Louisiana House Bill HB592 Latest Draft

                            HLS 25RS-258	ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 592
BY REPRESENTATIVE BEAULLIEU
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
ELECTION CODE:  Makes revisions to the Louisiana Election Code
1	AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:2(4), 18(D), 25(B), 104(C)(1)(introductory paragraph),
3 108(A) and (C), 111, 154(C)(2)(e), 192(A)(1) and (2), 401.2(A) and (B)(1), (2), and
4 (3), 402(A)(1), (D), (E)(1), (E)(1)(introductory paragraph), and (G)(1), 410.1 through
5 410.3, 410.4(B), 410.5(A), 410.6(B)(1) and (2), 410.7(A), (B)(1) and (2), and (C),
6 410.8, 410.9(A), 425.1, 426(A) and (B), 434(A)(1), 435(A)(4)(b) and (c) and (B)(1),
7 501(A)(1), (B)(1), and (C), 531(B), 533(A)(2) and (B)(1), 534(A) and (B)(1) and
8 (2)(a), 551(B), (C)(1)(c)(i) and (2), and (D), 553(E)(2), 571(A)(8), 573(E)(1) and (4),
9 1259(B)(6) and (C), 1279, 1280.21(B), 1285(B)(1)(a), 1286.1, 1300(C)(1),
10 1300.7(A), 1300.11, 1306(E)(1)(f), 1307(E), 1309(D)(1)(c) and (d) and (2), (E)(1),
11 and (N)(2), (5), and (7), 1309.1(A), 1313(F), (H)(3), and (K)(1), 1313.1(F), (I)(2),
12 and (L)(1), 1315(D)(1), 1333(D)(2) and (E), 1363(A)(3) and (4), and
13 1501.3(C)(introductory paragraph), to enact R.S. 18:2(20), 401.1(H), Part IV of
14 Chapter 6 of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of
15 R.S. 18:1280.31, 1286(C), 1307(L), 1310(E), 1333(D)(3), and 1409(K), and to repeal
16 R.S. 18:1280.21(C) and (D), 1280.21.1, 1371(A)(2)(c), and Section 2 of Act No. 640
17 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature, relative to the revision of the system
18 of laws providing for elections; to make revisions to the Louisiana Election Code;
19 to provide for agreements for sharing voter registration information; to provide for
20 the annual report of the State Board of Election Supervisors; to provide for affidavits
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1 and attestations; to provide for the reinstatement of voter registration; to provide for
2 name changes; to provide for address data for annual canvas; to provide for polling
3 places during a state of emergency; to provide for consolidation of polling places;
4 to provide for election dates and the calculation of days related thereto; to provide
5 for commissioner qualifications and selection; to provide for alternate political party
6 super watchers; to provide for ballot arrangement; to provide for voting in the
7 presidential preference primary election; to provide for testing of voting machines;
8 to provide for replacement absentee by mail ballots; to provide for tabulation and
9 counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots; to provide for the validity of
10 ballots deemed challenged; to provide for address confirmation for nursing home
11 early voting program participants; to provide for the allocation of voting machines;
12 to provide for the requirements of the secretary of state related to an objection to
13 candidacy; to provide for the filling of vacancies in closed party primary offices; to
14 provide for emergency elections; to provide for closed party primary ballot selection
15 by an unaffiliated voter; to provide for procedural requirements as they relate to
16 closed party primary elections; to provide for the effectiveness of Act No. 1 of the
17 2024 First Extraordinary Session of the Legislature and Act No. 640 of the 2024
18 Regular Session of the Legislature and specific provisions thereof; to provide for
19 definitions; to correct terminology; and to provide for related matters.
20Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
21 Section 1.  R.S. 18:2(4), 18(D), 25(B), 104(C)(1)(introductory paragraph), 108(A)
22and (C), 111, 154(C)(2)(e), 401.2(A) and (B)(1), (2), and (3), 402(E)(1)(introductory
23paragraph), and (G)(1), 425.1, 426(A) and (B), 434(A)(1), 435(A)(4)(b) and (c), 531(B),
24533(A)(2) and (B)(1), 534(A) and (B)(1) and (2)(a), 551(B), (C)(1)(c)(i) and (2), and (D),
25553(E)(2), 571(A)(8), 573(E)(1) and (4), 1259(B)(6) and (C), 1280.21(B), 1285(B)(1)(a),
261286.1, 1300(C)(1), 1300.7(A), 1300.11, 1306(E)(1)(f), 1309(D)(1)(c) and (d) and (2),
27(E)(1), and (N)(2), 1309.1(A), 1313(F), (H)(3), and (K)(1), 1313.1(F), (I)(2), and (L)(1),
281315(D)(1), 1333(D)(2) and (E), 1363(A)(3) and (4), and 1501.3(C)(introductory paragraph)
29are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 18:2(20), Part IV of Chapter 6 of Title 18 of the
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1Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 18:1280.31, 1286(C), 1333(D)(3),
2and 1409(K) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
3 §2.  Definitions
4	As used in this Code, the following words and terms shall have the meanings
5 hereinafter ascribed to each, unless the context clearly indicates another meaning:
6	*          *          *
7	(4)  "Immediate family" means the individual's children, the spouses of his
8 children, his brothers and their spouses, his sisters and their spouses, his parents, his
9 spouse, and the parents of his spouse, his grandparents, and his grandchildren.
10	*          *          *
11	(20)  "Affidavit" means an oath or affirmation signed by the affiant before
12 a notary public, or before a commissioner-in-charge, commissioner, registrar of
13 voters, deputy registrar of voters, early voting commissioner, or secretary of state
14 election staff, as specifically required in this Title.
15	*          *          *
16 §18.  Secretary of state; powers and duties
17	*          *          *
18	D.  The secretary of state may enter into cooperative agreements with other
19 states or the Electronic Registration Information Center written agreements with
20 other entities to share voter registration information or data for purposes of
21 determining whether a voter is registered in more than one state and for the voter list 
22 maintenance of the state voter registration computer system.  The secretary of state
23 shall include in any such cooperative agreement a provision for the privacy of the
24 information or data that complies fully with applicable state and federal law.
25	*          *          *
26 §25.  Annual reports
27	*          *          *
28	B.  The board shall annually report to the House and Governmental Affairs
29 Committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate and Governmental
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1 Affairs Committee of the Senate its findings, observations, and recommendations
2 concerning all aspects of elections in this state.  The report shall be submitted no
3 later than January thirty-first each year forty-five days prior to the start of each
4 regular session of the legislature, and shall include but shall not be limited to the
5 following subjects: election laws in general, registration procedures, election
6 procedures, election officials, voting machines, tabulation and transmission of
7 election returns, procedures used for casting and counting absentee by mail and early
8 voting ballots, and any other aspect of elections the board deems appropriate.
9	*          *          *
10 §104.  Application for registration; form
11	*          *          *
12	C.(1)  The form shall inform the applicant of the penalty for violation of
13 applicable laws relating to registration of voters and shall contain an affidavit
14 attestation to be subscribed, through a handwritten signature, attesting to each of the
15 following:
16	*          *          *
17 §108.  Prior registration; surrender of certificate or notice of registration before new
18	registration; change of place of registration
19	A.  If the registrant's application indicates that the applicant previously
20 registered as a voter in any other parish, and if the previous voter registration
21 certificate or notice of registration is available, then before making a new registration
22 the registrar shall require the applicant to surrender his previous certificate or notice
23 for cancellation.  The registrar shall promptly notify the registrar of the parish in
24 which the applicant has registered previously, through the statewide voter
25 registration system, of the present registration.  The other registrar shall verify the
26 cancellation of the voter's registration in the other parish; however, the cancellation
27 shall not be made as long as the registrant has the right to vote in the parish of his
28 former residence as provided in R.S. 18:110(C).
29	*          *          *
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1	C.  For any voter whose registration has been canceled because the voter has
2 registered in another parish or in another state, if such voter makes application to
3 register in the parish in which he was previously registered to vote within three years
4 after the cancellation of his registration in that parish, and the registrar determines
5 that he is qualified to register to vote in that parish, the voter's information in the
6 statewide voter registration system from his previous registration shall be reinstated,
7 except that any necessary changes shall be made to such information, including but
8 not limited to the voter's new address, and he shall receive an updated certificate or
9 notice of registration.
10	*          *          *
11 §111.  Change of name or signature; married persons
12	A.  In order to remain a legal registrant, a person who changes his name by
13 virtue of a judgment of court shall produce in the presence of or, if required, file with
14 the registrar or any person authorized to accept voter registration applications a
15 certified copy of the judgment, his Louisiana driver's license, Louisiana special
16 identification card, or social security number, or his affidavit attestation setting forth
17 the pertinent facts containing the change of name.
