HLS 18RS-775 ENGROSSED
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 351
BY REPRESENTATIVE JENKINS
VOTERS/VOTING: Provides relative to voting by persons in a nursing home
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:1333(C)(2) and (D), relative to the nursing home early voting
3 program; to provide relative to the requirements for eligibility to participate in the
4 program; to provide relative to the requirements for making application to participate
5 in the program; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 18:1333(C)(2) and (D) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
8follows:
9 ยง1333. Nursing home early voting program; voting by persons residing in a nursing
10 home
11 * * *
12 C. The following voters shall be eligible to vote pursuant to this Section:
13 * * *
14 (2) A voter who is a resident of a nursing home who provides to the registrar
15 of voters current proof of disability from a physician along with a certification from
16 the physician voter which indicates that by reason of the voter's disability the voter
17 is a resident of the nursing home and unable to appear in person to vote either during
18 early voting or at the polling place on election day.
19 D.(1) A voter qualified to vote under this Section shall make application in
20 writing to vote pursuant to this Section to the registrar of voters by letter. An
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HB NO. 351
1 application to vote as provided in this Section shall be submitted to and received by
2 the registrar of voters at least thirty days prior to the election. Such request
3 application may be submitted by mail, commercial carrier, or hand delivery. The
4 request application shall be submitted over the voter's signature or mark if the voter
5 is unable to sign his name, signed by the registrar, deputy registrar, or one witness;
6 provide the name of the voter and the address of the nursing home; and if qualified
7 pursuant to Paragraph (C)(2) of this Section, provide current proof of disability from
8 a physician along with a certification from the physician voter which indicates that
9 by reason of the voter's disability the voter is a resident of the nursing home and
10 unable to appear in person to vote either during early voting or at the polling place
11 on election day.
12 (2) Upon receipt of a valid request, the request shall serve as an application
13 to vote pursuant to this Section. The An application to vote in the nursing home
14 early voting program as provided in that satisfies the requirements of this Section
15 shall remain valid indefinitely unless the voter submits a written request to the
16 registrar to be removed from the program or the voter no longer resides in the
17 nursing home listed in his application. However, if the voter has become a resident
18 of a different nursing home in the parish and has notified the registrar of voters in
19 writing of the change of nursing home address, his application shall remain valid.
20 * * *
21 Section 2. This Act shall become effective January 1, 2019.
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 351 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Jenkins
Abstract: Repeals the requirement that a person provide proof of disability and a
certification from a physician to be eligible to participate in the nursing home early
voting program.
Present law (R.S. 18:1333) provides relative to the nursing home early voting program.
Provides requirements and procedures for the program, which requires the registrar to go to
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HB NO. 351
each nursing home in the parish where voters eligible to vote pursuant to present law reside
to assist them in voting by mail.
Present law provides that a voter who participated in the former Special Program for
Handicapped Voters as such program existed prior to Jan. 1, 2010, and who is a resident or
has become a resident of a nursing home is eligible to participate in the program.
Present law additionally provides that a voter is eligible to participate in the program if the
voter resides in a nursing home and provides to the registrar of voters current proof of
disability from a physician along with a certification from the physician that the voter is
unable to appear in person to vote either during early voting or at the polling place.
Proposed law repeals the requirement to submit proof of disability and a certification from
a physician. Instead provides that a voter is eligible to participate in the program if the voter
certifies that he is a resident of the nursing home and that he is unable to appear in person
to vote either during early voting or at the polling place.
Present law requires an eligible voter to make written application to the registrar of voters
prior to participating in the program. Provides requirements for the application and
deadlines.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that application is made by letter and refers to the letter as a request.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Effective January 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 18:1333(C)(2) and (D))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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