The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Matt DeVille.
DIGEST
SB 397 Original 2020 Regular Session Bernard
Present law provides that a member of a parish board of election supervisors will receive
compensation for not more than six days spent in the performance of his duties in preparing for and
supervising each election held in the parish and for not more than seven days for a presidential or
regularly scheduled congressional general election.
Proposed law provides for a member of a parish board of election supervisors in a parish where the
parish board of election supervisors tabulates and counts absentee by mail and early voting ballots
in accordance with proposed law to receive compensation for not more than seven days for a primary
or general election and for not more than eight days for a presidential or regularly scheduled
congressional general election.
Present law provides that a parish board of election supervisors will be responsible for the counting
and tabulation of all absentee by mail and early voting ballots in the parish and may utilize parish
board commissioners to assist with counting and tabulation if it determines they are necessary.
Proposed law provides that the parish board of election supervisors will be responsible for the
preparation, verification, counting and tabulation of all absentee by mail and early voting ballots in
the parish and may utilize parish board commissioners to assist with preparation, verification,
counting, and tabulation if it determines they are necessary. In a parish that has less than 1,000
absentee by mail ballots returned to the registrar of voters for a primary or general election, the board
will conduct the tabulation and counting. In a parish that has 1,000 or more absentee by mail ballots
returned to the registrar of voters for a primary or general election, the board may conduct the
counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots and must notify the secretary of state in writing
no later than five days prior to a primary or general election that they will conduct the tabulation and
counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots pursuant to proposed law.
Proposed law provides that parishes with 1,000 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 ballots, that the secretary of state may provide security and
technical assistance, and for procedures to determine the validity, security, transportation and
recounting of the ballots.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 18:1313, 1314(B)(1) and (C)(1)(a), and 1315(B); adds R.S. 18:423(J) and 1313.1)