18	B.  A married woman, at her option, person may be registered in her maiden
19 name, her present husband's name, using the surname of either or both spouses as a
20 surname, or in a hyphenated combination thereof.  If divorced, widowed, or
21 remarried, she the applicant may be registered in her maiden name using his
22 surname, in the surname of her the deceased or former or present husband spouse,
23 or in a hyphenated combination thereof.  A change of name allowed by this
24 Subsection shall be made by producing in the presence of the  A person who changes
25 his name by virtue of marriage shall submit a voter registration application to the
26 registrar or other person authorized to accept voter registration applications her
27 affidavit stating that contains the applicant's social security number, valid Louisiana
28 driver's license number or Louisiana special identification card number, or affidavit
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1 setting forth the name under which she the applicant desires to be registered as
2 allowed by this Section.
3	C.  If a registered voter, subsequent to his registration, is no longer capable
4 of signing his name without using a mark, he shall file an affidavit, meeting the
5 requirements of R.S. 18:200, attestation with the registrar of voters attesting to that
6 fact and stating the reason for such a change in signature.
7	*          *          *
8 §154.  Records open to inspection; copying; exceptions
9	*          *          *
10	C.
11	*          *          *
12	(2)
13	*          *          *
14	(e)  The provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall not apply to
15 voter registration information or data transmitted to a state or the Electronic
16 Registration Information Center transmitted to another entity pursuant to a written
17 agreement for purposes of determining whether a voter is registered to vote in more
18 than one state and for the voter list maintenance of the state voter registration
19 computer system.
20	*          *          *
21 §192.  Annual canvass; costs
22	A.(1)  No later than June thirtieth, the registrar of voters of each parish in
23 conjunction with the Department of State shall annually canvass the names of the
24 registrants in all precincts in the parish.  Failure of the registrar to conduct an annual
25 canvass as provided in this Subsection shall constitute willful misconduct relating
26 to his official duty for the purposes of R.S. 18:53.  The Department of State shall use
27 the United States Postal Service or its licensee address data obtained from another
28 state or other entity pursuant to a written agreement to verify the names and
29 addresses of the registrants in all precincts in the state.  A verification by the United
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1 States Postal Service or its licensee of address data shall constitute a valid canvass
2 of the registered voter.
3	(2)  In conducting the verification, if the United States Postal Service or its
4 licensee provides the obtained address data indicates a corrected address, the
5 Department of State shall furnish the corrected address to the appropriate registrar
6 of voters.  Upon receiving a corrected address inside the parish, either the
7 Department of State or the registrar of voters shall update the voter's address on the
8 statewide registration system and mail a new voter information card to the voter
9 using the corrected address provided and an address confirmation notice as provided
10 in R.S. 18:193.  If the new voter information card using the corrected address is
11 returned to the registrar and the voter has failed to return the address confirmation
12 notice, the registrar shall consider the address not corrected.  The registrar shall
13 change his records to reflect the prior address on file for that voter.  If the corrected
14 address is outside of the parish, the registrar of voters shall not make the change on
15 his records and shall send an address confirmation notice as provided in R.S. 18:193.
16	*          *          *
17 §401.2.  Relocation of Change to polling places; state of emergency
18	A.  Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:425.1, 534, 535, 536, and 537,
19 1286, and 1286.1, if any polling place is determined by the clerk of court in
20 conjunction with the secretary of state to be destroyed, inaccessible, or unsafe due
21 to an emergency or common disaster occurring before or during a regularly
22 scheduled or special election, the secretary of state may issue a certification of a state
23 of emergency allowing the relocation, or other change, of any such polling place,
24 including consolidation of polling places or providing for multiple polling places in
25 a precinct, when such action would allow voting to continue without the necessity
26 of the issuance of an executive order by the governor for a suspension or delay
27 pursuant to R.S. 18:401.1(B).  Upon issuance of such a certification, the clerk of
28 court and the presiding officer of the parish governing authority shall relocate
29 implement the necessary change for any such polling place.  The If relocated, the
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1 polling place shall be relocated to the nearest feasible and accessible location as
2 determined by the secretary of state, upon the recommendation of the clerk of court
3 in conjunction with the presiding officer of the parish governing authority.
4	B.  When a polling place is relocated changed pursuant to Subsection A of
5 this Section, the clerk of court in conjunction with the secretary of state shall give
6 adequate notice of the change of the location to each voter registered to vote at that
7 polling place and to each candidate to be voted on at that polling place, if practicable,
8 in the following manner:
9	(1)  Each candidate shall be given immediate notice by telephone or by
10 electronic means, and by certified mail where reasonable time exists, of the new
11 location of any polling places that have been relocated.
12	(2)  A sign shall be posted at any former polling place directing voters to the
13 new location of the polling place, if applicable and practicable.
14	(3)  An employee of the parish governing authority shall be stationed at any
15 former polling place, if applicable and practicable, for the purpose of directing
16 potential voters to the new location of the polling place.  Such employee shall be
17 required to take the constitutional oath or affirmation.  The clerk of court shall
18 administer the oath.
19	*          *          *
20 §402.  Dates of primary and general elections
21	*          *          *
22	E.  Special elections to fill newly created office or vacancy in office.  An
23 election to fill a newly created office or vacancy in an existing office, except the
24 office of representative in congress, shall be held on the dates fixed by the
25 appropriate authority in the proclamation ordering a special election as follows:
26	(1)  A special primary election shall be held on the first of the following days
27 that is after the date on which the proclamation calling the special primary election
28 was issued, provided that the proclamation was issued at least four weeks prior to the
29 opening of the qualifying period for the special primary election.  If this deadline
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1 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline shall be the following
2 day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday:
3	*          *          *
4	G.  Prohibited days.  (1)  No election of any kind shall be held in this state on
5 any of the days of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat
6 Torah, the first two days and the last two days of Passover, Shavuot, Tish'a B'Av, the
7 two days preceding Labor Day, or the three days preceding Easter, or the three days
8 following Thanksgiving Day.  If the date of any election falls on any of the
9 above-named days, the election shall be held on the same weekday day of the
10 preceding week.
11	*          *          *
12 §425.1.  Consolidation of polling places; reduction of voting machines and election
13	officials
14	A.  Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:424 and 425 or any other
15 provision of law to the contrary, in an election, including the election of any public
16 official, where more than one polling place is within the same location a single
17 location serves as the polling place of more than one precinct, the parish board of
18 election supervisors may consolidate the polling places in that location so that a
19 single polling place may serve every precinct assigned to that location for that
20 election and may reduce the number of voting machines to be used in the election
21 below the number fixed by R.S. 18:1363 and, in such case, shall notify, in
22 accordance with the time line provided in R.S. 18:1363(H), the parish custodian of
23 voting machines and the secretary of state of the number of machines to be prepared
24 and delivered for the polling places so consolidated to the location of the
25 consolidated polling place.
26	B.  When the parish board of election supervisors consolidates polling places
27 as authorized by Subsection A of this Section, it shall appoint a commissioner-in-
28 charge to serve at each such all precincts assigned to the consolidated polling place
29 and may reduce to not less than two the number of commissioners and alternate
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1 commissioners to be appointed to serve at each such polling place the location of the
2 consolidated polling place.
3	*          *          *
4 §426.  Alternate commissioners; qualifications, powers, and duties; oath and
5	compensation
6	A.  Qualifications.  (1)  A qualified voter who is not entitled to assistance in
7 voting and is not a candidate in the election may be selected as an alternate
8 commissioner in any precinct of the ward where he is registered to vote, except
9 pursuant to R.S. 18:434(D) in which case he may be selected as a commissioner in
10 any precinct of the parish where he is registered to vote or as otherwise provided in 
11 R.S. 18:425(A)(4).
12	(2)(a)  No person shall be selected as a commissioner in a precinct in which
13 a member of his immediate family is a candidate for election to public office.
14	(b)  No person who has been convicted of an election offense enumerated in
15 Chapter 10 of this Title shall be selected as an alternate commissioner.
16	(c)  No person who is required to register as a sex offender or child predator
17 pursuant to R.S. 15:542 may be selected as an alternate commissioner.
18	(3)  A person shall not be selected as an alternate commissioner unless he has
19 attended a course of instruction for commissioners, has received a certificate of
20 instruction during the term of office of the clerk who conducted the course, and has
21 provided his correct party affiliation to the clerk.
