The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Tim Prather.
DIGEST
SB 486 Original 2020 Regular Session Barrow
Present law allows absentee voting for voters who expect to be out of the state or parish on election
day, who also meet specific requirements. Proposed law removes absentee requirements for absentee
voting and allows all qualified voters to vote by mail.
Present law requires the secretary of state to deliver to the registrar in each parish absentee by mail
ballots for up to 10% of the registered voters within the parish. Proposed law changes the percentage
of vote by mail ballots to up to 15% of the registered voters within the parish.
Present law requires a voter to provide a reason for his request to vote absentee. Further, requires
a voter to provide the dates of his absence if he expects to be temporarily outside of the state during
the early voting period and on election day. Proposed law removes these requirements.
Present law requires a hospitalized applicant to submit his application to vote absentee by mail to
the registrar of voters no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day before the election. Proposed law retains
present law.
Present law allows an applicant's application to remain valid indefinitely if the applicant is a
participant in the Special Program for Handicapped Voters, able to furnish proof of a physical
disability, or has attained the age of sixty-five years or more. If the applicant's absentee by mail
ballot is returned to the registrar as undeliverable, the registrar shall notify such applicant that his
application will no longer be valid. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law allows an applicant's application to remain valid indefinitely if the applicant is a
participant in the Dept. of State Address Confidentiality Program. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law requires the registrar of voters to notify the parish board of election supervisors, if he
believes that the eligibility of a voter to vote absentee by mail pursuant to present law is based upon
false or fraudulent information. Further provides, if the parish board of election supervisors finds
that the voter's eligibility to vote absentee by mail was based upon false or fraudulent information,
the board shall inform the appropriate district attorney and the registrar of voters who shall not allow
the voter to vote absentee by mail pursuant to present law. Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law provides that a mailed ballot shall be sent to a voter in an envelope containing a ballot
envelope and a return envelope. Proposed law retains present law and specifies that a postage paid
return envelope shall be provided to the voter.
Effective August 1, 2020. (Amends R.S. 18:1301, 1302(2) and (6), 1303(A), 1305, 1306(A)(1) and (4), (B)(1) and (2), (C), (D),
(E)(1)(intro. para.) and (2)(a) 1307(A) and (D) through (H), 1307.1, 1307.2, and 1308(A)(1)(a),
(c)(i), and (d)(i) and (2)(a) and (g), 1308.1(Section heading), 1308.2, 1309(F)(3) and (H), 1310(A),
(B)(2) and (3), and (C)(1), 1311(A)(1) and (2), (B), (C), (D)(1), (2), (4)(a), and (5)(a) and (c), and
(E), and 1319; Repeals R.S. 18:1303(B) through (L) and 1307(I))