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 583 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Broadwater
Abstract: Repeals the deadlines for a candidate to withdraw from an election.
Present law (R.S. 18:501, 1256, and 1280.22) allows a candidate to withdraw from an election by
filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary of state. Requires the notice to be signed by the
candidate and duly acknowledged by him before an officer authorized to administer oaths. Requires
the secretary of state to forward a copy of a notice of withdrawal filed by a local or municipal
candidate to the president of the board of election supervisors and the clerk of court of the parish in
which the candidate qualified.
Present law provides that a notice of withdrawal shall be effective when it is filed with the secretary
of state if the notice satisfies the requirements of present law or was filed pursuant to a court order
as provided in present law (R.S. 18:494(B)), and the candidate who filed the notice no longer shall
be qualified as a candidate in the election from which he withdrew. Provides that if the election
ballot was printed with a withdrawn candidate's name on it, any votes received by the withdrawn
candidate shall be null and void and shall not be counted for any purpose whatsoever.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law limits the time period during which a candidate may withdraw from an election.
Provides that the candidate must file notice of his withdrawal prior to 4:30 p.m. on the seventh day
after the close of the qualifying period to withdraw from a primary and prior to 4:30 p.m. on the
ninth day after the date of the primary election to withdraw from a general election.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Proposed law relative to presidential elections provides that a notice of withdrawal shall not be
returned to the person withdrawing.
(Amends R.S. 18:501, 503(A)(1), 1256, and 1280.22(C))