22	(4)  A person who is at least seventeen years of age, under the age of
23 eighteen, and is not a qualified voter but is otherwise qualified to serve as an
24 alternate commissioner pursuant to this Subsection may be selected to serve as an
25 alternate commissioner in any precinct of the ward where he may register to vote
26 pursuant to R.S. 18:101(A), provided that the person is enrolled in the twelfth grade
27 of any Louisiana public high school or state-approved nonpublic high school or is
28 participating at the twelfth grade level in a home study program approved by the
29 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
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1	An alternate commissioner shall meet the same qualifications of a
2 commissioner as provided in R.S. 18:425(B).
3	B.  Powers and duties.  An alternate commissioner who replaces an absent
4 or unqualified commissioner shall have the same powers and duties and shall possess
5 the same qualifications as a commissioner.  An alternate commissioner who does not
6 replace a commissioner shall have the same powers and duties as a watcher.
7	*          *          *
8 §434.  Commissioners and alternate commissioners; selection; commission;
9	disqualification; replacement
10	A.  Time and place of Meeting to conduct selection.  (1)  The parish board
11 of election supervisors shall meet at 10:00 a.m. on the twenty-ninth day before a
12 primary election on the second day after the close of the registration records
13 provided in R.S. 18:135(A) to select the commissioners and alternate commissioners
14 for each precinct.  However, if the deadline for the close of the registration records
15 provided in R.S. 18:135(A)(1) is moved due to a legal holiday, the meeting to select
16 commissioners and alternate commissioners for each precinct shall be moved to the
17 day after the close of the registration records.  If the second day after the close of the
18 registration records falls on a legal holiday, the board shall select commissioners and
19 alternate commissioners on the first day after such holiday that is not a Saturday,
20 Sunday, or other legal holiday.  The meeting shall be open to the public.  The board
21 shall have previously posted a notice on the front courthouse door designating the
22 location within the courthouse where the meeting is to be held.
23	*          *          *
24 §435.  Watchers; appointment and commission
25	A.
26	*          *          *
27	(4)
28	*          *          *
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1	(b)(i)  In a parish with fewer than fifty thousand registered voters, the parish
2 executive committee of the recognized political party may designate one political
3 party super watcher and one alternate political party super watcher.
4	(ii)  In a parish with fifty thousand or more but fewer than one hundred
5 thousand registered voters, the parish executive committee of the recognized political
6 party may designate two political party super watchers and two alternate political
7 party super watchers.
8	(iii)  In a parish with one hundred thousand or more but fewer than one
9 hundred fifty thousand registered voters, the parish executive committee of the
10 recognized political party may designate three political party super watchers and
11 three alternate political party super watchers.
12	(iv)  In a parish with one hundred fifty thousand or more but fewer than two
13 hundred thousand registered voters, the parish executive committee of the recognized
14 political party may designate four political party super watchers and four alternate
15 political party super watchers.
16	(v)  In a parish with two hundred thousand or more registered voters, the
17 parish executive committee of the recognized political party may designate five
18 political party super watchers and five alternate political party super watchers.
19	(c)  Each political party super watcher shall have the qualifications, powers,
20 and duties of watchers provided for by R.S. 18:427 and shall be admitted as a
21 watcher in every precinct in the designated parish where a candidate affiliated with
22 his political party is on the ballot, except that not more than one political party super
23 watcher may serve at a single precinct at the same time.  Both a political party super
24 watcher and an alternate political party super watcher may serve on election day,
25 except that the political party super watcher and alternate political party super
26 watcher may not serve at the same time and no more political party super watchers 
27 and alternate political party super watchers may serve at one time than the number
28 of political party super watchers allowed in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph.
29	*          *          *
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1 §531.  Places for voting in primary and general elections
2	*          *          *
3	B.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, whenever the
4 polling place to which a voter is assigned is inaccessible to him by reason of a
5 physical disability, the voter may cast his vote at the polling place nearest the
6 precinct at which he is registered which is accessible to the voter, provided such
7 polling place is within the same congressional, senatorial, representative, school
8 board, police jury, councilmanic and all other districts as the precinct at which he is
9 registered.  To be permitted to cast his vote at another precinct polling place, the
10 voter, not less than ten days before the election, shall produce satisfactory evidence
11 of his disability to the registrar of voters in the parish in which he is registered.  If,
12 in the opinion of the registrar, the voter, due to the physical disability, is unable to
13 cast his vote at the polling place for the precinct in which he is registered, the
14 registrar shall issue to the voter special authorization to cast his vote at another
15 specifically named precinct polling place as provided in this Section and shall
16 transfer the registration certificate of such voter to that precinct.  The authorization
17 so issued shall be shown by the voter to the commissioners at the polling place.  The
18 right of a voter to cast his vote in a precinct within the ward and district other than
19 the one in which he is registered shall remain effective for subsequent elections until
20 the voter no longer is in need of the right to vote in another precinct.  The voter shall
21 notify the registrar of voters immediately if for any reason such need no longer
22 exists.
23	*          *          *
24 §533.  Establishment and location of polling places; responsibility for acts or
25	omissions
26	A.  Establishment.
27	*          *          *
28	(2)  The parish governing authority shall, to the extent possible, locate the
29 polling place of multiple precincts in a the same polling location, if it determines
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1 after due consideration that to locate multiple polling places the polling places of
2 multiple precincts within the same polling location would be efficient, cost-effective,
3 and convenient to voters.
4	B.  Location.  (1)  Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, the
5 polling place for a precinct shall be located in the precinct in a suitable public
6 building and all public bodies are hereby required to allow the use of public
7 buildings as voting precincts polling places without cost or charge when the parish
8 governing authority requires it.  If no public building is available, then a precinct
9 polling place may be located on private property.  The parish governing authority
10 shall inform the secretary of state as to whether the parish polling places are located
11 in public buildings or on private property.
12	*          *          *
13 §534.  Change of polling places
14	A.  Once the location of a polling place is established, it may only be changed
15 by a vote of the parish governing authority.
16	B.(1)  The location of a polling place shall not be changed during the period
17 commencing on the date the qualifying period opens and ending on the date of the
18 general election or, in the case of an election date exclusively for bond, tax, or other
19 propositions or questions, during the period commencing on the forty-sixth day prior
20 to the election and ending on the day of the election unless the polling place location
21 becomes unavailable due to an emergency caused by an act of God or when privately
22 owned property being used as a polling place becomes unavailable through no fault
23 of the governing authority.
24	(2)(a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, if the
25 locations of a polling place becomes unavailable during the period defined in and
26 due to the reasons provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the parish president
27 may change the location of the polling place.  The parish president shall submit
28 written notice of the change as soon as practicable to the secretary of state.
29	*          *          *
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1 §553.  Inspection and preparation of voting machines at polling places; precinct
2	registers and supplemental list
3	*          *          *
4	E.  Maintenance of precinct registers on election day.
5	*          *          *
6	(2)  For each name appearing on the list, the commissioners shall write
7 "voted by mail absentee" in the place where the voter usually signs the precinct
8 register and initial the precinct register adjacent thereto.
9	*          *          *
10 §571.  Procedures for commissioners after termination of voting
11	A.  At the termination of voting in a primary or general election, the
12 commissioners shall announce that voting is terminated.  The commissioners in the
13 presence of the watchers shall immediately:
14	*          *          *
15	(8)  Place one copy of the official election results reports, one copy of the
16 machine certificates, one of the duplicate poll lists, all original executed challenges
17 of voters, all precinct register corrections, all voter identification affidavits, all
18 physical disability affidavits voter assistance forms, any physicians' certificates, any
19 copies of disability documentation, a copy of each completed notation of
20 irregularities form, and any address confirmation notices in the envelope marked
21 "Registrar of Voters", seal it and attach it to the precinct register after the termination
22 of voting, and place a new protective seal on the precinct register.
23	*          *          *
24 §573.  Evidence of election results
25	*          *          *
26	E.  Transmission and disposition of original challenges, duplicate voters'
27 affidavits, and address confirmation notices.  (1)  At the opening of the voting
28 machines, the sealed precinct registers shall be immediately returned to the registrar
29 of voters.  Upon receipt of the sealed precinct registers, the registrar shall remove
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1 any attached original record of challenges of voters made during the election, any
2 precinct register correction affidavits, any voter identification affidavits made
3 pursuant to R.S. 18:562, any address confirmation notices, any physical disability
4 affidavits voter assistance forms, any certificates, any copies of disability
5 documentation, and any completed voter registration applications.
6	*          *          *
7	(4)  The registrar shall scan the address confirmation notice, voter
8 identification affidavit, disability documentation voter assistance form, or voter
9 registration application and add it to the voter's record in the state voter registration
10 computer system after processing.
