HB 1057 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

VOTERS/VOTING: Provides for an application to vote absentee by mail made by a member of the United States Service

This bill updates Louisiana's absentee voting rules to better accommodate members of the United States military stationed or deployed outside the country. It allows these service members to use federal postcard applications or electronic submissions and extends the validity of their applications until they are no longer deployed abroad. The law also requires registrars to provide written reasons if they reject a military member's application and mandates that service members submit a new application if their ballot is returned as undeliverable due to address changes. These changes aim to simplify the voting process for military personnel while maintaining oversight through specific requirements for application validity and registrar responsibilities.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Mar 30, 2026 Signed Jun 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1057 Original → HB1057 Act 693 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill expands absentee voting eligibility by including citizens who reside outside the United States, not just military service members. It also extends the validity period of voting applications from one year to two years, allowing residents abroad to vote without reapplying as frequently. Additionally, the law is delayed to take effect on July 1, 2027, rather than immediately.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of absentee voting eligibility to include non-military citizens living abroad and increases the duration of valid applications for those living outside the U.S.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility to include citizens residing outside the United States, in addition to members of the United States Service.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the validity period of absentee applications from one year to two years for applicants residing outside the United States.

TIMELINE

Added a specific effective date of July 1, 2027, for the new provisions.

Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2026 · House May 11, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

May 26, 2026

D Democratic12

9 Yea 3

75% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 21, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 71, nays 27. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (15-0).

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor