RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 754 (HB 962) 2024 Regular Session Billings
Existing law requires each parish board of election supervisors to conduct its business in the
presence of a quorum, subject to the Open Meetings Law (R.S. 42:11, et seq.), which
requires written public notice of any regular, special, or rescheduled meeting not later than
24 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, before the meeting.
New law requires that all members of the board be given actual notice of all board meetings
not later than 24 hours before each meeting, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal
holidays.
Existing law requires the parish board of election supervisors to conduct the preparation
verification, tabulation, and counting of absentee by mail and early voting ballots in the
parish. Authorizes the board to utilize and select parish board commissioners to count the
ballots.
Existing law requires a majority of the parish board of election supervisors to be present to
determine whether an absentee by mail or early voting ballot is invalid and requires the
inspection by a candidate of certificates removed from valid absentee by mail and early
voting ballots be done in the presence of a majority of the parish board of election
supervisors.
When the preparation verification, tabulation, and counting is conducted on election day and
a majority of the members of the board are not present and no parish board commissioners
were previously selected, prior law (R.S. 18:1313) authorized the members present to select
a sufficient number of parish board commissioners on election day to assist.
New law instead requires the board, through the registrar of voters, to receive approval from
the commissioner of elections to select a sufficient number of commissioners to assist.
Existing law (R.S. 18:1313.1) authorizes parishes to conduct preparation and verification the
day prior to the election and conduct tabulation and counting on election day. In such
circumstances, if less than a majority of the parish board members are present, prior law
authorized the members present to select a sufficient number of parish board commissioners
three days before the election or on election day, as applicable, to assist in both the
preparation and verification process and the tabulation and counting of the ballots.
New law instead provides that if less than a majority but at least two of the members of the
board are present for the preparation and verification process and the board cannot locate an
alternate designee or appointee, the board shall, through the registrar of voters, so inform the
commissioner of elections and request approval from the commissioner of elections for the
appointment of a parish board commissioner to serve as a board member. The board shall
receive approval of the commissioner of elections before proceeding with the preparation and
verification process without a majority present.
New law also provides that if an insufficient number of parish board commissioners were
previously selected for the preparation and verification process or to count the absentee by
mail and early voting ballots, the board, through the registrar of voters, may request approval
from the commissioner of elections to select a sufficient number of parish board
commissioners three days before the election or on election day, as applicable, to assist in
the preparation and verification process for the tabulation and counting of absentee by mail
and early voting ballots and the tabulation and counting of the ballots.
Existing law (R.S. 18:1313(E) and 1313.1(E)) authorizes candidates, their representatives,
and qualified electors to be present during the preparation, verification, counting, and
tabulation of absentee by mail and early voting ballots. If the counting and tabulation of
ballots begin prior to the closing of the polls, the board shall inform any person who wants
to be present during the preparation, verification, counting, and tabulation that no person will
be allowed to leave or to communicate with any other person outside until such time as the
polls are closed. Further prohibits a person who is present from possessing a cellular
telephone or electronic communication device.
New law further prohibits the possession of an electronic recording device during
preparation, verification, counting, and tabulation and provides that the process shall not be
video, audio, or tape recorded, filmed, or broadcast live.
Existing law (R.S. 18:1309.1 and 1373) authorizes candidates, their representatives, and
qualified electors to be present to observe the preparation of voting machines by the registrar
of voters with the assistance of the secretary of state's technicians and to observe the testing
and sealing of the machines by the registrar of voters in the presence of the parish board of
election supervisors.
New law further prohibits the video, audio, or tape recording, filming, or live broadcast of
the preparation, testing, inspecting, sealing, and locking of voting machines.
Effective August 1, 2024.
(Amends R.S. 18:423(I), 1302(2), 1313(B) and (E), and 1313.1(B) and (E); Adds R.S.
18:1309.1(E) and 1373(D))


Statutes affected:
HB962 Original: 18:423(I), 18:1302(2), 18:1313(B), 18:1(B)
HB962 Engrossed: 18:423(I), 18:1302(2), 18:1313(B), 18:1(B)
HB962 Reengrossed: 18:423(I), 18:1302(2), 18:1313(B), 18:1(B)
HB962 Enrolled: 18:423(I), 18:1302(2), 18:1313(B), 18:1(B)
HB962 Act 754: 18:423(I), 18:1302(2), 18:1313(B), 18:1(B)