RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 302 (SB 155) 2024 Regular Session Kleinpeter
Prior law (R.S. 18:1310) provided that a person who assists a voter in voting absentee by
mail shall execute the acknowledgment on the certificate prepared by the secretary of state,
verifying that the person providing the assistance has marked the ballot in the manner
dictated by the voter, and the signature on the acknowledgment by the person providing
assistance may serve as the signature of the witness required by prior law.
New law retains prior law and further provides that no person except the immediate family
member of the voter or an employee of the registrar of voters or the election division of the
Dept. of State shall assist with the certificate of more than one voter.
Prior law (R.S. 18:1333) provided that a qualified voter who resides in a nursing home
within the parish in which he is entitled to vote may vote early at least one week prior to the
beginning of early voting through the last day for early voting.
New law provides that a qualified voter who resides in a nursing home within the parish in
which he is entitled to vote may vote early at least two weeks prior to the beginning of early
voting through the last day for early voting.
New law requires that any document required by or provided for in the Louisiana Election
Code be witnessed by a person who is at least 18 years old. Specifically requires that each
witness who signs an absentee by mail ballot certificate provide his mailing address in the
appropriate space on the certificate.
New law provides that it is an election offense for one to witness the certificate of more than
one voter who is not an immediate family member.
Provisions regarding witness of ballots (§§1310 & 1333) effective August 1, 2024;
provisions regarding witness requirements (§§4 and 1461.7) effective July 1, 2025.
(Amends R.S. 18:1310(C)(1) and 1333(B); adds R.S. 18:4 and 1461.7(A)(7))


Statutes affected:
SB155 Original: 18:1310(C)(1)
SB155 Engrossed: 18:1310(C)(1), 18:1333(B)
SB155 Enrolled: 18:1310(C)(1), 18:1333(B)
SB155 Act 302: 18:1310(C)(1), 18:1333(B)