House Bill No. by Representative Jenkins aims to enhance early voting accessibility in Louisiana by amending existing laws regarding early voting locations. The bill mandates that during statewide elections, each parish must provide a minimum number of early voting locations based on population and area, with specific thresholds outlined for different population ranges and square mileage. Additionally, it removes the requirement that alternate early voting locations must be in a courthouse or a public building nearby, allowing for greater flexibility in location selection. The bill also stipulates that adequate notice of early voting locations must be posted not only at the registrar's office but also on the websites of both the registrar and the clerk of court, if available.

Furthermore, the bill addresses the financial aspects of implementing these additional early voting locations. It establishes that for each new early voting site required for the 2024 statewide elections, the registrar will receive $22,000 from state funds, contingent on adequate appropriations. Starting with the first statewide election in 2025, registrars will also receive funding for technology replacement fees and salaries for temporary staff to support early voting operations. Overall, this legislation seeks to improve voter access and streamline the early voting process in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
HB538 Original: 18:1309(A)(2)