11	*          *          *
12 §1259.  Arrangement of ballot; designation of party candidates
13	*          *          *
14	B.
15	*          *          *
16	(6)  In preparing the ballots, the secretary of state shall arrange the names of
17 the candidates of recognized political parties alphabetically, according to the names
18 of the parties, followed by the names of the candidates nominated by nominating
19 petitions and by the filing of notices of candidacy, listed alphabetically by the first
20 word of the political principle designated in the notice of candidacy designation of
21 political principle.
22	C.  No candidate nominated other than by a recognized political party shall
23 use the name of any recognized political party in the political or party designation
24 political principle designated in the notice of candidacy of such candidate.
25	*          *          *
26 §1280.21.  Presidential preference primary election
27	*          *          *
28	B.  Each elector voting in such election may vote only for a candidate who
29 is affiliated with the same party as the elector, except that the state central committee
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1 of a recognized political party may allow in its bylaws, electors who are not affiliated
2 with any political party to cast a vote on the ballot of such recognized political party.
3	*          *          *
4	PART IV.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
5 §1280.31.  Definitions
6	As used in this Chapter, "recognized political party" means a political party
7 recognized in this state pursuant to R.S. 18:441.
8	*          *          *
9 §1285.  Notice of election
10	*          *          *
11	B.(1)(a)  Written notice of the election and the certificate required by
12 Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph shall be transmitted to the secretary of state and
13 each clerk of court and registrar of voters in the area affected by the election.  If the
14 election is to be held on a primary election date, then such notice and certificate shall
15 be received by the secretary of state at least four weeks prior to the opening of the
16 qualifying period for the primary election.  If this deadline falls on a Saturday,
17 Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline shall be the following day which is not
18 a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.  If the election is not to be held on a primary
19 election date, then the notice and certificate shall be received by the secretary of state
20 on or before the fifty-fourth day prior to the election.  The secretary of state shall not
21 accept any revisions to propositions, including but not limited to changes in title,
22 text, or numerical designations, after the last day for submission of the notice and
23 certificate to the secretary of state, unless prior to the printing of the ballots the
24 revision will correct a typographical error and the revision has been approved by the
25 governing authority that called the proposition election.
26	*          *          *
27 §1286.  Polling places; election officers
28	*          *          *
29	C.  When the number of commissioners for each precinct in an election called
30 on a general election date under the provisions of this Chapter is less than the
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1 number of commissioners chosen for the primary election date, the appropriate
2 number of commissioners shall be chosen from the list of commissioners who
3 worked at the precinct for the primary election.
4	*          *          *
5 §1286.1.  Authority to consolidate polling places; reduction of number of voting
6	machines and election officials
7	A.  Notwithstanding any provision of R.S. 18:1286(A), when an election
8 called under the provisions of this Chapter is not held at the same time as the election
9 of any public official, in cases where more than one polling place is within the same
10 location a single location serves as the polling place of more than one precinct the
11 parish board of election supervisors may consolidate the polling places in that
12 location so that a single polling place may serve each precinct assigned to that
13 location for that election and may reduce the number of voting machines to be used
14 in the election below the number fixed by R.S. 18:1363 and, in such case, shall
15 notify, in accordance with the time line provided in R.S. 18:1363(H), the parish
16 custodian of voting machines and the secretary of state of the number of machines
17 to be prepared and delivered for the polling places so consolidated to the location of
18 the consolidated polling place.
19	B.  Whenever When the parish board of election supervisors consolidates
20 polling places as authorized by Subsection A of this Section, it shall appoint a 
21 commissioner-in-charge to serve at each such all precincts assigned to the
22 consolidated polling place and may reduce to not less than two the number of
23 commissioners and alternate commissioners to be appointed to serve at each such
24 polling place the location of the consolidated polling place.
25	*          *          *
26 §1300.  Procedures; notice of election; expenses
27	*          *          *
28	C.(1)  When an election is called under the provisions of this Chapter, written
29 notice of the election shall be transmitted to the secretary of state, the commissioner
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1 of elections, and each clerk of court and registrar of voters in the area affected by the
2 election.  If the election is to be held on a primary election date, then such notice
3 shall be received by the secretary of state at least four weeks prior to the opening of
4 the qualifying period for the primary election.  If the election is not to be held on a
5 primary election date, then such notice shall be received by the secretary of state on
6 or before the fifty-fourth day prior to the election.  If any of these deadlines fall on
7 a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline shall be the following day
8 which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
9	*          *          *
10 §1300.7.  Governor to order election; proclamation; publication
11	A.  If the required number of qualified electors of the voting area sign the
12 petition for recall, the governor shall issue a proclamation ordering an election to be
13 held for the purpose of voting on the question of the recall of the officer.  The total
14 number of registered voters in the voting area and the total number of registered
15 voters in the voting area signing the petition shall be calculated from the totals on the
16 certificates of all of the registrars of voters received by the governor.  The governor
17 shall issue such proclamation within fifteen days after he receives the certified
18 petitions from all of the registrars of voters in the voting area who have received
19 petitions for certification.  If the final day for the governor to issue the proclamation
20 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the next day which is not a
21 Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for issuing the
22 proclamation.  The proclamation shall order the election to be held on the next
23 available date specified in R.S. 18:402(F).  If the election is to be held on a primary
24 election date, the proclamation shall be issued at least four weeks prior to the
25 opening of the qualifying period for the primary election.  If the election is not to be
26 held on a primary election date, the proclamation shall be issued on or before the
27 fifty-fourth day prior to the election.  If any of these deadlines fall on a Saturday,
28 Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline shall be the following day which is not
29 a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
30	*          *          *
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1 §1300.11.  Preparation of ballots; marking of ballots
2	The ballots at recall elections shall be provided and supplied in the same
3 manner as the ballots for general elections, and in accordance with general election
4 laws, except as provided in this Chapter.  The top of the ballot shall provide in large
5 capital letters for the election shall appear as follows:
6 "SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE RECALL OF (Here state name and, title, and
7 election district of the officer whose recall is at issue.)"
8 Then shall follow the number and name of the election district and the location of the
9 polling place.  Then shall follow the dates of the election.  Then shall follow, in
10 separate lines on the ballot, the following:
11	"FOR the Recall. (  ) _____
12	AGAINST the Recall. (  )  _____"
13 After the words "FOR the Recall", shall be a blank square, and after the words
14 "AGAINST the Recall", shall be a blank square.  The ballot shall provide
15 instructions for voting.
16	*          *          *
17 §1306.  Preparation and distribution of absentee by mail and early voting ballots
18	*          *          *
19	E.(1)  The secretary of state shall prepare an absentee by mail certificate, the
20 content of which is subject to approval of the attorney general.  The certificate shall
21 include but not necessarily be limited to:
22	*          *          *
23	(f)  An affidavit attestation followed by a line for the handwritten signature
24 or mark of the voter, certifying that the statements made by him are true and correct
25 and that the voter is aware of the penalties for knowingly making a false statement
26 therein, which penalties shall be stated on the certificate.
27	*          *          *
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1 §1309.  Early voting; verification
2	*          *          *
3	D.(1)
4	*          *          *
5	(c)  If satisfied that the voter has identified himself as the voter registered in
6 the state voter registration computer system or named on the precinct register and
7 that he is qualified to vote, the registrar or his deputy shall initial the precinct register
8 or early voting list register kept by the registrar opposite the voter's signature or
9 mark.  The voter then shall be allowed to vote.
10	(d)  A voter who votes without the picture identification required by
11 Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph is subject to challenge as provided in R.S.
12 18:1315.
13	(2)  If the voter's name is found in the state voter registration computer
14 system or precinct register on the inactive list of voters, the voter shall be required
15 to complete an address confirmation card to determine his eligibility to vote.
16	E.(1)  The voter's identity having been established as provided in Subsection
17 D of this Section, the voter shall sign or make his mark prior to voting in the precinct
18 register or early voting register.
19	*          *          *
20	N.
21	*          *          *
22	(2)  A qualified voter of the state who is not a candidate in the election may
23 serve as an early voting watcher, however, no person who is required to register as
24 a sex offender or child predator pursuant to R.S. 15:542 may serve as a watcher.
