Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto and pass a bill that establishes rules for legislative auditor examinations, audits, and reviews of elections and retention of election records.

Highlights:

• Requires the registrar of voters to keep and maintain all records relating to absentees by mail and early voting for at least 2 years from the election date (Sec. 1A).

• Requires the registrar of voters to keep and maintain, for at least 2 years from the election date, all applications for registration and registration records received for purposes of voting in an election involving the President, Vice President, presidential elector, U.S. Senator, or U.S. Representative (Sec. 1B).

• Requires each election official to retain and preserve, for at least 2 years from the election date, all records and papers relating to the qualifying of candidates, selection of commissioners, and any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting in an election (Sec. 1).

• Requires the registrar to write across the ballot “rejected, voted at precinct” if the voter has voted in person at the precinct, and shall include such ballot with other mail ballots received on or after election day to be kept unopened for 2 years from the election date (Sec. 1).

• Requires the legislative auditor to examine, audit, or review local, state, and federal elections and shall prescribe the scope, frequency, and methodology of the examinations (Sec. 1).

• Requires any original record examined, audited, or reviewed by the legislative auditor to remain under the physical control and custody of the election official (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the legislative auditor to utilize a performance-based or risk-based approach following appropriate auditing standards for the examinations of elections (Sec. 1).

• Requires the legislative auditor to submit any audit report to the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs, the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs, and the secretary of state (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes rules for legislative auditor examinations, audits, and reviews of elections and retention of election records.

Highlights:

• Requires the registrar of voters to keep and maintain all records relating to absentees by mail and early voting for at least 2 years from the election date (Sec. 1A).

• Requires the registrar of voters to keep and maintain, for at least 2 years from the election date, all applications for registration and registration records received for purposes of voting in an election involving the President, Vice President, presidential elector, U.S. Senator, or U.S. Representative (Sec. 1B).

• Requires each election official to retain and preserve, for at least 2 years from the election date, all records and papers relating to the qualifying of candidates, selection of commissioners, and any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting in an election (Sec. 1).

• Requires the registrar to write across the ballot “rejected, voted at precinct” if the voter has voted in person at the precinct, and shall include such ballot with other mail ballots received on or after election day to be kept unopened for 2 years from the election date (Sec. 1).

• Requires the legislative auditor to examine, audit, or review local, state, and federal elections and shall prescribe the scope, frequency, and methodology of the examinations (Sec. 1).

• Requires any original record examined, audited, or reviewed by the legislative auditor to remain under the physical control and custody of the election official (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the legislative auditor to utilize a performance-based or risk-based approach following appropriate auditing standards for the examinations of elections (Sec. 1).

• Requires the legislative auditor to submit any audit report to the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs, the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs, and the secretary of state (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text