ENROLLED
ACT No. 360
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 593
BY REPRESENTATIVE DANAHAY
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 18:51(A), (B), and (C)(1) and to enact R.S. 18:51.1, relative to
3 registrars of voters; to provide relative to the manner of appointment of the registrar
4 of voters; to require notice; to provide for the form of the notice; to provide relative
5 to the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the parish governing authority relative
6 to the appointment of the registrar of voters; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 18:51(A), (B), and (C)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted and
9 R.S. 18:51.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §51. Registrar for each parish; appointment; tenure; books and records;
11 commission; bond and oath
12 A. There shall be a registrar of voters for each parish in the state, who shall
13 be appointed by the governing authority of the parish in the manner provided in this
14 Section and R.S. 18:51.1.
15 B.(1) The Upon receipt of notice and supporting documentation from the
16 governing authority that show the governing authority complied with the
17 requirements of this Section and R.S. 18:51.1 in appointing the registrar, the
18 governor shall issue a commission to each the registrar, who thereupon shall make
19 the bond, subscribe to the oath, and receive the compensation prescribed in this
20 Chapter.
21 (2) If the governing authority fails to submit notice and documentation
22 pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection or if the notice and documentation
23 submitted by the governing authority is not sufficient to show the governing
24 authority complied with the requirements of this Section and R.S. 18:51.1 in
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 593 ENROLLED
1 appointing the registrar, the governor shall not issue a commission to the registrar
2 but shall instead send notice to the governing authority that it has failed to show
3 compliance.
4 C.(1)(a) A vacancy for any cause in the office of registrar shall be filled by
5 the parish governing authority within thirty days after the date on which the vacancy
6 occurs. The parish governing authority shall advertise the vacancy and solicit
7 applications for the office in the manner provided in R.S. 18:51.1.
8 (b) Until the appointment is made, the chief deputy shall perform the duties
9 of the registrar in a parish having a chief deputy. If there is no chief deputy, within
10 forty-eight hours after the office becomes vacant, the parish governing authority
11 shall appoint a person temporarily to perform the duties of the registrar until the
12 parish governing authority fills the vacancy as herein provided in this Section.
13 However, if the parish governing authority neither fills the vacancy nor, in a parish
14 having no chief deputy, designates a person temporarily to perform the duties of
15 registrar within forty-eight hours after the office becomes vacant, the State Board of
16 Election Supervisors shall appoint a person to perform the duties until the parish
17 governing authority fills the vacancy. A person appointed temporarily to perform
18 the duties of registrar shall have authority to register voters in accordance with law.
19 * * *
20 §51.1. Manner of appointment of the registrar
21 A. The parish governing authority shall appoint the registrar of voters for the
22 parish in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
23 B.(1) The parish governing authority shall take all reasonable steps to make
24 as many people in the parish as possible aware of the upcoming appointment of a
25 registrar, including without limitation by issuing press releases to local news services
26 and other media outlets and, if the governing authority has a website, by posting
27 notice on its website.
28 (2)(a) At a minimum, the parish governing authority shall publish notice of
29 the upcoming appointment together with a request for the submission of applications
30 to fill the office on two separate days at least one week apart in the official journal
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 593 ENROLLED
1 of the governing authority and in another newspaper with a larger circulation within
2 the parish than the official journal if there is such a newspaper.
3 (b) The notice shall comply with the following requirements:
4 (i) Prominent placement in a section other than the classified advertisement
5 or public notice section.
6 (ii) Formatting in a box with a bolded outline.
7 (iii) A size of not less than two inches by four inches.
8 (iv) Print in bold face type.
9 (c) The notice shall contain the deadline for submitting applications, which
10 shall be no later than seven calendar days following the last day of publication of
11 notice as provided in this Paragraph.
12 C. In appointing the registrar, the governing authority shall offer to interview
13 each applicant who meets the qualifications provided by law for the office of
14 registrar of voters.
15 Section 2. This Act shall become effective if and when the proposed amendment of
16 Article XI, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana contained in the Act which originated
17 as House Bill No. 459 of this 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature is adopted at a
18 statewide election and becomes effective.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.