HLS 202ES-160 ENGROSSED
2020 Second Extraordinary Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 18
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUPLESSIS
ELECTIONS/COMMISSIONERS: Requests the clerks of court develop and utilize
innovative strategies to recruit commissioners for polling places
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the clerks of court to develop and utilize innovative strategies to recruit
3 commissioners for polling places.
4 WHEREAS, poll commissioners conduct primary and general elections, enforce the
5election laws, and maintain order at the polling place during the election and during the
6printing of results from the voting machines; and
7 WHEREAS, Louisiana's elections cannot be conducted without poll commissioners
8present to facilitate the voting process by checking identification, making sure those voting
9have the proper credentials, and ensuring that voters are at the correct precinct; and
10 WHEREAS, on January 22, 2020, the secretary of state indicated that Louisiana is
11currently facing a shortage of poll commissioners; and
12 WHEREAS, on September 1, 2020, the secretary of state’s office announced the
13launch of a recruitment campaign for election workers to help set up the polling locations
14and verify voter registrations; and
15 WHEREAS, the number of poll commissioners for each precinct in each election
16changes based on the size of the election; and
17 WHEREAS, there are currently a large number of commissioner vacancies in the
18most populated parishes of Louisiana: East Baton Rouge and Jefferson; and
19 WHEREAS, the emergency election plan proposed by the secretary of state and
20adopted by the legislature authorized the use of certain military and law enforcement
21personnel at the polls to address this shortage, despite certain prohibitions in law and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 202ES-160 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 18
1concerns the proposal could have the effect of discouraging voters from entering polling
2locations to vote, which illustrates the urgency and the need for encouraging other members
3of the public to serve; and
4 WHEREAS, poll commissioners are essential to the success of any election, and
5there are never enough capable, committed residents willing to participate in the election
6process by working as poll commissioners on election day; it is vital that more citizens be
7encouraged and recruited to participate in the electoral process at the precinct level.
8 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
9urge and request the clerks of court to develop and utilize innovative strategies to recruit
10commissioners for polling places.
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)]
HCR 18 Engrossed 2020 Second Extraordinary Session Duplessis
Requests the clerks of court develop and utilize innovative strategies to recruit
commissioners for polling places.
Page 2 of 2