Signed by Governor John Bel Edwards

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report and pass a bill that establishes a Voting System Commission to examine voting standards and regulations.

Highlights:

• Requires the secretary of state to administer the laws relating to custody of voting machines and voter registration (Sec. 1A).

• Requires the secretary of state to prescribe uniform rules, regulations, forms, and instructions as to the use of voting systems in early voting which will be approved by the attorney general and will be applied uniformly by each registered voter in the state (Sec. 1).

• Defines “cast ballot” as a ballot where the voter has taken final action after reviewing their selections and irrevocably confirmed their intent to vote (Sec. 1).

• Defines “public counter” as a protective device that shall incrementally record and indicate each time votes have been cast on a machine during an election (Sec. 1).

• Requires voting machines to be used throughout the state in all elections (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes paper ballots to be used when voting machines fail, for voting absentee by mail, early voting, and for provisional ballots (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes secure hand-marked paper ballots to be used for in-person early voting and election day voting after the procurement of a new voting system (Sec. 1).

• Requires the secretary of state to promulgate uniform rules and regulations concerning matters about the certification standards and requirements, the procurement, preparation, and use of voting systems in the conduct of elections (Sec. 1).

• Requires the rules and regulations for voting systems to provide for each of the voting system requirements and the following (Sec. 1):

• Standards and procedures for usability, accessibility, durability, accuracy, efficiency, and capacity; and

• Standards and procedures for the control and auditability of voter-verified paper records.

• Requires the secretary of state to contract no fewer than 3 but no more than 5 qualified independent experts to assist them in performing the state certification examination (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Voting System Commission within the Department of State to evaluate and recommend the type of voting system that will be procured to replace the voting system in use (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Voting System Commission to be comprised of the following (Sec. 1):

• The commissioner of elections;

• 2 House of Representatives members appointed by the speaker of the House, one affiliated with the Republican Party and the other with the Democratic Party;

• 2 members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, one affiliated with the Republican Party and the other with the Democratic Party;

• 2 Louisiana registered voters appointed by the governor, one representing the disabled community;

• The secretary of state; and

• 2 Louisiana registered voters appointed by the attorney general.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report and pass a bill that establishes a Voting System Commission to examine voting standards and regulations.

Highlights:

• Requires the secretary of state to administer the laws relating to custody of voting machines and voter registration (Sec. 1A).

• Requires the secretary of state to prescribe uniform rules, regulations, forms, and instructions as to the use of voting systems in early voting which will be approved by the attorney general and will be applied uniformly by each registered voter in the state (Sec. 1).

• Defines “cast ballot” as a ballot where the voter has taken final action after reviewing their selections and irrevocably confirmed their intent to vote (Sec. 1).

• Defines “public counter” as a protective device that shall incrementally record and indicate each time votes have been cast on a machine during an election (Sec. 1).

• Requires voting machines to be used throughout the state in all elections (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes paper ballots to be used when voting machines fail, for voting absentee by mail, early voting, and for provisional ballots (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes secure hand-marked paper ballots to be used for in-person early voting and election day voting after the procurement of a new voting system (Sec. 1).

• Requires the secretary of state to promulgate uniform rules and regulations concerning matters about the certification standards and requirements, the procurement, preparation, and use of voting systems in the conduct of elections (Sec. 1).

• Requires the rules and regulations for voting systems to provide for each of the voting system requirements and the following (Sec. 1):

• Standards and procedures for usability, accessibility, durability, accuracy, efficiency, and capacity; and

• Standards and procedures for the control and auditability of voter-verified paper records.

• Requires the secretary of state to contract no fewer than 3 but no more than 5 qualified independent experts to assist them in performing the state certification examination (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Voting System Commission within the Department of State to evaluate and recommend the type of voting system that will be procured to replace the voting system in use (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Voting System Commission to be comprised of the following (Sec. 1):

• The commissioner of elections;

• 2 House of Representatives members appointed by the speaker of the House, one affiliated with the Republican Party and the other with the Democratic Party;

• 2 members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, one affiliated with the Republican Party and the other with the Democratic Party;

• 2 Louisiana registered voters appointed by the governor, one representing the disabled community;

• The secretary of state; and

• 2 Louisiana registered voters appointed by the attorney general.

Full Bill Text