Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced the Department of State’s 2024 election integrity legislative package for the upcoming regular legislative session.
“Louisiana has some of the most well-run elections in the nation, but there is always room for improvement,” Secretary Landry said. “This package of bills will further boost our state’s election integrity policies and procedures, which the Louisiana Legislative Auditor praised in its March 2022 report, and it will bring us closer to being ranked first in the nation for election integrity. I appreciate all of the legislators who have worked with us to bring this legislation for the upcoming regular session.”
The Department’s package of bills are:
· HB 114 by Representative Les Farnum to enact an expanded voter canvass to further ensure that Louisiana’s voter rolls are accurate
· HB 476 by Representative Josh Carlson to further crackdown on absentee ballot harvesting
· HB 285 by Representative Mark Wright to create the Division of Election Integrity within the Department of State
· SB 155 by Senator Caleb Kleinpeter to prohibit individuals from assisting with more than one absentee ballot, except for immediate family members
· SB 218 by Senator Caleb Kleinpeter to restrict the unsolicited distribution of absentee ballot applications
· SB 101 by Senator Blake Miguez to ban ranked-choice voting in Louisiana elections
· HB 581 by Representative Polly Thomas to provide for more specific penalties for those witnessing more than one absentee ballot of a non-family member; to require that those signing as a witness on an absentee ballot be at least 18 years of age; and to require the witness to provide their address
· HB 506 by Representative Polly Thomas to require that those conducting voter registration drives register with the Secretary of State’s office, ensuring that registrations are timely submitted and that voters’ personal information is further protected
· SB 226 by Senator Heather Cloud to create uniform standards for tabulating absentee ballots
· HB 449 by Representative Michael Melerine to require court judgements of interdiction be delivered to the Registrar of Voters in the parish in which the interdicted individual is registered
The 2024 Regular Legislative Session begins March 11. Secretary Landry will be available for 15 minute interviews by credentialed media via phone or Google Meets on Friday, March 8 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Interested media outlets can contact Joel Watson at [email protected] or 225-922-0820 to schedule a time to speak with Secretary Landry.