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 592 Original 2025 Regular Session Beaullieu
Abstract: Provides for revisions to the La. Election Code.
Duties of the Secretary of State
Present law authorizes the secretary of state (secretary) to enter into cooperative agreements with the
Electronic Registration Information Center. Proposed law repeals present law and instead authorizes
the secretary to enter into written agreements with other entities.
Present law provides for actions objecting to candidacy. Proposed law provides that neither the
secretary nor any employee engaged in the administration of or charged with the custody of any
records or files of the Dept. of State shall be subject to subpoena or otherwise required to appear in
court for an objection to candidacy. Further provides that in lieu of live testimony for any action
filed, a properly executed affidavit issued by the secretary of state or his designee shall serve as
sufficient confirmation as to the accuracy of the records and files of the Dept. of State for such
purposes.
Present law provides that the secretary of state shall give a parish governing authority notification
of certain information as it relates to the delivery of voting machines. Proposed law repeals present
law.
Present law provides that a candidate or his representative may be present to observe the preparation
of testing and machines. Proposed law retains present law except to clarify that the secretary of
state's technicians, and not the registrar of voters, conducts the testing.
Voter Registration
Present law provides that any voter whose registration has been canceled because the voter has
registered in another parish or in another state, if such voter makes application to register in the
parish in which he was previously registered to vote within three years after the cancellation of his
registration in that parish, he may have his previous registration reinstated.
Proposed law removes the requirement that the registrant had been registered within the prior three
years.
Present law requires a registered voter to submit certain documentation to change his name. Proposed law authorizes the voter to present his La. driver's license or La. special identification card
or social security number.
Present law prescribes the names that a married woman may be registered in. Proposed law provides
that a married person may be registered using the surname of either or both spouses as a surname,
or in a hyphenated combination thereof and allows the person to use his La. driver's license or La.
special identification card or social security number to make the change.
Polling Locations
Present law provides for the relocation of polling places during a state of emergency. Proposed law
retains present law and further provides for the consolidation of polling places or providing for
multiple polling places in a precinct during a state of emergency.
Present law provides for the consolidation of polling places. Proposed law clarifies that the
consolidation applies so that when a single location serves as a polling place of more than one
precinct, the consolidation may provide for the single polling place to serve every precinct assigned
to that location.
Commissioners and watchers
Present law provides for qualifications for commissioners and alternate commissioners. Proposed
law retains present law.
Present law provides that an alternate commissioner who does not replace a commissioner shall have
the same powers and duties as a watcher. Proposed law repeals present law.
Proposed law provides that when the number of commissioners for each precinct in an election
called on a general election date is less than the number of commissioners chosen for the primary
election date, the appropriate number of commissioners shall be chosen from the list of
commissioners who worked at the precinct for the primary election.
Proposed law provides that no person who is required to register as a sex offender or child predator
may serve as a commissioner or commissioner-in-charge. Proposed law retains present law and
further provides the same for watchers.
Present law provides that the parish board of election supervisors shall meet at 10:00 a.m. on the 29
th
day before a primary election. Proposed law instead provides that the parish board shall meet on the
second day after the close of registration.
Present law authorizes political parties to designate super watchers. Proposed law further authorizes
political parties to designate alternate super watchers and that both a political party super watcher
and an alternate political party super watcher may serve on election day, except that the political
party super watcher and alternate political party super watcher may not serve at the same time and
no more political party super watchers and alternate political party super watchers may serve at one time than the number of political party super watchers otherwise allowed to serve.
Ballots
Present law provides for the arrangement of the ballot. Proposed law changes the arrangement of
the ballot to account for closed party primary candidates and provides that candidates nominated by
nominating petition are listed alphabetically by the first word of the political principle designated
in the notice of candidacy.
Present law provides for the arrangement of ballots for recall elections and provides specific
instructions on how the ballot shall appear. Proposed law retains the substance of the ballot without
the specific instructions.
