Louisiana HSR 3: ELECTIONS/DATES: Requests a study on the number of Louisiana election dates

Bill Text

HLS 24RS-289 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE STUDY REQUEST NO. 3
BY REPRESENTATIVE MANDIE LANDRY
ELECTIONS/DATES: Requests a study on the number of Louisiana election dates
1 A STUDY REQUEST
2 To request the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs to study the
3 possibility of reducing the number of elections held in Louisiana and to report its
4 findings to the House of Representatives prior to the convening of the 2025 Regular
5 Session.
6 WHEREAS, many Louisianans have expressed the view that there are too many
7 dates for elections in this state; in 2023, there were seven election dates held over the course
8 of the year; and
9 WHEREAS, a large number of election dates has numerous detrimental effects on
10 the state and on the efficient operation of representative democracy more generally; and
11 WHEREAS, voter interest and participation in elections tends to decline when there
12 are too many elections; voter turnout in local and special elections is frequently very low;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, there is a cost associated with each election; though holding elections
15 is certainly a valid expense for any government, there are many other valid claims on the
16 public fisc, so it is a concern if the state is spending more than necessary conducting
17 elections; and
18 WHEREAS, elections require human and technological resources, and there is a
19 point at which those resources are over-taxed; frequent elections may encroach upon the
20 time required for proper attention to regular maintenance of voting machines, and elections
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HLS 24RS-289 ORIGINAL
HSR NO. 3
1 professionals who are constantly shifting focus from one election to the next can be placed
2 under undue stress when there are more demands than time to meet those demands; and
3 WHEREAS, questions about whether there is an appropriate number of elections are
4 important because the trust Americans have in the legitimacy of their democratic
5 government is dependent on their faith in the legitimacy of its elections and their willingness
6 to participate in those elections; numerous elections with very little to vote on can lead to
7 voter disengagement; and
8 WHEREAS, Louisiana's election cycles are governed by constitutional and statutory
9 provisions and a reduction in the number of elections will require statutory or constitutional
10 revision.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
12 Legislature of Louisiana requests the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs
13 to study the number of elections held in Louisiana and consider possible changes to the
14 Louisiana constitution and statutes to facilitate a reduction in the number of elections and
15 to report its findings to the House of Representatives prior to the convening of the 2025
16 Regular Session.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HSR 3 Original 2024 Regular Session Mandie Landry
Requests that the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs study the need for
a reduction in the number of elections held in La. and report its findings to the House of
Representatives prior to the 2025 R.S.
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