTATIVES SMITH AND HUNTER
VOTERS/VOTING: Provides relative to early voting days interrupted by a holiday
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:1302(4) and 1309(A)(1), relative to early voting; to provide
3 for the period for conducting early voting; and to provide for related matters.
4Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
5 Section 1. R.S. 18:1302(4) and 1309(A)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted to
6read as follows:
7 §1302. Definitions
8 As used in this Chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
9 following terms shall have the meanings hereafter ascribed to each:
10 * * *
11 (4) "Early voting" means the period of time from fourteen days to seven days
12 prior to any scheduled election when any person who is qualified to vote may vote
13 in person at a place designated by the registrar as provided in R.S. 18:1309.
14 * * *
15 §1309. Early voting; verification
16 A.(1)(a)(i) The period for conducting early voting shall be from fourteen
17 days to seven days prior to any scheduled election.
18 (ii) The period for conducting early voting shall also include the day added
19 pursuant to Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, if applicable.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-415 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 230
1 (b)(i) One day of early voting shall be added to the period specified in Item
2 (a)(i) of this Paragraph if one or more holidays is required to be observed on a
3 weekday during that period pursuant to Paragraph (4) of this Subsection.
4 (ii) The additional day shall be the first day preceding the period described
5 in Item (a)(i) of this Paragraph that is not a Sunday or a holiday required to be
6 observed pursuant to Paragraph (4) of this Subsection.
7 * * *
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 230 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Smith
Abstract: Adds an additional day of early voting prior to the ordinary early voting period
if one or more holidays occurs during the ordinary period.
Present law (R.S. 18:1309) provides that the early voting period for an election is the period
from 14 days to seven days prior to the election. Requires the office of the registrar to be
open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on each day that the registrar is required to be open during
the early voting period. Provides that early voting on each day of the early voting period
terminates when all persons who were in line to vote at the close of the regular office hours
of the registrar's office have been allowed to vote.
Present law requires the registrar to observe the holidays which are provided by law or
proclaimed by the governor for state departments during any period for conducting early
voting.
Proposed law retains present law. Provides that one day of early voting is added to the
period provided in present law if one or more holidays occurs on a weekday during that
period. Provides that the additional day is the first day preceding the period described in
present law that is not a Sunday or a holiday.
(Amends R.S. 18:1302(4) and 1309(A)(1))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1. Specify that the holiday must be observed on a weekday for proposed law to
apply.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.