25	*          *          *
26 §1309.1.  Preparation of machines for early voting; examination by candidate or his
27	representative; sealing machines
28	A.  At the time of qualifying, the parish custodian shall notify each candidate
29 to contact the registrar of voters for the time and place at which the voting machines
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1 will be prepared for early voting.  The registrar of voters shall post at his office
2 adequate notice of the date, time, and place at which the voting machines will be
3 prepared for early voting and shall post the same information on his office's website,
4 if possible.  The candidate or his representative may be present to observe the
5 preparation and testing of the machines by the registrar of voters with the assistance
6 of the secretary of state's technicians and to observe the testing and sealing of the
7 machines by the registrar of voters in the presence of the parish board of election
8 supervisors.  Each candidate or his representative shall be afforded a reasonable
9 opportunity to view the test vote tape for each machine to see that they are in the
10 proper condition for use in the election, which opportunity shall not be less than
11 thirty minutes beginning at the time designated by the registrar of voters to begin
12 preparation of the machines for sealing.  However, no candidate, representative, or
13 citizen shall interfere with the registrar of voters, secretary of state's technicians,
14 parish board of election supervisors, or any employee or technician or assume any
15 of their duties.
16	*          *          *
17 §1310.  Execution of certificate; marking of ballot; casting vote; assistance
18	*          *          *
19	E.  If a voter is notified by the registrar of voters in his parish of a deficiency
20 on his absentee by mail ballot certificate that must be cured, he may obtain a
21 replacement ballot from the registrar.  The registrar may make the ballot available
22 via hand delivery to the voter or an immediate family member of the voter.
23	*          *          *
24 §1313.  Tabulation and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots
25	*          *          *
26	F.  The board shall count the absentee by mail and early voting ballots and
27 announce post the results after the closing of the polls as the total number of absentee
28 by mail and early voting votes cast in the election for each candidate and the total
29 number cast for and against each proposition.
30	*          *          *
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1	H.  The procedure for counting early voting machine ballots and paper ballots
2 voted during early voting shall be as follows:
3	*          *          *
4	(3)  The board shall announce post the results from each early voting machine
5 results report for the early voting ballots, unless an early voting ballot has been
6 challenged pursuant to R.S. 18:1309(E)(6) or R.S. 18:1315.
7	*          *          *
8	K.(1)  Upon completion of the tabulation and counting of the absentee by
9 mail and early voting ballots, the parish board of election supervisors shall return the
10 absentee by mail and early voting ballots and electronic results report to the special,
11 secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container; shall seal the container;
12 and shall deliver the container to the registrar of voters.  The registrar shall preserve
13 the container and its contents inviolate and, except upon order of a court of
14 competent jurisdiction or at the direction of the secretary of state for the purpose of
15 conducting post-election tabulation audits, shall not allow the absentee by mail and
16 early voting documents to be inspected by anyone until the delay for filing an action
17 contesting the election has lapsed.  If an action contesting the election is commenced
18 timely, the registrar shall continue to preserve the container and its contents
19 inviolate, subject to the orders of the court, until the final judgment in the action has
20 become definitive.
21	*          *          *
22 §1313.1.  Preparation, verification, tabulation, and counting of absentee by mail and
23	early voting ballots
24	*          *          *
25	F.  The board shall count the absentee by mail and early voting ballots and
26 announce post the results after the closing of the polls on election day as the total
27 number of absentee by mail and early voting votes cast in the election for each
28 candidate and the total number cast for and against each proposition.
29	*          *          *
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1	I.  The procedure for counting early voting machine ballots on election day
2 shall be as follows:
3	*          *          *
4	(2)  The board shall announce post the results from each early voting machine
5 results report for the early voting ballots, unless an early voting ballot has been
6 challenged pursuant to R.S. 18:1309(E)(6) or R.S. 18:1315.
7	*          *          *
8	L.(1)  Upon completion of the tabulation and counting of the absentee by
9 mail and early voting ballots on election day, the parish board of election supervisors
10 shall return the absentee by mail and early voting ballots and electronic results report
11 to the special, secure absentee by mail and early voting ballot container; shall seal
12 the container; and shall deliver the container to the registrar of voters.  The registrar
13 shall preserve the container and its contents inviolate and, except upon order of a
14 court of competent jurisdiction or at the direction of the secretary of state for the
15 purpose of conducting post-election tabulation audits, shall not allow the absentee
16 by mail and early voting documents to be inspected by anyone until the delay for
17 filing an action contesting the election has lapsed.  If an action contesting the
18 election is commenced timely, the registrar shall continue to preserve the container
19 and its contents inviolate, subject to the orders of the court, until the final judgment
20 in the action has become definitive.
21	*          *          *
22 §1315.  Challenge of absentee by mail or early voting ballot
23	*          *          *
24	D.(1)  During the counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots, at
25 least a majority of the members of the board shall hear and determine the validity of
26 any ballot challenged in accordance with the provisions of pursuant to Subsection A
27 or B of this Section or deemed challenged pursuant to Subsection C of this Section.
28	*          *          *
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1 §1333.  Nursing home early voting program; voting by persons residing in a nursing
2	home
3	*          *          *
4	D.
5	*          *          *
6	(2)  An application to vote in the nursing home early voting program that
7 satisfies the requirements of this Section shall remain valid indefinitely unless the
8 voter submits a written request to the registrar to be removed from the program, the 
9 letter provided for in Subsection E of this Section is returned to the registrar or voters
10 as undeliverable, or the voter no longer resides in the nursing home listed in his
11 application.  However, if the voter has become a resident of a different nursing home
12 in the parish and has notified the registrar of voters in writing of the change of
13 nursing home address, his application shall remain valid.
14	(3)  If the letter provided for in Subsection E of this Section is returned to the
15 registrar of voters as undeliverable, the registrar shall mail an address confirmation
16 notice to the voter as provided in R.S. 18:198(A).
17	E.  The registrar shall notify the applicant by letter, at the return nursing
18 home address shown on the request, the day on which a deputy registrar or other
19 qualified person selected by the registrar will be present at the nursing home to
20 permit the applicant to cast his ballot.  The registrar shall assign a number to the
21 applicant which shall be stamped or entered in ink on the upper right side of the letter
22 and also shall be entered shall appear in clearly distinguishable figures on the letter
23 and on the absentee by mail ballot envelope that will contain the absentee by mail
24 ballot to be delivered to that applicant on the day designated in the letter.  If the letter
25 is mailed by the registrar prior to his receipt of the absentee by mail ballots for the
26 election, the registrar shall enter the name of the applicant; his address, ward, and
27 precinct; and the number assigned to the applicant on a list that the registrar shall
28 keep for the purpose and, upon receipt of the absentee by mail ballots for the
29 election, the registrar shall enter the number on the absentee by mail ballot envelope
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1 as provided in this Subsection.
2	*          *          *
3 §1363.  Number of machines; allocation to precincts; exception; reserve machines
4	A.  In determining the number of voting machines to be purchased and
5 allocated for each voting precinct in each parish or municipality, the minimum
6 number to be allocated shall be as follows:
7	*          *          *
8	(3)  Three machines for each precinct where more than one thousand voters
9 but not more than fourteen eighteen hundred voters were registered to vote thirty
10 days prior to the election.
11	(4)  Four machines for each precinct where more than fourteen eighteen
12 hundred voters were registered to vote thirty days prior to the election.
13	*          *          *
14 §1409.  Trial; decision; appeal
15	*          *          *
16	K.(1)  Neither the secretary of state nor any employee engaged in the
17 administration of or charged with the custody of any records or files of the
18 Department of State shall be subject to subpoena or otherwise required to appear in
19 court for an objection to candidacy filed pursuant to this Chapter.
20	(2)  In lieu of live testimony for any action filed pursuant to this Chapter, a
21 properly executed affidavit issued by the secretary of state or his designee shall serve
22 as sufficient confirmation as to the accuracy of the records and files of the
23 Department of State for such purposes.
24	*          *          *
25 §1501.3.  Gubernatorial transition and inauguration; contribution limits; reports
26	*          *          *
27	C.  On or before the sixtieth day after the gubernatorial inauguration and by
28 February fifteenth annually thereafter until all contributions have been expended or
29 used, the governor shall file an all-inclusive report with the supervisory committee. 
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1 Each report shall be complete through January thirty-first.  Each report which shall
2 state:
3	*          *          *
4 Section 2. R.S. 18:192(A)(1), 402(A)(1), (D) and (E)(1), 410.1 through 410.3,
5410.4(B), 410.5(A), 410.6(B)(1) and (2), 410.7(A), (B)(1) and (2), and (C), 410.8, 410.9(A),
6435(B)(1), 501(A)(1), (B)(1), and (C), 501(A)(1), (B)(1), and (C), 551(B), (C)(1)(c)(i) and
7(2), and (D), 1279, 1285(B)(1)(a), 1307(E), and 1309(N)(5) and (7) are hereby amended and
8reenacted and R.S. 18:401.1(H), 1307(L), and 1310(E) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §192.  Annual canvass; costs
10	A.(1)  No later than July thirty-first, the registrar of voters of each parish in
11 conjunction with the Department of State shall annually canvass the names of the
12 registrants in all precincts in the parish.  Failure of the registrar to conduct an annual
13 canvass as provided in this Subsection shall constitute willful misconduct relating
14 to his official duty for the purposes of R.S. 18:53.  The Department of State shall use
15 the United States Postal Service or its licensee address data obtained from another
16 state or other entity pursuant to a written agreement to verify the names and
17 addresses of the registrants in all precincts in the state.  A verification by the United
18 States Postal Service or its licensee of address data shall constitute a valid canvass
19 of the registered voter.
