House Bill No. 1057, introduced by Representative Walters, amends R.S. 18:1307(C) to enhance the absentee voting process for members of the United States Service and citizens residing outside the U.S. The bill allows these individuals to apply for absentee voting by using the federal postcard application or an application electronically transmitted by the registrar or secretary of state. The application must be received by the registrar no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day before the election. A significant change in the bill is that the validity period of the application is extended from one year to two years from the date it is received by the registrar, ensuring that it covers at least one regularly scheduled federal general election.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that if an application is rejected, the registrar must provide written reasons for the rejection to the applicant. The effective date for this legislation is set for July 1, 2027. The amendments adopted by the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs included technical changes, the addition of the effective date, and the removal of a provision that would have allowed the application to remain valid only until the member is no longer stationed or deployed outside the U.S. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the absentee voting process for military and overseas voters, making it more accessible and efficient.

Statutes affected:
HB1057 Original: 18:1307(C)
HB1057 Engrossed: 18:1307(C)