Proposed law provides that if a voter is notified by the registrar of voters in his parish of a deficiency
on his absentee by mail ballot certificate that must be cured, he may obtain a replacement ballot from
the registrar and the registrar may make the ballot available via hand delivery to the voter or an
immediate family member of the voter.
For the presidential preference primary election, present law authorizes the state central committee
of a recognized political party to allow in its bylaws for electors who are not affiliated with any
political party to cast a vote on the ballot of such recognized political party. Proposed law repeals
present law.
Present law provides that the board shall announce certain results after counting absentee by mail
and early voting ballots. Proposed law provides that the board shall post, rather than announce, the
results.
Election Dates
Present law provides for the calculation of dates related to the administration of elections. Proposed
law provides that if a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline shall
be the following day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
Present law provides for prohibited election days. Proposed law provides that the three days
following Thanksgiving Day are prohibited election days.
Present law provides for the presidential preference primary election in 2020. Proposed law repeals
present law.
Campaign Finance
Present law authorizes the governor to receive contributions for gubernatorial transition and
inauguration and requires the governor to report within 60 days following the inauguration and
annually thereafter to report certain information regarding such contributions. Proposed law
provides that each report shall be complete through January thirty-first. Closed party primaries
Proposed law provides a vacancy in a party primary office that may not be filled by appointment,
designation, or in accordance with the timeframes required by law shall constitute an emergency. If
the vacancy may not be filled in a timely manner in accordance with the election dates provided by
present law, the governor may proclaim a state of emergency for purposes of calling a special
election to fill the vacancy. Following the issuance of the emergency proclamation, the authority
required by law to call a special election to fill the vacancy in office shall, in consultation with and
with the certification of the secretary, issue a proclamation ordering a special election. The
proclamation ordering the special election shall include the dates for qualifying, early voting, the
primary election, the general election, and at least one party primary election and make all provisions
necessary to conduct an election in a timely manner notwithstanding the dates, timing, and delays
otherwise provided by present law.
Proposed law designates dates to be used for the first and second party primary election for a special
election called to fill a vacancy in a party primary office.
Present law provides that only certain political parties may participate in closed party primaries and
designates such parties as "recognized political parties" for purposes of closed party primaries.
Proposed law instead provides that such parties are designated as "major political parties".
Present law provides that voters not affiliated with a political party may vote in a party primary.
Proposed law provides that if an unaffiliated voter chooses to vote in the first party primary of one
political party, the unaffiliated voter shall not vote in the second party primary of another political
party.
Proposed law provides that if an unaffiliated voter receives an absentee ballot for the first party
primary for a certain recognized political party in an election for a party primary office and would
like to choose the ballot for the first party primary of a different recognized political party before his
ballot has been cast and returned to the registrar, he may obtain a replacement ballot from the
registrar.
Present law provides that a candidate in a primary election may withdraw from the election by filing
notice of his withdrawal with the secretary prior to 4:30 p.m. on the seventh day after the close of
the qualifying period. Proposed law further provides that a candidate in a first party primary election
may withdraw from the election by filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary prior to 4:30
p.m. on the seventh day after the close of the qualifying period.
Present law provides that a candidate in a general election may withdraw from the election by filing
notice of his withdrawal with the secretary prior to 4:30 p.m. on the ninth day after the date of the
primary election. Proposed law further provides that a candidate in a general election for a party
primary office may withdraw from the election by filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary
prior to 4:30 p.m. on the ninth day after the second party primary election date, regardless of whether
a second party primary election is held. Present law authorizes persons entitled to vote absentee by mail to request in his application for an
absentee ballot for a primary election that an absentee ballot for the succeeding general election be
sent to him when such ballots become available for distribution. Proposed law provides that a party
primary election and the succeeding general election for a party primary office are two separate
elections and that separate requests shall be made to vote absentee by mail for the party primary
election and for the succeeding general election. Further provides that the registrar shall not send an
absentee ballot for a closed party primary election for which the voter is not eligible.
