House Bill No. 396 aims to amend the process for reinstating voter registration for individuals who have had their registration suspended due to felony convictions. The bill stipulates that the registrar of voters must reinstate a person's registration upon the submission of a voter reinstatement application developed by the secretary of state and approved by the attorney general. This application can be filed in person, by mail, or electronically if an approved method is available. The reinstatement is contingent upon the individual no longer being identified on certain suspension lists, receiving notice that their conviction has been overturned, or providing documentation from a correction official indicating they are no longer under an order of imprisonment.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new protocol for handling applications that are incorrectly filled out or lack necessary documentation. In such cases, the registrar is required to notify the applicant in writing, provide the correct form, and allow ten days for the applicant to submit the required information. If the applicant fails to respond within this timeframe, their reinstatement will be rejected. The bill also allows for the delivery of documentation through various methods, including electronic submission, thereby modernizing the process and making it more accessible for individuals seeking to reinstate their voter registration.

Statutes affected:
HB396 Original: 18:177(A)
HB396 Engrossed: 18:177(A)
HB396 Reengrossed: 18:177(A)