RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 210 (SB 75) 2020 Regular Session Mizell
Prior law regarding absentee election ballots, provided that an absentee by mail ballot
envelop flap shall contain a line for the handwritten signature of one witness and a line for
the printed name of the witness. Provided that the voter shall sign the certificate in the
presence of one witness and his certificate shall be made under penalty of perjury for
providing false or fraudulent information.
New law retains prior law and prohibits any person other than an immediate family member
of the voter to witness more than one certificate of a voter.
Prior law provided that a person qualified to vote absentee by mail as provided by prior law
may apply to the registrar by letter stating:
(1)The election or elections for which he requests an absentee ballot.
(2)The reason for his request to vote absentee by mail and attaching any supporting
documentation.
(3)The address to which the absentee ballot or ballots shall be sent.
(4)The ward and precinct in which the person is qualified to vote, if known.
(5)The date of birth of the voter.
(6)The maiden name of the voter's mother or other identifying information provided in
the voter's application for registration.
(7)The street address in the parish where the voter resides.
(8)If the person requests that a ballot for a general election be sent in addition to a ballot
for the primary, he shall declare in writing to the registrar that he will be eligible to
vote absentee by mail in the general election.
New law provides that the absentee by mail ballots will not be sent to the following
addresses:
(1)The address of a political party.
(2)The residential, business, or campaign address of a candidate, unless the address is
for the candidate's ballot or a ballot of an immediate family member of the candidate.
(3)A business address, unless the business address is the mailing address on file with the
registrar of voters or an address at which the person regularly receives mail.
(4)The address of a political organization as defined in 26 U.S.C. 527.
(5)The address of an organization which has tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3)
or (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, unless the organization address is the mailing
address on file with the registrar of voters or an address at which the person regularly
receives mail.
Effective upon signature of the governor (June 11, 2020).
(Amends R.S. 18:1306(E)(2)(a) and 1307(A))