Present law provides that provisions related to closed party primaries adopted in the 2024 First
Extraordinary Session of the Legislature and the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature are
effective for purposes of qualifying for elections in 2026 and for other activities and requirements
related to the conduct of elections in 2026 shall become effective on Aug. 1, 2026 and shall become
effective for all other purposes on January 1, 2025.
Proposed law instead provides that provisions of present law related to closed party primaries are
effective for purposes of qualifying for elections in 2026 and for other activities and requirements
related to the conduct of elections in 2026 shall become effective on June 12, 2025 and for all other
purposes on January 1, 2025.
Miscellaneous
Present law requires the State Board of Election Supervisors (state board) to annually report to the
House and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee
its findings, observations, and recommendations concerning all aspects of elections no later than
January 31 of each year. Proposed law instead requires the report be submitted no later than 45 days
prior to the start of each regular session of the legislature.
Present law provides that participants in the nursing home early voting program shall remain enrolled
in the program indefinitely except if certain actions are taken. Proposed law provides that if a
notification letter sent by the registrar of voters to the participant is returned as undeliverable, the
registrar shall mail an address confirmation notice to the voter.
Present law provides for the allocation of voting machines for each voting precinct. Provides that
three machines shall be allocated to each precinct where more than 1,000 voters but not more than
1,400 voters were registered to vote and four machines shall be allocated where more than 1,400
voters are registered. Proposed law instead provides that three machines shall be allocated to
precincts where more than 1,000 and less than 1,800 voters are registered to vote and four machines
shall be allocated where more than 1,800 voters.
Present law provides a definition of "immediate family". Proposed law includes grandparents and
grandchildren as "immediate family".
Proposed law defines "affidavit".
Effectiveness Provisions of proposed law related to closed party primaries are effective for purposes of qualifying
for elections in 2026 and for other activities and requirements related to the conduct of elections in
2026 shall become effective on June 12, 2025 and for all other purposes on January 1, 2025.
Provisions of proposed law not related to closed party primaries effective August 1, 2025.
Effective upon signature of the governor.
(Amends R.S. 18:2(4), 18(D), 25(B), 104(C)(1)(intro. para.), 108(A) and (C), 111, 154(C)(2)(e),
192(A)(1) and (2), 401.2(A) and (B)(1), (2), and (3), 402(A)(1), (D), (E)(1), (E)(1)(intro. para.), and
(G)(1), 410.1-410.3, 410.4(B), 410.5(A), 410.6(B)(1) and (2), 410.7(A), (B)(1) and (2), and (C),
410.8, 410.9(A), 425.1, 426(A) and (B), 434(A)(1), 435(A)(4)(b) and (c) and (B)(1), 501(A)(1),
(B)(1), and (C), 531(B), 533(A)(2) and (B)(1), 534(A) and (B)(1) and (2)(a), 551(B), (C)(1)(c)(i) and
(2), and (D), 553(E)(2), 571(A)(8), 573(E)(1) and (4), 1259(B)(6) and (C), 1279, 1280.21(B),
1285(B)(1)(a), 1286.1, 1300(C)(1), 1300.7(A), 1300.11, 1306(E)(1)(f), 1307(E), 1309(D)(1)(c) and
(d) and (2), (E)(1), and (N)(2), (5), and (7), 1309.1(A), 1313(F), (H)(3), and (K)(1), 1313.1(F), (I)(2),
and (L)(1), 1315(D)(1), 1333(D)(2) and (E), 1363(A)(3) and (4), and 1501.3(C)(intro. para.); Adds
R.S. 18:2(20), 401.1(H), 1280.31, 1286(C), 1307(L), 1310(E), 1333(D)(3), and 1409(K); Repeals
R.S. 18:1280.21(C) and (D), 1280.21.1, 1371(A)(2)(c), and ยง2 of Act No. 640 of the 2024 R.S.)