Committee

Bill Number

Author, Party & District

Summary

LWV Position

Remarks

House & Governmental Affairs

SB 343

Sen. Carter (D)
District #102

Orleans

Expand Early Voting--Allows voters living 25 miles from nearest EV site to vote by mail. Allows ROVs to designate branch offices as EV sites. At least on EV site in each municipality with 10,000 or more voters.

Support—Expands early voting.

House & Governmental Affairs

HB 352

Rep. Landry (D)
District #91
Orleans

Postage Paid Absentee Vote by Mail Envelopes-- requires that a postage paid return envelope shall be provided to the voter.

Support—Expands vote by mail.

House & Governmental Affairs

HB 357

Rep. Jenkins (D)
District #2

Bossier/Caddo

Parish Authority and Change of Polling Place—Present law (1) requires vote of parish governing authority to change location of an established polling place, (2) requires vote of parish governing authority to change location of an established polling place, and (3) requires parish president to submit written notice of the change to SOS. Proposed law removes stipulation that president's authority to change location of polling place is contingent on there being no regularly scheduled meeting of the parish governing authority prior to the election.

Watching—Seems to allow parish president to change polling place without vote of parish authority.

House & Governmental Affairs

HB 680

Rep. Newell (D)
District #99
Orleans

Parish Authority and Change of Polling place Location--Requires notice be provided to affected voters via electronic mail and automated message by telephone or other electronic means such as text message. Requires notice of such consolidation be provided to affected voters via electronic mail and automated message by telephone or other electronic means such as text message. Requires notice of such change be provided to affected voters via electronic mail and an automated message by telephone or other electronic means such as text message. Requires that changes of polling place locations be published on websites maintained by parish election officials and SOS.

Support—Expands notification of polling place changes.

House & Governmental Affairs

HB 720

Rep. Gaines (D)

District #57

St. Charles, St. John the Baptist

Emergency Election Procedures--Provides SOS shall post shall also post list of all changed polling locations on SOS website. Adds contacting voters via telephone or electronic mail as means to provide notice of a change in polling place location. Limits the applicability of present emergency elections law requiring SOS consultation with H&GA, S&GA, and Governor to emergencies declared within 45 days prior to an election. Requires SOS to take necessary actions to ensure successful execution of the election if emergency occurs within period of less than 45 days. Allows registered voters to vote if they are unable to vote during early voting or on election day due to out-of-parish work or personal responsibilities as a result of a declared emergency. Provides that all ballots received within 3 days following election day shall be counted if a state of emergency is declared within 15 days prior to an election

Support—Facilitates elections, voting, and vote counting in emergency situations.