Louisiana House Bill HCR30

Louisiana 2020 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/16/20
• Refer: 3/31/20

Caption

Suspends certain provisions of law relative to the time by which a voter must be registered as affiliated with a particular political party to be eligible to vote for candidates for membership on that party's committees

Impact

The immediate effect of HCR30, if adopted, is to allow voters who change their party affiliation or newly register to participate in elections for party committee positions without the usual waiting period. This broadens inclusiveness in the electoral process and assures that individuals can vote as per their current party affiliation without unnecessary delays. This change, temporary until the sixtieth day after the adjournment of the 2021 Regular Session, can facilitate greater participation from voters who may switch affiliations close to elections.

Summary

House Concurrent Resolution 30 (HCR30) aims to suspend certain provisions of Louisiana's voting laws regarding the time a voter must be registered as affiliated with a political party to participate in voting for candidates for that party's committee. The resolution specifically targets the existing law, R.S. 18:521(B)(2), which currently states that voters must be affiliated with a political party for a specified period before being eligible to vote for party candidates. This suspension is intended to address conflicts with the provisions concerning the close of registration records prior to elections outlined in R.S. 18:135(A).

Sentiment

The sentiment around HCR30 tends to be favorable among supporters who believe it removes unnecessary barriers to voter participation. Advocates argue that suspending the provisions enhances democratic processes by allowing voters to express their current political preferences without being penalized by rigid timelines. Conversely, some critics may express concern about the haste of the measure and the potential for inconsistent voter registration records, suggesting that it could complicate the election process.

Contention

Notable contention around HCR30 stems from the balance between facilitating voter participation and maintaining orderly electoral processes. Critics may argue that suspending the affiliated voter registration period could lead to a surge of changes right before elections, which might disrupt planning and organization for party candidates. Additionally, there are underlying concerns about ensuring that the election system remains robust and that all voters have equal access while preserving the integrity of party selection processes.