HLS 16RS-678 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 951
BY REPRESENTATIVE GARY CARTER
VOTING/REGISTRATION: Provides for the close of registration records
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:101(D)(introductory paragraph) and 152(C)(2)(b) and to
3 enact R.S. 18:135(A)(3), relative to requirements for voting; to provide relative to
4 voter registration; to provide relative to voter registration requirements for
5 presidential elections; to provide relative to the close of voter registration; to provide
6 relative to election procedures; to provide relative to the precinct register; to provide
7 relative to procedures for supplementing the precinct register after printing; to
8 provide relative to the duties of certain election officials relative to voter registration
9 and election procedures; and to provide for related matters.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 18:101(D)(introductory paragraph) and 152(C)(2)(b) are hereby
12amended and reenacted and R.S. 18:135(A)(3) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §101. Registration to vote; qualifications; more than one residence; presidential
14 elections
15 * * *
16 D. A person who is otherwise qualified to vote in this state, who has begun
17 residence in another state or another political subdivision of this state after the
18 thirtieth day before close of the registration records pursuant to R.S. 18:135 for an
19 election for president and vice president of the United States or for electors for
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1 president and vice president and who for that reason does not satisfy the registration
2 requirements set forth in this Chapter, may vote in such an election:
3 * * *
4 §135. Close of registration
5 A.
6 * * *
7 (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection,
8 registrars shall close the registration records twenty days prior to an election for a
9 person who makes application pursuant to R.S. 18:115.1 to register to vote or to
10 make changes to an existing registration and who has been informed, pursuant to
11 R.S. 18:115.1(C)(4)(b), that his application has been electronically forwarded to the
12 appropriate registrar of voters.
13 * * *
14 §152. Required records
15 * * *
16 C.
17 * * *
18 (2)
19 * * *
20 (b) Prior to delivery of the precinct register to the contractor authorized by
21 the secretary of state to deliver voting machines pursuant to R.S. 18:1371, the
22 registrar shall add the names and collateral information on those mail registrants that
23 and registrants who submitted an electronic application pursuant to R.S. 18:115.1
24 who were verified after the printing of the precinct register. Such listing of
25 registrants shall be considered to be a supplement to the official list of voters and a
26 part of the precinct register. Subsequent to the delivery of the precinct register, the
27 registrar shall add the names and collateral information on those mail registrants that
28 and registrants who submitted an electronic application pursuant to R.S. 18:115.1
29 who were verified after the delivery of the precinct register. Such listing of
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HB NO. 951
1 registrants shall be considered another supplement to the official list of voters and
2 a part of the precinct register. Any supplemental list so produced shall be delivered
3 to the precinct in the same manner as a list of absentee voters who voted absentee by
4 mail and whose ballots were received after the precinct register was sealed.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on February 1, 2017.
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 951 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Gary Carter
Abstract: Changes the close of registration records from 30 days prior to the election to 20
days prior to the election for certain people who register to vote online.
Present law (R.S. 18:521) provides that all persons who have registered to vote prior to the
time the registration records are closed as required in present law (R.S. 18:135) may vote in
the election for any candidates except those seeking membership on a committee of a
political party with which the voter is not registered as being affiliated.
Present law (R.S. 18:103) provides that a person who meets the qualifications for voter
registration may apply in person at the office of the registrar, using the federal postcard
application, through the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C), through
designated voter registration agencies, and through the mail using certain forms.
Present law (R.S. 18:115.1) additionally provides that a person who has a valid La. driver's
license or La. special identification card may apply to register to vote or make changes to
his existing registration by completing and submitting an electronic voter registration
application on the secretary of state's website. Provides for the content of the electronic
voter registration application. Provides for immediate verification of the driver's license
number or special identification card number submitted by the applicant. Provides that if
a verification is made, the secretary of state shall electronically forward the information
provided in the application to the appropriate registrar of voters to determine the eligibility
of the applicant in accordance with present law and to immediately inform the applicant.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 18:135) generally requires the registrar to close the registration records 30
days prior to an election, unless the deadline falls on a legal holiday, in which case the
deadline is moved to the next day that is not a holiday. Provides that the registration records
may be closed at a later time under certain circumstances involving emergencies.
Proposed law provides that registrars shall close the registration records 20 days prior to an
election (instead of 30 days prior to an election) for a person who makes application online
pursuant to present law (R.S. 18:115.1) to register to vote or make changes to an existing
registration and who has been informed pursuant to present law that his application has been
electronically forwarded to the appropriate registrar of voters. Otherwise retains present law
for other methods of registration.
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HB NO. 951
Present law (R.S. 18:101) provides that a person who is otherwise qualified to vote, who has
begun residence in another state or another political subdivision of this state before an
election for president and vice president of the U.S. or for electors for president and vice
president and who for that reason does not satisfy the registration requirements set forth in
present law, may vote in such an election in person or absentee by mail at the place in the
state where he resided immediately before his removal.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law applies to a person who begins residence in another state or political subdivision
after the 30th day prior to the election. Proposed law provides instead that present law
applies to a person who begins residence in another state or political subdivision after
registration records are closed pursuant to present law and proposed law.
Present law (R.S. 18:157) requires the registrar prior to an election to deliver a precinct
register to each precinct in the parish that is involved in the election. Requires the precinct
register to include the official list of voters and the inactive list of voters in each precinct.
Present law (R.S. 18:562 and 1309) requires election officials during early voting and on
election day to attempt to establish the identity of each voter by matching identifying
information presented by the voter with information in the precinct register (during early
voting, officials also use the state voter registration computer system for verification).
Present law (R.S. 18:152) requires the registrar prior to delivery of the precinct register to
add the names and collateral information on those mail registrants that were verified after
the printing of the precinct register. Provides that such listing of registrants shall be
considered to be a supplement to the official list of voters and a part of the precinct register.
Requires the registrar subsequent to the delivery of the precinct register, to add the names
and collateral information on those mail registrants that were verified after the delivery of
the precinct register. Provides that such listing of registrants shall be considered another
supplement to the official list of voters and a part of the precinct register. Provides that any
supplemental list so produced shall be delivered to the precinct in the same manner as a list
of absentee voters who voted absentee by mail and whose ballots were received after the
precinct register was sealed.
Proposed law retains present law. Additionally requires the registrar to supplement the
official list of voters in the precinct register with the names and collateral information for
registrants who registered pursuant to proposed law and who were verified after the printing
or delivery of the precinct register.
Effective February 1, 2017.
(Amends R.S. 18:101(D)(intro. para.) and 152(C)(2)(b); Adds R.S. 18:135(A)(3))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1. Change the proposed deadline for the close of registration records for electronic
voter registration applications via the secretary of state's website from 10 days
prior to an election to 20 days prior to an election.
2. Remove proposed provision for a case in which the close of registration records
for electronic voter registration applications falls on a legal holiday.
3. Change effective date from Jan. 1, 2017, to Feb. 1, 2017.
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