RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
SB 22 2020 Second Extraordinary Session Hewitt
Prior law provided that in a parish where the parish board of election supervisors tabulates
and counts absentee by mail and early voting ballots in accordance with prior law (R.S.
18:1313.1), a member of the board may be compensated not more than eight days for a
presidential or regularly scheduled congressional general election or seven days for any other
primary or general election.
New law retains prior law but additionally provides that in a parish where the parish board
of election supervisors tabulates and counts absentee by mail and early voting ballots in
accordance with new law (R.S. 18:1313.2), a member of the board may be compensated not
more than eleven days for a presidential or regularly scheduled congressional general
election or ten days for any other primary or general election if any such election is impaired
as the result of a declared disaster or emergency.
Prior law provided that parishes with one thousand or more absentee by mail ballots returned
to the registrar of voters for a primary or general election may conduct the preparation and
verification process for the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting
ballots the day before the election. Provided that if the parish board of election supervisors
determines that parish board commissioners are necessary for the preparation and
verification process to count and tabulate the absentee by mail and early voting ballots the
day before the election, it will do so in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 18:1314.
Prior law further provided that the preparation and verification process for the counting of
absentee by mail and early voting ballots may be conducted the day before the election at
a public facility within the parish designated by the registrar of voters at a time fixed by the
parish board of election supervisors. Prior law additionally provided that candidates, their
representatives, and qualified electors may be present during the preparation and verification
process for the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots on the
day before election day. Provided that the parish board assisting with the preparation and
verification for the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail ballots and early voting
paper ballots sort the ballots to differentiate those that have been challenged from those that
have not and execute the first certificate on the envelope or container and date the certificate
the day before the election.
New law (R.S. 18:1313.2) retains prior law but additionally provides similar provisions for
elections impaired as the result of a declared disaster or emergency and allows the
preparation and verification process to begin four days before election day. Further provides
that if the parish board of election supervisors determines that parish board commissioners
are necessary for the preparation and verification process to count and tabulate the absentee
by mail and early voting ballots beginning four days prior to the election, it will do so in
accordance with the provisions of R.S. 18:1314. Specifies that candidates, their
representatives, and qualified electors may be present during the preparation and verification
process for the counting and tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots that may
start being conducted four days prior to the election. Provides that the parish board assisting
with the preparation and verification for the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail
ballots and early voting paper ballots sort the ballots to differentiate those that have been
challenged from those that have not and execute the first certificate on the envelope or
container and date the certificate with the date on which it was executed.
Provides that new law shall be void and of no effect on Aug. 1, 2021.
Prior law provides that during the preparation and verification process for the counting of
absentee by mail and early voting ballots on the day before the election, as applicable, or the
counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots on election day, any candidate or his
representative, member of the board, or qualified elector may challenge an absentee by mail
or early voting ballot for cause, other than those grounds specified in R.S. 18:565(A).
New law retains prior law but additionally provides, for elections impaired as the result of
a declared disaster or emergency, that during the preparation and verification process for the
counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots before an election in accordance with
new law (R.S. 18:1313.2), or the counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots on
election day in accordance with new law (R.S. 18:1313.2), any candidate or his
representative, member of the board, or qualified elector may challenge an absentee by mail
or early voting ballot for cause, other than those grounds specified in R.S. 18:565(A). Effective upon signature of the governor (October 23, 2020).
(Amends R.S. 18:423(J) and 1315(B); adds R.S. 18:1313.2)