La. R.S. § 18:1306 Preparation and Distribution of Absentee By Mail and Early Voting Ballots

• Library: Louisiana Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current with changes from the 2023 Legislative Session
• Year: 2023
• Citation: La. R.S. § 18:1306

A.

(1) The secretary of state shall prepare absentee by mail and early voting ballots. The size and weight of paper, size and type of print, and other matters pertaining to absentee by mail and early voting ballots shall be determined by the secretary of state, subject to approval as to content by the attorney general. All ballots and paraphernalia of the same kind shall be identical as to size and weight of paper, size, type, and color of print, and other matters, except for ballots transmitted electronically to members of the United States Service, as defined in R.S. 18:1302, and to persons residing outside the United States.

(2)

(a) Each ballot shall have printed on its face instructions informing the voter of the types of marks which may be used on that ballot to indicate his vote.

(b) The instructions shall inform the voter that a combination of marks may not be used on the same ballot and that the use of more than one type of mark on the same ballot will result in that ballot being voided.

(3) A ballot shall be marked by the voter with a pencil containing black lead or a pen containing black or blue ink, and the instructions printed on the face of the ballot shall inform the voter of this requirement. The instructions printed on the face of the ballot shall also inform the voter concerning how to change or correct his vote on the ballot before it is cast and counted, including through the issuance of a replacement ballot if the voter is otherwise unable to change or correct his vote on the ballot.

(4) The secretary of state shall prepare a special absentee ballot for candidates and constitutional amendments to be voted on in general elections, subject to approval as to content by the attorney general. This special ballot shall only be for use by a qualified voter who is either a member of the United States Service or who resides outside of the United States. Such special ballot shall contain a list of the titles of all offices being contested at the primary election and the candidates qualifying for the primary election for each office, and shall permit the elector to vote in the general election by indicating his order of preference for each candidate for each office. On the special ballot shall also be printed each constitutional amendment to be voted on in the general election. To indicate his order of preference for each candidate for each office to be voted on in the election, the voter shall put the number one next to the name of the candidate who is the voter's first choice, the number two for his second choice and so forth so that, in consecutive numerical order, a number indicating the voter's preference is written by the voter next to each candidate's name on the ballot. A space shall be provided for the voter to indicate his preference for or against each constitutional amendment contained on the ballot. The voter shall not be required to indicate his preference for more than one candidate on the ballot if the voter so chooses. The secretary of state shall also prepare instructions for use of the special ballot, including instructions for voting by mail using an electronically transmitted ballot.