HLS 16RS-1169 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 654
BY REPRESENTATIVE GREGORY MILLER
VOTERS/VOTING: Provides relative to voting by certain persons who are entitled to
assistance
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 18:564(D)(3) and 1309.3(D)(3), relative to voting; to provide for eligibility
3 for receiving assistance in voting on election day and during early voting; to provide
4 procedures and requirements for receiving assistance in voting; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 18:564(D)(3) and 1309.3(D)(3) are hereby enacted to read as
8follows:
9 §564. Assistance in voting on election day
10 * * *
11 D.
12 * * *
13 (3) If a person who has a visible physical disability seeks to receive
14 assistance in voting on election day but the person has not complied with the
15 provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and does not have documentation to
16 present to the commissioner-in-charge pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection,
17 the person shall complete and sign an affidavit supplied by the secretary of state
18 stating that he is unable to vote without assistance because of a physical disability
19 and stating the nature of the disability. The affidavit shall include the person's date
20 of birth and mother's maiden name. If the person is unable to read or write or is
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-1169 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 654
1 otherwise unable to complete the affidavit due to disability, the person may receive
2 assistance in completing the affidavit and the commissioner shall make a notation
3 on the affidavit. The person may receive the assistance of any person of his choice,
4 including a commissioner, except a candidate, commissioner-in-charge, the person's
5 employer or employer's agent, or the person's union agent. The commissioners shall
6 place the affidavit in the envelope marked "Registrar of Voters" and attach the
7 envelope to the precinct register. The person shall then be allowed to receive
8 assistance in voting.
9 * * *
10 §1309.3. Assistance in voting during early voting
11 * * *
12 D.
13 * * *
14 (3) If a person who has a visible physical disability seeks to receive
15 assistance in voting during early voting but the person cannot comply with
16 Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection, the person shall complete and sign an
17 affidavit supplied by the secretary of state stating that he is unable to vote without
18 assistance because of a physical disability and stating the nature of the disability.
19 The affidavit shall include the person's date of birth and mother's maiden name. If
20 the person is unable to read or write or is otherwise unable to complete the affidavit
21 due to disability, the person may receive assistance in completing the affidavit and
22 the commissioner shall make a notation on the affidavit. The person may receive the
23 assistance of any person of his choice, including a commissioner, except a candidate,
24 commissioner-in-charge, the person's employer or employer's agent, or the person's
25 union agent. The commissioners shall place the affidavit in the envelope marked
26 "Registrar of Voters" and attach the envelope to the precinct register. The person
27 shall then be allowed to receive assistance in voting.
28 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-1169 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 654
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 654 Original 2016 Regular Session Gregory Miller
Abstract: Allows a person with a visible physical disability to execute an affidavit in order
to receive assistance in voting on election day and during early voting.
Present law (R.S. 18:564 and 1309.3) provides for assistance in voting on election day and
during early voting. Requires a person who seeks assistance in voting to file certain required
documentation with the registrar prior to voting or to present certain documentation to
election officials at the polls.
Proposed law retains present law. Provides, however, that a person with a visible physical
disability who cannot meet the requirements of present law shall complete and sign an
affidavit supplied by the secretary of state stating that he is unable to vote without assistance
because of a physical disability and stating the nature of the disability. Requires the affidavit
to include the person's date of birth and mother's maiden name. Provides that if the person
is unable to read or write or is otherwise unable to complete the affidavit due to disability,
the person may receive assistance in completing the affidavit and the commissioner shall
make a notation on the affidavit. Provides that the person may receive the assistance of any
person of his choice, including a commissioner, except a candidate, commissioner-in-charge,
the person's employer or employer's agent, or the person's union agent. Requires the
commissioners to place the affidavit in the envelope marked "Registrar of Voters" and attach
the envelope to the precinct register. Provides that the person shall then be allowed to
receive assistance in voting.
(Adds R.S. 18:564(D)(3) and 1309.3(D)(3))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.