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 419 Original 2020 Regular Session Landry
Abstract: Allows all eligible voters to vote by mail.
Present law (R.S. 18:1303) allows absentee voting for voters who expect to be out of the state or
parish on election day, who also meet specific requirements. Proposed law removes absentee
requirements for absentee voting and allows all qualified voters to vote by mail.
Present law (R.S. 18:1306(C)(1)) requires the secretary of state to deliver to the registrar in each
parish absentee by mail ballots for up to 10% of the registered voters within the parish. Proposed
law changes the percentage of vote by mail ballots to up to 15% of the registered voters within the
parish.
Present law (R.S. 18:1307(A)(2)) requires a voter to provide a reason for his request to vote
absentee. Further, requires a voter to provide the dates of his absence if he expects to be temporarily
outside of the state during the early voting period and on election day. Proposed law removes these
requirements.
Present law (R.S. 18:1307(D)) requires a hospitalized applicant to submit his application to vote
absentee by mail to the registrar of voters no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day before the election.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 18:1307(G)) allows an applicant's application to remain valid indefinitely if the
applicant is a participant in the Special Program for Handicapped Voters, able to furnish proof of a
physical disability, or has attained the age of sixty-five years or more. If the applicant's absentee by
mail ballot is returned to the registrar as undeliverable, the registrar shall notify such applicant that
his application will no longer be valid. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 18:1307(H)) allows an applicant's application to remain valid indefinitely if the
applicant is a participant in the Dept. of State Address Confidentiality Program. Proposed law
retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 18:1307(I)) requires the registrar of voters to notify the parish board of election
supervisors, if he believes that the eligibility of a voter to vote absentee by mail pursuant to present
law is based upon false or fraudulent information. Further provides, if the parish board of election
supervisors finds that the voter's eligibility to vote absentee by mail was based upon false or
fraudulent information, the board shall inform the appropriate district attorney and the registrar of
voters who shall not allow the voter to vote absentee by mail pursuant to present law. Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law (R.S. 18:1308(A)(2)(g)) provides that a mailed ballot shall be sent to a voter in an
envelope containing a ballot envelope and a return envelope. Proposed law retains present law and
specifies that a postage paid return envelope shall be provided to the voter.
(Amends R.S. 18:1301, 1302(2) and (6), 1303(A), 1305, 1306(A)(1) and (4), (B)(1) and (2), (C), (D),
(E)(1)(intro. para.) and (2)(a) 1307(A) and (D) through (H), 1307.1, 1307.2, and 1308(A)(1)(a),
(c)(i), and (d)(i) and (2)(a) and (g), 1308.1(Section heading), 1308.2, 1309(F)(3) and (H), 1310(A),
(B)(2) and (3), and (C)(1), 1311(A)(1) and (2), (B), (C), (D)(1), (2), (4)(a), and (5)(a) and (c), and
(E), and 1319; Repeals R.S. 18:1303(B) through (L) and 1307(I))