Signed by Governor John Bel Edwards

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that authorizes additional time for processing absentee ballots prior to Election Day 2020.

Highlights:

• Authorizes members of the board to be compensated no more than 11 days for a presidential or regularly scheduled congressional general election or 10 days for other elections (Sec 1).

• Authorizes parishes with 1,000 or more returned mail absentee ballots to conduct the preparation and verification process for counting early voting ballots starting 4 days prior to the election (Sec 1). 

• Specifies that absentee by mail votes to be counted at a public facilitated at a time fixed by the parish board of election supervisors and can be no later than 8:00 pm on election day (Sec 1).

• Authorizes any authorized person by the secretary of state to provide security or technical assistance including advice, analysis, diagnosis, or repair for voting machines and can only be provided by request form parish supervisors (Sec 1). 

• Authorizes candidates, their representatives, and qualified electors to be present during the preparation and verification process (Sec 1). 

• Specifies that the board will count the votes and announce them after the closing of the polls on election day (Sec 1). 

• Specifies that if a mail ballot is challenged, the members are to leave the flap on the envelope and leave it sealed (Sec 1).

• Specifies that a ballot will be rejected if one of the following occurs (Sec. 1):

• The ballot contains a distinguishing mark or feature making the ballot susceptible of identification; or

• If the ballot is physically damaged or cannot properly be counted by the counting machines or by hand.

Full Bill Text