SLS 20RS-471 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 161
BY SENATOR SMITH
ELECTION CODE. Permits a candidate for elective office to withdraw from the election
and have his name removed from the ballot up to five days before early voting begins.
(7/1/20)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 18:501(A)(1) and (B)(1) and the introductory paragraph of
3 552(A), relative to elections; to provide relative to the withdrawal of candidates from
4 an election; to provide with respect to election materials; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 18:501(A)(1) and (B)(1) and the introductory paragraph of 552(A)
8 are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 §501. Procedure for withdrawal
10 A.(1) A candidate in a primary election may withdraw from the election by
11 filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary of state prior to 4:30 p.m. on the
12 seventh day after the close of the qualifying period no later than the fifth day prior
13 to the first day of early voting. The notice of withdrawal shall be signed by the
14 candidate and duly acknowledged by him before an officer authorized to administer
15 oaths.
16 * * *
17 B.(1) A candidate in a general election may withdraw from the election by
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 161
SLS 20RS-471 ORIGINAL
1 filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary of state prior to 4:30 p.m. on the
2 ninth day after the date of the primary election no later than the fifth day prior to
3 the first day of early voting. The notice of withdrawal shall be signed by the
4 candidate and duly acknowledged by him before an officer authorized to administer
5 oaths.
6 * * *
7 §552. Election materials
8 A. Materials shall be furnished .At least twenty-two days before a primary
9 election and as soon as possible for a general election no earlier than four days
10 prior to the first day of early voting:
11 * * *
12 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2020.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Matt DeVille.
DIGEST
SB 161 Original 2020 Regular Session Smith
Present law provides that a candidate in a primary election may withdraw by filing notice
with the secretary of state prior to 4:30 p.m. on the seventh day after the close of the
qualifying period.
Proposed law provides that a candidate in a primary election may withdraw by filing notice
with the secretary of state prior to 4:30 p.m. no later than the fifth day prior to the first day
of early voting.
Present law provides that a candidate in a general election may withdraw by filing notice
with the secretary of state prior to 4:30 p.m. on the ninth day after the date of the primary
election.
Proposed law provides that a candidate in a general election may withdraw by filing notice
with the secretary of state prior to 4:30 p.m. no later than the fifth day prior to the first day
of early voting.
Present law provides that election materials will be furnished at least 22 days before a
primary election and as soon as possible for a general election.
Proposed law provides that election materials will be furnished no earlier than four days
prior to the first day of early voting.
Effective July 1, 2020.
(Amends R.S. 18:501(A)(1) and (B)(1) and 552(A)(intro para))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.