HLS 20RS-863 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 576
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLARD
VOTERS/VOTING: Provides with respect to maintaining voter registration lists
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:193(E) and (H) and 197, relative to cancellation of voter
3 registrations; to provide for the period of time a voter must be maintained on the
4 inactive list of voters; to provide for the time for cancelling registrations of voters
5 on the inactive list of voters; to provide for the time for transfer to the inactive voter
6 list; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 18:193(E) and (H) and 197 are hereby amended and reenacted to
9read as follows:
10 §193. Challenge and cancellation of registration; notice; procedures
11 * * *
12 E.(1) A voter on the inactive list of voters who fails to respond to the address
13 confirmation card shall remain on the inactive list of voters until his address is
14 confirmed in accordance with the procedures set forth in R.S. 18:196 or not later than
15 no less than a period of two four regularly scheduled federal general elections, at
16 which time the registrar shall may cancel the voter's registration.
17 (2) When a registrar cancels a voter's registration based on the voter's failure
18 to confirm his address within the time described in this Subsection, the registrar shall
19 notify the voter of such cancellation by notice sent by forwardable mail to the last
20 address on file for the voter.
21 * * *
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-863 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 576
1 H.(1) If the registrar determines that a voter's registration has been cancelled
2 through error of the registrar, the registrar shall reinstate the voter's registration as
3 though the cancellation had never occurred and shall notify the registrant of the
4 reinstatement.
5 (2) At least once prior to every regularly scheduled federal primary election,
6 the registrar shall conduct an audit of the inactive list of voters to ensure its accuracy
7 and to ensure that no voter has been erroneously placed on the list.
8 * * *
9 §197. Registration; cancellation
10 A. No registrar of voters shall cancel the registration of any voter in his
11 parish between any primary election and the subsequent general election occurring
12 in that parish as a result of any of the processes authorized by this Part, except in the
13 case of a person who has been fraudulently placed upon the registration records or
14 in the case of a person whose registration is canceled pursuant to the annual canvass
15 conducted by the registrar.
16 B. Notwithstanding Subsection A of this Section, the registration of any
17 voter on the inactive list of voters may not be cancelled within one hundred twenty
18 days prior to an election in the jurisdiction where the voter was last registered.
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 576 Original 2020 Regular Session Willard
Abstract: Provides for changes to when a voter's registration may be cancelled.
Present law provides that the registration of a voter, who is on the inactive list, may not be
cancelled unless the voter has been on the inactive list for a period of two regularly
scheduled federal general elections.
Proposed law changes the period that a voter must be on the inactive list, prior to having his
registration cancelled, from two regularly scheduled federal general elections to four
regularly scheduled federal general elections.
Present law provides that a voter's registration shall not be cancelled between any primary
election and the subsequent general election, except in the case of a fraud or in the case of
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-863 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 576
a person whose registration is cancelled pursuant to the annual canvass conducted by the
registrar.
Proposed law provides that notwithstanding present law, a voter on the inactive list may not
have his registration cancelled within 120 days before an election in the jurisdiction where
the voter was last registered.
(Amends R.S. 18:193(E) and (H) and 197)
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.