20	*          *          *
21 §401.1.  Election emergency; purpose; elections emergency contingency plan
22	*          *          *
23	H.  For purposes of this Section, a vacancy in a party primary office that may
24 not be filled by appointment, designation, or in accordance with the timeframes
25 required by law shall constitute an emergency.  If the vacancy may not be filled in
26 a timely manner in accordance with the election dates provided for in R.S. 18:402,
27 the governor may proclaim a state of emergency for purposes of calling a special
28 election to fill the vacancy.  Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 18:401.3,
29 following the issuance of the emergency proclamation, the authority required by law
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1 to call a special election to fill the vacancy in office shall, in consultation with and
2 with the certification of the secretary of state, issue a proclamation ordering a special
3 election.  The proclamation ordering the special election shall include the dates for
4 qualifying, early voting, the primary election, the general election, and at least one
5 party primary election and make all provisions necessary to conduct an election in
6 a timely manner notwithstanding the dates, timing, and delays otherwise provided
7 by this Code.
8	*          *          *
9 §402.  Dates of primary and general elections; prohibited election days
10	A.  Prohibited election days.  (1)  No election of any kind shall be held in this
11 state on any of the days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret,
12 Simchat Torah, the first two days and the last two days of Passover, Shavuot, Tish'a
13 B'Av, the two days preceding Labor Day, or the three days preceding Easter, or the
14 three days following Thanksgiving Day.  If the date of any fall election falls on any
15 of the above-named days, the election shall be held on the same weekday of the
16 preceding week.  If the date of any spring election falls on any of the above-named
17 days, the election shall be held on the same weekday day of the following week.
18	*          *          *
19	D.  Odd-numbered year election dates in a nongubernatorial election year.
20	(1)  Spring elections.  (a)  There shall be a spring primary election held on the
21 third Saturday in April for municipal and ward officers elected in the spring of a
22 nongubernatorial election year.  This date shall also serve as the first party primary
23 election for a special election called to fill a vacancy in a party primary office.
24	(b)  There shall be a spring election held on the sixth Saturday after the third
25 Saturday in April which shall be a general election for  municipal and ward officers
26 elected in the spring of a nongubernatorial election year.  This date shall also serve
27 a the second party primary election, if necessary, for a special election called to fill
28 a vacancy in a party primary office.
29	(2)  Fall elections.  (a)  There shall be a fall primary election held on the
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1 second Saturday in October for parochial and municipal officers in a parish
2 containing a municipality with a population of three hundred thousand or more.  This
3 date shall serve as the general election for a special election called to fill a vacancy
4 in a party primary office.
5	(b)  There shall be a fall general election held on the sixth Saturday after the
6 second  Saturday in October of an election year.
7	E.(1)  Special elections to fill newly created offices or vacancies in office
8 shall be held on dates fixed by the appropriate authority in the proclamation issued
9 in accordance with law.  For an election to fill a vacancy, the dates fixed in the
10 proclamation shall be limited to the dates for primary elections and general elections
11 established in Subsections B, C, and D of this Section.  Except as otherwise provided
12 by law, a special primary election shall be held on the first of the election dates
13 established in this Section that is after the date on which the proclamation calling the
14 special primary election is issued, provided that the proclamation is issued at least
15 four weeks prior to the opening of the qualifying period for the special primary
16 election.  If this deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the
17 deadline shall be the following day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. 
18 The authority issuing the proclamation shall consult with the secretary of state in the
19 establishment of a qualifying period and election dates for special elections.
20	*          *          *
21 §410.1.  Party primary elections
22	Party primary elections for party primary offices as defined in R.S. 18:2 shall
23 be held pursuant to this Part, and any provision of this Code in conflict with these
24 provisions shall not be applicable to elections for party primary offices.  Any
25 provision of this Code that is not in conflict with these provisions shall be applicable
26 to these elections unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.  For purposes of this
27 Part, the phrase "recognized major political party" shall mean a political party
28 recognized pursuant to R.S. 18:441(C).
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1 §410.2.  Party primary office; party primary qualifications
2	Recognized Major political parties shall make nominations of candidates for
3 party primary office as provided in this Part.  Only candidates affiliated with a
4 recognized major political party may participate in the party primary election of the
5 political party of the candidate's party affiliation.
6 §410.3.  Purpose and nature of party primary elections
7	A.  For general elections, political parties shall make all nominations of
8 candidates for party primary office by direct primary elections held pursuant to this
9 Part.  In party primary elections, each voter voting in such election may vote only for
10 a candidate who is affiliated with the same party as the voter.
11	B.  Voters not affiliated with a political party may vote in a recognized major
12 party primary if a party primary ballot is selected by the voter prior to casting his
13 ballot, but such a voter may vote only in one recognized major party primary.  If an
14 unaffiliated voter chooses to vote in the first party primary of one political party, the
15 unaffiliated voter shall not vote in the second party primary of another political
16 party.
17 §410.4.  Manner of qualifying for a party primary election
18	*          *          *
19	B.  A person who desires to become a candidate in a party primary election
20 shall be affiliated with a recognized major political party.  A person may qualify as
21 a candidate only in a party primary election of the party with which he is affiliated
22 as shown on his voter registration at the time of qualifying for that office.  No
23 candidate shall change his political party affiliation after he has qualified for an
24 election until the deadline for an election contest has passed.
25 §410.5.  Nominating petitions
26	A.  A person may be nominated as a candidate in a party primary election
27 only by persons who are affiliated with the same recognized major political party,
28 who are qualified to vote on the office he seeks, and who sign a nominating petition
29 for him no more than one hundred twenty days before the qualifying period opens
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1 for candidates in the party primary election.  The registrar of voters shall reject any
2 signature on a nominating petition not in compliance with this Section.
3	*          *          *
4 §410.6.  Death of a candidate; procedure; selection of party nominee
5	*          *          *
6	B.(1)  If as the result of the death of a candidate in a party primary election,
7 a recognized major political party has no party nominee qualified for the general
8 election, the recognized major political party shall select, in the manner provided in
9 its bylaws, the party nominee who shall meet all of the qualifications for the party
10 primary office.
11	(2)  The chairman of the state central committee of the recognized major
12 political party shall transmit an attestation to the secretary of state containing the
13 name of the party nominee, the signature of the chairman of the state central
14 committee, the signature of the party nominee, and any other information required
15 by the form of the attestation prescribed by the secretary of state.  The attestation
16 shall be filed as soon as possible after the death of the party's candidate, but no later
17 than noon on the seventh day prior to the general election day.  If the attestation is
18 received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the seventh day after the close of the qualifying
19 period for nonparty primary offices for the fall primary election, the secretary of
20 state shall print the name of the selected party nominee on the ballot.  If the
21 attestation is filed in accordance with this Paragraph, but  the name of the selected
22 party nominee is not placed on the ballot, there shall be a notice regarding the
23 selected party nominee posted at each polling place and on the website of the
24 secretary of state.  If the selected party nominee's name is not placed on the ballot,
25 all votes cast for the party's deceased candidate shall be attributed to the party
26 nominee.
27	*          *          *
28 §410.7.  Party candidates who qualify for a general election
29	A.  The candidate who receives the majority of votes in the party primary
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1 qualifies for the general election as the party's nominee for the office.  All candidate
2 nominations for a party primary office by recognized major political parties for the
3 general election shall be made in this manner, except as otherwise provided in R.S.
4 18:410.6(B).
5	B.  If as the result of the death of a candidate in a party primary election, a
6 recognized political party has no party nominee qualified for the general election, the
7 recognized political party shall select, in the manner provided in its bylaws, the party
8 nominee who shall meet all of the qualifications for the party primary office.
9	*          *          *
10	(1)  In the case of a tie vote for first place in the first party primary of a
11 recognized major political party, all of the candidates affiliated with the same
12 political party who received the same highest number of votes qualify for the second
13 party primary.
