ENROLLED
ACT No. 528
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1082 (Substitute for House Bill No. 720 by Representative Gaines)
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAINES
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 18:401.2(B)(5) and 401.4, relative to election procedures; to provide for
3 election procedures during a state of emergency; to provide to changes of polling
4 places; to provide relative to emergency plans; to provide for an effective date; and
5 to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 18:401.2(B)(5) and 401.4 are hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §401.2. Relocation of polling places; state of emergency
9 * * *
10 B. When a polling place is relocated pursuant to Subsection A of this
11 Section, the clerk of court in conjunction with the secretary of state shall give
12 adequate notice of the change of the location to each voter registered to vote at that
13 polling place and to each candidate to be voted on at that polling place, if practicable,
14 in the following manner:
15 * * *
16 (5) The secretary of state shall post a list of all changed polling place
17 locations on the secretary of state's website.
18 * * *
19 §401.4. Emergency actions by the secretary of state
20 A. After the issuance of an initial proclamation or executive order by the
21 governor declaring a state of emergency within forty-five days prior to an election
22 and if the secretary of state determines that such emergency impairs an election that
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 1082 ENROLLED
1 may otherwise be held except for problems with respect to the relocation or
2 consolidation of polling places within the parish, potential shortages of
3 commissioners, or shortages of voting machines, the secretary of state shall submit
4 notice of such problems and proposed solutions to both the House and Senate
5 committees on governmental affairs as well as the governor's office. Following such
6 notice, the secretary of state shall take necessary actions to ensure the successful
7 execution of the election such as making reasonable adjustments to deadlines and
8 provisions of equipment, staffing, and other resources to ensure a safe, secure, and
9 accessible elections.
10 B. Within fifteen days following the election, the Department of State shall
11 provide a report to the legislature of actions taken pursuant to this Section.
12 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on October 1, 2022.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.