House Bill No. 519, introduced by Representative Carpenter, aims to enhance absentee voting provisions for qualified incarcerated voters in Louisiana. The bill amends existing law to allow these voters to apply for and vote absentee by mail without the requirement to vote in person. Specifically, it adds provisions that enable the registrar of voters to collect completed absentee ballot applications and ballots directly from jails or other locations where incarcerated voters are held, ensuring that their voting rights are upheld.

Key changes include the insertion of new legal language that allows incarcerated individuals, who are not convicted felons, to request absentee ballots and mandates the registrar to gather these ballots from the sheriff's office. The bill also clarifies that the registrar must collect these ballots before the election deadline, thereby streamlining the voting process for this demographic. Overall, the legislation seeks to facilitate greater access to voting for incarcerated individuals while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.

Statutes affected:
HB519 Original: 18:1307(B)(1), 18:1308(B)(1)
HB519 Engrossed: 18:1308(B)(1)