RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 354 (SB 397) 2020 Regular Session Bernard
Prior law provided that a member of a parish board of election supervisors may 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.
New 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 new law to receive compensation for not more than eight
days for a presidential or regularly scheduled congressional general election and for not more
than seven days for any other primary or general election.
Prior law provided that a parish board of election supervisors is 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. New law retains prior
law.
New law provides that parishes with 1,000 or more absentee by mail ballots returned may
conduct the preparation and verification process for the tabulation and counting of absentee
by mail and early voting ballots the day before the election and conduct the tabulation and
counting of those ballots on election day. Provides procedures to determine the validity,
security, transportation, and recounting of the ballots. Provides that the secretary of state may
provide security or technical assistance.
New law provides that a parish that has less than 1,000 absentee by mail ballots returned
shall conduct the tabulation and counting on election day in accordance with prior law as
well as the preparation and verification of such ballots.
New law provides that in a parish that has 1,000 or more absentee by mail ballots, the parish
board must notify the secretary of state in writing no later than five days prior to the election
that it will conduct the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots
pursuant to prior law or new law.
Effective upon signature of the governor (June 12, 2020).
(Amends R.S. 18:1313, 1314(B)(1) and (C)(1)(a), and 1315(B); adds R.S. 18:423(J) and
1313.1)