14	(2)  In the case of a tie vote for second place in the first party primary of a
15 recognized major political party, all of the candidates affiliated with the same
16 political party who received the same second highest number of votes and the
17 candidate affiliated with the same political party who received the highest number
18 of votes qualify for the second party primary.
19	*          *          *
20	C.  There shall be no third party primary.  In the case of a tie vote in the
21 second party primary of a recognized major political party, none of the candidates
22 qualify as the party nominee for the general election, and  the party nominee shall
23 be selected by a public drawing of lots conducted by the State Board of Election
24 Supervisors from among the candidates who received  the  highest number of votes
25 in the second party primary election.  The public drawing of lots shall be conducted
26 at the state capitol on a day and at a time fixed by the board within one week after
27 the results of the election become official.  The candidates involved shall be given
28 at least three days' written notice of the time and place of the public drawing of lots.
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1 §410.8.  Candidates not affiliated with a recognized major political party; qualifying
2	for the general election
3	A.  Any person who desires to become a candidate in a general election for
4 a party primary office and who is not registered as being affiliated with a recognized 
5 major political party shall file his notice of candidacy, which shall be accompanied
6 by a nominating petition as provided in R.S. 18:465, with the appropriate qualifying
7 official during the qualifying period established for the party primary election.  The
8 number of signatures required on such a nominating petition shall be as set forth in
9 R.S. 18:465.
10	B.  A person filing a notice of candidacy as provided in Subsection A of this
11 Section may be nominated only by persons who are qualified to vote on the office
12 he seeks, who sign a nominating petition for him, and who are not affiliated with a
13 recognized major political party.  The registrar of voters shall reject any signature
14 on a nominating petition not in compliance with this Subsection.
15 §410.9.  Nomination of candidates in a party primary election; general election;
16	unopposed candidate
17	A.  If, after the close of the qualifying period for candidates in a party
18 primary election, only one candidate qualified for the recognized major political
19 party or only one candidate for the recognized major political party remains after the
20 withdrawal of one or more candidates, the candidate is declared the nominee of the
21 party, and his name shall not appear on the ballot in a party primary election but shall
22 be on the ballot for the general election.  If a party primary election ballot was
23 printed with the name of a candidate who withdrew on it, any votes received by a
24 candidate who withdrew shall be void and shall not be counted for any purpose
25 whatsoever.
26	*          *          *
27 §435.  Watchers; appointment and commission
28	*          *          *
29	B.(1)(a)  A list of watchers shall be filed with the clerk of court by hand
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1 delivery, facsimile, mail, or commercial courier before 4:30 p.m. on the tenth 
2 business day before the party primary, primary, or general election; however, if the
3 tenth business day before the party primary, primary, or general election falls on a
4 Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, the list shall be filed on the next day which
5 is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday.  For purposes of this Paragraph,
6 "commercial courier" shall have the same meaning as provided in R.S. 13:3204(D). 
7 If the office that the candidate seeks is voted on in more than one parish, a list of
8 watchers shall be filed with the clerk of court in each parish where the candidate will
9 have watchers.
10	(b)  A list of watchers submitted by a candidate for the party primary or
11 primary election may be used for the second party primary, primary, or general
12 election only if the candidate notifies the clerk of court in writing by 4:30 p.m. on
13 the tenth business day before the general election that he wants to use the same list
14 of watchers.
15	(c)  A list of political party super watchers submitted by a party for the party
16 primary or primary election may be used for the second party primary, primary, or
17 general election only if the chairman of the parish executive committee or the state
18 central committee of the party notifies the clerk of court in writing by 4:30 p.m. on
19 the tenth business day before the general election that the chairman wants to use the
20 same list of political party super watchers.
21	*          *          *
22 §501.  Procedure for withdrawal
23	A.(1)(a)  A candidate in a primary election may withdraw from the election
24 by filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary of state prior to 4:30 p.m. on the
25 seventh day after the close of the qualifying period.
26	(b)  A candidate in a first party primary election may withdraw from the
27 election by filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary of state prior to 4:30
28 p.m. on the seventh day after the close of the qualifying period.
29	(c)  The notice of withdrawal shall be signed by the candidate and duly
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1 acknowledged by him before an officer authorized to administer oaths.
2	*          *          *
3	B.(1)(a)  A candidate in a general election may withdraw from the election
4 by filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary of state prior to 4:30 p.m. on the
5 ninth day after the date of the primary election.
6	(b)  A candidate in a general election for a party primary office may withdraw
7 from the election by filing notice of his withdrawal with the secretary of state prior
8 to 4:30 p.m. on the ninth day after the second party primary election date, regardless
9 of whether a second party primary election is held.
10	(c)  The notice of withdrawal shall be signed by the candidate and duly
11 acknowledged by him before an officer authorized to administer oaths.
12	*          *          *
13	C.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections A and B of this Section,
14 if the number of candidates remaining in a primary election, second party primary
15 election, or general election for a public office is one more than the number of
16 persons to be elected to the office, the secretary of state shall accept a notice of
17 withdrawal that is filed prior to 4:30 p.m. on the second day prior to the election first
18 day of early voting.  The candidate or candidates remaining after the withdrawal
19 shall be declared elected by the people.
20	*          *          *
21 §551.  Ballots
22	*          *          *
23	B.  Titles of offices.  (1)  In any primary election for a party primary office,
24 the parties shall be arranged alphabetically, and under such party affiliation, the titles
25 of the party primary offices to be voted on shall be listed in the order provided in
26 Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.  The names of the candidates for each party
27 primary office shall be listed alphabetically by surname within each party and
28 printed below the title of the party primary office.
29	(2)  Below any party primary offices, the The titles of the offices to be voted
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1 on in a primary or general election shall be listed on the ballot in capital letters in the
2 following order:
3	(a)  President and vice president.
4	(b)  Presidential nominees in a presidential preference primary.  If an election
5 for presidential nominees in a presidential preference primary appears on the same
6 ballot with an election for a party primary office, the secretary of state may place the
7 presidential nominees above the party primary office candidates of the same party.
8	(c)  State offices--governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney
9 general, treasurer, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of insurance, United
10 States senator, United States representative, justice of the supreme court, judge of a
11 court of appeal, member of the public service commission, member of another state
12 board or commission, and any other state office.
13	(d)  Local offices--state senator, state representative, district judge, district
14 attorney, judge of a parish court, sheriff, clerk of court, assessor, coroner, police
15 juror, judge and marshal of a city court, member of a school board, member of other
16 local boards and commissions, justice of the peace, and other local offices.
17	(e)  Municipal offices--mayor, chief of police or marshal, alderman or
18 member of a city council, member of a municipal board or commission, and other
19 municipal offices.
20	(f)  Political party offices--member of a state central committee, member-at-
21 large of a parish executive committee, and member of a parish executive committee
22 from a political subdivision.  If an election for a political party office appears on the
23 same ballot with an election for presidential nominees in a presidential preference
24 primary election, the secretary of state may place the political party office
25 immediately following the office of presidential nominees of the same political party
26 after party primary offices or after all other offices.
27	(2) (3)  When a special election to fill a newly created office or a vacancy in
28 an existing office is held at the same time as a regularly scheduled election, the
29 secretary of state may list the titles of the offices to be voted on in the special
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1 election at the end of the ballot.  However, when the geographic area of an office in
2 the regularly scheduled election and in the special election are the same and when
3 the candidates in the regularly scheduled election and in the special election for such
4 office are the same, the title of the office and the names of the candidates shall
5 appear only once on the ballot as provided in this Section and the ballot shall state
6 that the election is being held to fill both the vacancy and the full term for the office.
7 Each elector shall cast the same vote for both the regular and the special election for
8 the office, and the candidates who qualify for the general election shall qualify for
9 the general election for both the regular and the special election for the office, and
10 the candidate who is elected shall be elected to fill both the vacancy and the full term
11 for the office.
12	(3) (4)  The titles of offices not specifically provided for in this Section shall
13 be listed on the ballot in the order determined by the secretary of state.
14	C.  Names and numbers of candidates.  The names of the candidates in a
15 primary or general election shall be listed on the ballot as follows:
16	(1)
17	*          *          *
18	(c)(i)  The names of the candidates for each office shall be arranged
19 alphabetically by surname and shall be listed below the title of the office, in smaller
20 capital letters.  The names of the candidates shall be numbered from first to last.
21 Once the secretary of state has assigned numbers to the candidates on the primary
22 election ballot, the numbers shall not be changed.
