HLS 19RS-105 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 30
BY REPRESENTATIVE BACALA
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
VOTERS/VOTING: Provides that a U.S. military identification card may be used at the
polls for voting purposes
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:562(A)(2) and (C) and 1309(D)(1), relative to voting; to
3 provide relative to procedures for identifying voters at the polls; to provide for the
4 forms of identification required for voting; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 18:562(A)(2) and (C) and 1309(D)(1) are hereby amended and
7reenacted to read as follows:
8 §562. Prerequisites to voting
9 A. Identification of voters.
10 * * *
11 (2)(a) Each applicant shall identify himself, in the presence and view of the
12 bystanders, and present to the commissioners a one of the following:
13 (i) A Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana special identification card issued
14 pursuant to R.S. 40:1321, or other generally recognized picture identification card
15 that contains the name and signature of the applicant.
16 (ii) A United States military identification card that contains the applicant's
17 name and picture.
18 (b) If the applicant does not have a Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana
19 special identification card, or other generally recognized picture identification card
20 that contains the name and signature of the applicant one of the forms of
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HB NO. 30
1 identification provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the applicant shall
2 complete and sign an affidavit, which is supplied by the secretary of state, to that
3 effect before the commissioners, which affidavit shall include the applicant's date of
4 birth and mother's maiden name. If the applicant is unable to read or write or is
5 otherwise unable to complete the affidavit due to disability, the applicant may
6 receive assistance in completing the affidavit and the commissioner shall make a
7 notation on the affidavit. The applicant may receive the assistance of any person of
8 his choice, including a commissioner, except a candidate, commissioner-in-charge,
9 the applicant's employer or employer's agent, or the applicant's union agent. The
10 commissioners shall place the affidavit in the envelope marked "Registrar of Voters"
11 and attach the envelope to the precinct register. However, an applicant who is
12 allowed to vote without the picture identification required by Subparagraph (a) of
13 this Paragraph is subject to challenge as provided in R.S. 18:565.
14 * * *
15 C. Handwritten signature of the applicant. If the applicant is able to sign his
16 name, he shall sign his handwritten signature in ink in the space for his signature on
17 the precinct register. When the applicant has submitted to the commissioners picture
18 identification that contains the signature of the applicant to the commissioners, the
19 applicant's signature shall be compared to his signature on the picture identification.
20 If the applicant is unable to sign his name, he shall make his mark in ink in the
21 proper space on the precinct register.
22 * * *
23 §1309. Early voting; verification
24 * * *
25 D.(1)(a) Before any voter is allowed to vote during early voting, the registrar
26 or his deputy shall establish the voter's identity by requiring him to submit a one of
27 the following:
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HB NO. 30
1 (i) A Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana special identification card issued
2 pursuant to R.S. 40:1321, or other generally recognized picture identification card
3 that contains the name and signature of the voter.
4 (ii) A United States military identification card that contains the voter's name
5 and picture.
6 (b) If the voter does not have a Louisiana driver's license, a Louisiana special
7 identification card, or other generally recognized picture identification card that
8 contains the name and signature of the voter one of the forms of identification
9 provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the voter shall complete and sign,
10 in the presence of the registrar or his deputy, a voter identification affidavit to that
11 effect provided by the secretary of state, which affidavit shall include the voter's date
12 of birth and mother's maiden name. If the voter is unable to read or write or is
13 otherwise unable to complete the affidavit due to disability, the voter may receive
14 assistance in completing the affidavit, and the registrar or his deputy shall make a
15 notation on the affidavit. The voter may receive the assistance of any person of his
16 choice, including the registrar or his deputy, except a candidate, the voter's employer
17 or employer's agent, or the voter's union agent. The registrar or his deputy shall
18 retain the affidavit in the office of the registrar of voters.
19 (c) If satisfied that the voter has identified himself as the voter registered in
20 the state voter registration computer system or named on the precinct register and
21 that he is qualified to vote, the registrar or his deputy shall initial the precinct register
22 or early voting list kept by the registrar opposite the voter's signature or mark. The
23 voter then shall be allowed to vote.
24 (d) A voter who votes without the picture identification required by
25 Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph is subject to challenge as provided in R.S.
26 18:1315.
27 * * *
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HB NO. 30
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 30 Original 2019 Regular Session Bacala
Abstract: Provides that a U.S. military identification card that contains the person's picture
may be used at the polls to vote.
Present law (R.S. 18:562 and 1309) requires election officials to establish the identity of a
person who seeks to vote at a polling place during early voting or on election day. Requires
the person to present a La. driver's license, a La. special identification card issued pursuant
to present law (R.S. 40:1321), or other generally recognized picture identification card that
contains the name and signature of the person.
Proposed law retains present law. Adds to the acceptable forms of identification a U.S.
military identification card that contains the person's name and picture.
Present law provides that if the person does not have such identification, the person shall
complete and sign an affidavit, which is supplied by the secretary of state, to that effect
before the commissioners. Provides that a person who votes without the required
identification is subject to challenge pursuant to present law (R.S. 18:565 and 1315).
Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 18:562(A)(2) and (C) and 1309(D)(1))
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