Louisiana Administrative Code Title 31 - ELECTIONS
Here’s a detailed overview of the Louisiana Administrative Code Title 31 – Elections, current through June 2025 (doa.la.gov):
📘 Title 31 – Elections
🚦 Structure
Title 31 is divided into three major Parts:
Part I – Election Process
• Chapters 1–11 cover everything from polling site accessibility to emergency ballot procedures (regulations.justia.com, sos.la.gov).
Part II – Voter Registration & Education
• Chapters 1–7 address registrar responsibilities, voter registration mechanisms (including through agencies), and voter education standards (sos.la.gov, law.cornell.edu).
Part III – Procurement
• Chapters 1–3 govern processes for voting-system storage and certification (sos.la.gov).
🔍 Highlights from Part I – Election Process
Chapter 1: Polling Place Accessibility
Sets clear guidelines on accessible routes, parking, entrances, and inspection requirements to ensure compliance for elderly and disabled voters (doa.la.gov).
Chapter 3: Cure of Absentee‑By‑Mail Deficiencies
Allows registrars to review absentee envelopes immediately upon receipt and cure issues like missing signatures or dates (law.cornell.edu).
Chapter 5: Election Night Transmission of Results
(Though not detailed above, this chapter ensures uniform processes for how results are reported electronically on election night) (sos.la.gov).
Chapter 7: Election Expense Reimbursement
Establishes how parish boards may claim and receive reimbursement for election-related expenses (sos.la.gov).
Chapter 8: Voting Technology Fund
Covers funding mechanisms, possibly including grants or state monies for voting equipment .
Chapter 9: Recognition of Political Parties
Details criteria and processes for official party recognition, such as minimum registered voters and filing fees .
Chapter 11: Emergency Election‑Day Paper Ballot Procedures
Specifies how to handle and count emergency paper ballots used on election day, including chain-of-custody and tabulation steps (law.cornell.edu).
🗂️ Part II – Voter Registration & Education
Covers:
Chapters 1–2: Roles and merit appeal processes for registrars of voters.
Chapters 3–5: Voter registration channels—DMV, public-assistance agencies, optional agencies—for expanded access (doa.la.gov).
Chapter 7: Nonpartisan registration and education standards.
🛠️ Part III – Procurement
Chapter 1: Rules for drayage (transport/storage) of voting systems.
Chapter 3: Competitive bidding and certification standards for voting systems (sos.la.gov, doa.la.gov).
✅ Why It Matters
Compliance & accessibility — Ensures polling places meet ADA standards and absentee ballots can be corrected.
Financial oversight — Regulates expense reimbursements and the establishment of a voting equipment fund.
Integrity in voting systems — Standardizes system procurement and assures certified, secure equipment.
Party & voter facilitation — Sets rules for recognizing new parties, expanding voter registration, and preserving emergency voting processes.
🔗 For Full Text & Updates
The Louisiana Division of Administration provides PDFs and DOCs of Title 31 (updated June 2025) (doa.la.gov).
The LA Secretary of State website maintains the latest administrative rules (sos.la.gov).
LII (Cornell Law) and Justia offer searchable versions of Title 31 (regulations.justia.com).
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