23	*          *          *
24	(2)  In a general election only the names of the candidates who qualified for
25 election shall be listed on the ballot, and the names shall be listed in the same form
26 as they were listed on the ballot for the primary election.  The names of candidates
27 who were elected in the primary election shall not be listed on the ballot.  The names
28 of the candidates for each office shall be arranged alphabetically by surname, and
29 shall be listed below the title of the office, in smaller capital letters.  The names of
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1 the candidates shall be given the same number assigned to them on the primary
2 election ballot.
3	D.  Political party designation. (1)  The political party designation of a
4 candidate who is registered as being affiliated with a recognized political party shall
5 be listed on the primary or general election ballot on the same line and immediately
6 after or below the candidate's name.  If a candidate is affiliated with a political party,
7 but such party is not a recognized political party, the word "other" shall be placed
8 after his name.  If a candidate is not affiliated with any political party, the words "no
9 party" or an abbreviation thereof shall be placed after his name.  The secretary of
10 state shall promulgate and adopt rules as necessary to effectuate the provisions and
11 purposes of this Subsection.
12	(2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the
13 political party designation of a candidate in a party primary election shall appear on
14 the ballot according to Paragraph (B)(1) of this Section.
15	*          *          *
16 §1279.  Vacancies; representatives in congress
17	When a vacancy occurs in the office of representative in congress, the
18 governor shall determine the dates on which the special elections shall be held and
19 the dates of the qualifying period in accordance with R.S. 18:402 and shall issue a
20 proclamation ordering a special election and specifying the dates on which the first
21 party primary, second primary, if necessary, and general elections will be held and
22 the dates of the qualifying period for the election.   Within twenty-four hours after
23 issuing the proclamation, the governor shall send a copy of the proclamation to the
24 secretary of state, who shall within twenty-four hours of receipt of the information
25 notify all election officials having any duty to perform in connection with a special
26 election to fill such vacancy, including the parish boards of election supervisors for
27 the parish or parishes in which the vacancy occurred.  Immediately thereafter the
28 secretary of state shall publish the proclamation in the official journal of each parish
29 in which the election is to be held. The election shall be conducted in the same
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1 manner and at the same places and the returns shall be certified as in regular
2 congressional elections.  If at a primary or general election in a congressional district
3 one representative in congress is to be elected for a full term and another to fill a
4 vacancy, the ballots containing the names of the candidates shall, as a part of the title
5 of the office, designate the term for which the candidates are respectively nominated.
6	*          *          *
7 §1285.  Notice of election
8	*          *          *
9	B.(1)(a)  Written notice of the election and the certificate required by
10 Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph shall be transmitted to the secretary of state and
11 each clerk of court and registrar of voters in the area affected by the election.  If the
12 election is to be held on a primary election date, then such notice and certificate shall
13 be received by the secretary of state at least four weeks prior to the opening of the
14 qualifying period for the primary election.  If this deadline falls on a Saturday,
15 Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline shall be the following day which is not
16 a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. If the election is not to be held on a primary
17 election date, then the notice and certificate shall be received by the secretary of state
18 on or before the sixty-first day prior to the election.  The secretary of state shall not
19 accept any revisions to propositions, including but not limited to changes in title,
20 text, or numerical designations, after the last day for submission of the notice and
21 certificate to the secretary of state, unless prior to the printing of the ballots, the
22 revision will correct a typographical error and the revision has been approved by the
23 governing authority that called the proposition election.
24	*          *          *
25 §1307.  Application by mail
26	*          *          *
27	E.  A person entitled to vote absentee by mail may request in his application
28 for an absentee ballot for a primary election that an absentee ballot for the
29 succeeding general election be sent to him when such ballots become available for
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1 distribution; however, in such case, the applicant shall declare in writing to the
2 registrar that he will be eligible to vote absentee by mail in the general election.  For
3 purposes of this Subsection, a party primary election and the succeeding general
4 election for a party primary office are two separate elections.  Separate requests shall
5 be made to vote absentee by mail for the party primary election and for the
6 succeeding general election.
7	*          *          *
8	L.  The registrar shall not send an absentee ballot for a closed party primary
9 election for which the voter is not eligible.
10	*          *          *
11 §1309.  Early voting; verification
12	*          *          *
13	N.
14	*          *          *
15	(5)  A list of early voting watchers shall be filed with the registrar of voters
16 by hand delivery, facsimile, mail, or commercial courier before 4:30 p.m. on the
17 fourteenth business day before the first day of early voting for the party primary,
18 primary, or general election; however, if the fourteenth business day before the first
19 day of early voting for the party primary, primary, or general election falls on a
20 Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, the list shall be filed on the next day which
21 is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday.  For purposes of this Paragraph,
22 "commercial courier" shall have the same meaning as provided in R.S. 13:3204(D).
23	*          *          *
24	(7)  A list of early voting watchers submitted for the party primary or primary
25 election may be used for the second party primary, primary, or general election only
26 if the chairman of the parish executive committee of the political party notifies the
27 registrar of voters in writing by 4:30 p.m. on the tenth business day before the start
28 of early voting for the second party primary, primary, or general election that the
29 chairman wants to use the same list of early voting watchers.
30	*          *          *
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1 §1310.  Execution of certificate; marking of ballot; casting vote; assistance
2	*          *          *
3	E.  If a voter who is not affiliated with a political party receives an absentee
4 ballot for the first party primary for a certain recognized political party in an election
5 for a party primary office and would like to choose the ballot for the first party
6 primary of a different recognized political party before his ballot has been cast and
7 returned to the registrar, he may obtain a replacement ballot from the registrar.
8 Section 3. Section 2 of Act No. 1 of the 2024 First Extraordinary Session of the
9Legislature is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
10	"Section 2.  This (A)  Solely for the purposes of qualifying for
11	elections in 2026 and for other activities and requirements related to the
12	conduct of elections in 2026, the provisions of Section 1 of this Act shall
13	become effective on June 12, 2025.
14	(B)  For all other purposes, the provisions of this Act shall become
15	effective on January 1, 2026."
16 Section 4. Section 5 of Act No. 640 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature
17is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
18	"Section 5.(A)  Solely for the purposes of qualifying for elections in
19	2026 and for other activities and requirements related to the conduct of
20	elections in 2026, the provisions of this Act shall become effective on August
21	1, 2025 June 12, 2025.
22	(B)  For all other purposes, the provisions of this Act shall become
23	effective on January 1, 2026."
24 Section 5.(A) R.S. 18:467 as amended and reenacted by Act No. 640 of the 2024
25Regular Session of the Legislature shall supersede R.S. 18:467(introductory paragraph) as
26amended and reenacted by Act No. 1 of the 2024 First Extraordinary Session of the
27Legislature.
28 (B) R.S. 18:192(A)(1) and (2), 402(A)(1), (D), and (E)(1), 410.1 through 410.3,
29410.4(B), 410.5(A), 410.6(B)(1) and (2), 410.7(A), (B)(1) and (2), and (C), 410.8, 410.9(A),
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1and 1285(B)(1)(a) as amended and reenacted by this Act shall supersede those provisions
2as amended and reenacted in Act No. 1 of the 2024 First Extraordinary Session of the
3Legislature and Act No. 640 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature to the extent
4those provisions conflict with the provisions of this Act.
5 Section 6.(A)  R.S. 18:1280.21(C) and (D), 1280.21.1, and 1371(A)(2)(c) are hereby
6repealed in their entirety.
7 (B)  Section 2 of Act No. 640 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature is
8hereby repealed in its entirety.
9 Section 7.(A)  The Louisiana State Law Institute is authorized and directed to arrange
10in alphabetical order and renumber the definitions contained in R.S. 18:2 and to correct any
11cross-references to the renumbered paragraphs if necessary, consistent with the provisions
12of this Act.
13 (B)  The Louisiana State Law Institute is authorized and directed to redesignate the
14references to R.S. 18:402(B) and (C) that appear in R.S. 18:513(A)(5), R.S. 33:383(A), and
15R.S. 33:1885 to reference R.S. 18:402.
16 Section 8. (A)  Sections 1 and 6 of this Act shall become effective August 1, 2025. 
17 (B)(i)  Solely for the purposes of qualifying for elections in 2026 and for other
18activities and requirements related to the conduct of elections in 2026, Sections 2 and 7 of
19this Act shall become effective June 12, 2025.
20 (ii)  For all other purposes, the provisions of Sections 2 and 7 of this Act shall
21become effective January 1, 2026.
22 (C)  This Section and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of this Act shall become effective upon
23signature by the governor or, if not signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for
24bills to become law without signature by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section
2518 of the Constitution of Louisiana.  If vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved
26by the legislature, Sections 3, 4, and 5 and this Section of this Act shall become effective on
27the day following such approval.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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".
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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 §2 of Act No.
640 of the 2024 R.S.)
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