HLS 16RS-137 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 377
BY REPRESENTATIVE DANAHAY
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS: Requires a notice of the retirement or resignation of a
registrar of voters to be filed with the secretary of state
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 18:65, relative to registrars of voters; to provide relative to retirement or
3 resignation of a registrar; to require the filing of a notice of retirement or resignation
4 of a registrar; to provide for the form of the notice; to provide for effectiveness and
5 revocability of the notice; to provide relative to the duties of the secretary of state
6 relative to retirement or resignation of a registrar; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 18:65 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง65. Retirement or resignation of a registrar
10 A. A registrar who retires or resigns shall file a notice of retirement or
11 resignation with the secretary of state.
12 B. A notice of retirement or resignation of a registrar shall be in writing,
13 shall be dated, may specify a prospective date on which the retirement or resignation
14 is to be effective, and shall be signed by the registrar and duly acknowledged by him
15 before an officer authorized to administer oaths.
16 C. Upon receiving a notice of retirement or resignation from a registrar, the
17 secretary of state shall immediately transmit a copy of the notice to the governing
18 authority for the parish of the registrar who filed the notice.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-137 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 377
1 D. A notice of retirement or resignation of a registrar shall not be effective
2 until the original notice of retirement or resignation is received by the secretary of
3 state and shall become irrevocable upon such receipt by the secretary of state.
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 377 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Danahay
Abstract: Requires a notice of the retirement or resignation of a registrar of voters to be
filed with the secretary of state.
Present constitution requires the governing authority of each parish to appoint a registrar of
voters, whose compensation, removal from office for cause, bond, powers, and functions
shall be provided by law.
Present law requires the parish governing authority to fill a vacancy in the office of registrar
of voters within 30 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs. Provides that until the
appointment is made, the chief deputy shall perform the duties of the registrar in a parish
having a chief deputy. Provides that if there is no chief deputy, within 48 hours after the
office becomes vacant, the parish governing authority shall appoint a person temporarily to
perform the duties of the registrar until the parish governing authority fills the vacancy.
Provides, however, that if the parish governing authority neither fills the vacancy nor, in a
parish having no chief deputy, designates a person temporarily to perform the duties of
registrar within 48 hours after the office becomes vacant, the State Bd. of Election
Supervisors shall appoint a person to perform the duties until the parish governing authority
fills the vacancy. Provides further that a person appointed temporarily to perform the duties
of registrar shall have authority to register voters in accordance with law.
Proposed law retains present law. Additionally, requires a registrar to file a notice of
retirement or resignation with the secretary of state. Provides that the notice shall be in
writing, shall be dated, may specify a prospective date on which the retirement or resignation
is to be effective, and shall be signed by the registrar and duly acknowledged by him before
an officer authorized to administer oaths. Provides that upon receiving a notice of retirement
or resignation from a registrar, the secretary of state shall immediately transmit a copy of the
notice to the governing authority for the parish of the registrar who filed the notice. Provides
further that a notice of retirement or resignation of a registrar shall not be effective until the
original notice of retirement or resignation is received by the secretary of state and shall
become irrevocable upon such receipt by the secretary of state.
(Adds R.S. 18:65)
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.