LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: SB 22 SLS 202ES 95
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: October 23, 2020 10:57 AM Author: HEWITT
Dept./Agy.: State
Subject: Counting Absentee and Early Voting Ballots Analyst: Patrice Thomas
VOTERS/VOTING EN +$82,800 GF EX See Note Page 1 of 1
Provides for preparation and counting of absentee and early voting ballots. (gov sig) (Item #5)
Present law provides that members of the Parish Board of Election Supervisors receive 8 days of compensation for preparing
and supervising a presidential or congressional election and 7 days of compensation for preparing and supervising a primary
or general election. During a declared disaster or emergency, for Parish Board of Election Supervisors that receive over
1,000 absentee mail ballots returned, proposed law increases the number of days of compensation by 3 days from 8 days to
11 days in a presidential or congressional election and from 7 days to 10 days in a primary or general election.
Present law provides that parish board commissioners begin counting absentee by mail ballots and early voting ballots the
day before the election. During a declared disaster or emergency, proposed law increases the number of days of counting
by 3 days from 1 day to 4 days before the election.
Proposed law shall be void after August 1, 2021.
EXPENDITURES 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $82,800 $0 $0 $0 $0 $82,800
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total $82,800 $0 $0 $0 $0 $82,800
REVENUES 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
Since the State is currently in a public health emergency with respect to COVID-19, proposed law increases SGF
expenditures by $82,800 within the Secretary of State in FY 21 as the result adding three (3) extra days to the number of
days that Parish Board of Election Supervisors members may be compensated for counting absentee and early voting ballots.
Presently, each Parish Board of Election Supervisors member is authorized to receive 8 days for a presidential or
congressional election and 7 days of compensation for a primary or general election. During a declared disaster or
emergency, proposed law authorizes 3 additional days in parishes that have over 1,000 absentee ballots returned for
counting absentee and early voting ballots. Therefore, during a disaster or emergency, the number of days increases from 8
days to 11 days for a presidential or congressional election, and from 7 days to 10 days for a primary or general election.
Proposed law expires on August 1, 2021.
Historically, only 10 parishes receive over 1,000 absentee ballots. Each Parish Board of Supervisors has 5 members that
receive a $50 per diem for each meeting day. Also, each Parish Board of Election Supervisors utilizes election commissioners
to assist with counting. Based on actual costs for the October 2019 election, an average of 67 commissioners were utilized in
the 10 parishes that received over 1,000 absentee ballots. Commissioners receive compensation of $100 per day. As a
result, the estimated costs of an additional day is $7,500 for election board members ($50 per diem x 5 board members x
10 parishes x 3 days) and $20,100 for commissioners ($100 per day x 67 commissioners x 3 days), totaling $27,600 per
presidential or congressional election. The cost of a primary or general election is $13,800, or half the cost of a presidential
or congressional election. NOTE: To the extent the number of parishes receiving over 1,000 absentee ballots in the future
increases or decreases, the projected cost would change proportionally.
Below is a projected breakdown of costs for the three additional days of compensation:
FY 21 - $82,800 = 2 statewide elections (2 x $27,600) and 2 non-statewide elections (2 x $13,800)
REVENUE EXPLANATION
There is no anticipated direct material effect on governmental revenues as a result of this measure.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee Alan M. Boxberger
6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Staff Director


Statutes affected:
SB22 Original: 18:423(J), 18:1(A)
SB22 Engrossed: 18:423(J), 18:1(A)
SB22 Reengrossed: 18:423(J), 18:1(A), 18:1315(B)
SB22 Enrolled: 18:423(J), 18:1315(B)
SB22 Act : 18:423(J), 18:1315(B)