RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 350 (SB 420) 2024 Regular Session Hodges
New law creates the crime of election fraud or forgery, which provides that a person cannot
knowingly, willfully, or intentionally:
(1)Vote or attempt to vote more than once in an election.
(2)Vote or attempt to vote, knowing that he is not qualified, or influence or attempt to
influence another to vote, knowing the voter to be unqualified or the vote to be
fraudulent.
(3)Register, vote, or attempt to register or vote, in the name of another or in an assumed
or fictitious name, or in any manner other than as provided in existing law (La.
Election Code).
(4)Forge the name of another or use a fictitious name on an affidavit or document
required under existing law (La. Election Code).
(5)Procure or submit voter registration applications that are known by the person to be
materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent.
(6)Forge, alter, add to, deface, take, destroy, or remove from proper custodial care any
book, card, record, voter registration application, election return, nomination papers,
withdrawals of candidacy, election supplies, election paraphernalia, or any affidavit
or other document required or provided for under existing law (La. Election Code),
unless required to be removed by a court of competent jurisdiction for inspection and
photostatic copying for the court record.
(7)Have in his possession an official ballot in violation of any provision of existing law
(La. Election Code).
(8)Have in his possession the registration certificate of another with intent to violate
existing law (La. Election Code).
(9)For purposes other than fulfilling the person's duties relative to registration of voters
as provided by existing law, copy or reproduce a voter registration application that
has been submitted by an applicant.
A first offense violation of new law is punishable by imprisonment, with or without hard
labor, for not more than two years, or a fine of up to $2,000, or both. A second or subsequent
offense is punishable by imprisonment at hard labor for not more than five years, or a fine
of up to $5,000, or both.
Prior law provides that existing law (La. Election Code) offenses affecting voter registration
and election fraud or forgery are punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, or
imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than two years, or both for a first
offense, or a fine of not more than $5,000 and imprisonment with hard labor for not more
than five years, or both, for subsequent violations.
New law deletes prior law but retains the same prior law penalties for violations of the new
law crime of election fraud or forgery.
Effective August 1, 2024.
(Amends R.S. 18:1461.2(B); adds R.S. 14:133.1.1)