DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 285 Original 2021 Regular Session James
Abstract: Changes the amount of time a voter may remain in the voting machine from no more than
three minutes to at least five minutes and authorizes election officials to allocate additional
time in an equitable manner if the ballot is lengthy or complex.
Present law provides that during early voting and on election day, a voter shall not remain in a voting
machine longer than three minutes. Provides that if a voter fails to leave a voting machine promptly
after being notified by the appropriate election official that three minutes have elapsed, the
commissioner, if on election day, shall order the voter to complete voting and leave the voting
machine, and if during early voting, the registrar or deputy registrar shall have the voter removed
from the voting machine.
Proposed law provides instead that a voter shall not remain in a voting machine for an unreasonable
amount of time. Provides that if a voter fails to leave a voting machine promptly after being notified
by the appropriate election official that a reasonable amount of time has elapsed, the commissioner,
if on election day, shall order the voter to complete voting and leave the voting machine, and if
during early voting, the registrar or deputy registrar shall have the voter removed from the voting
machine. Proposed law provides that a reasonable amount of time shall mean at least five minutes
and, if the ballot is lengthy or if it contains complex propositions or constitutional amendments, the
appropriate election officials may allocate additional time in an equitable manner.
Present law specially allows a voter receiving assistance in voting or a voter using the audio ballot
to remain in a voting machine for up to 20 minutes. Proposed law retains present law.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 18: 18:563(C)(1) and 1309(E)(4)(a))