SB 319: ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT: Provides for instructions to elections commissioners. (7/1/27) - Louisiana

Senate Floor Bureau Note, #2392, Pressly, Adopted → SB319 Act 5 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized into an Act, converting it from a draft amendment to an enforceable law. The primary substantive change is the formalization of voter identification rules, which now explicitly allow voters without picture ID to sign an affidavit and vote, provided they also present a second form of identification. The text also clarifies the duties of election officials to instruct voters on these procedures and report on affidavit usage.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a proposed amendment to an enacted statute for the 2026 Regular Session, making the new election procedures legally binding.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced draft amendment headers with the formal title and purpose of the Act, establishing it as official law.

Formalized the requirement for election officials to conduct mandatory training courses for commissioners before each election.

Listed specific acceptable forms of picture identification, including driver's licenses, passports, military IDs, and tribal cards.

Specified that affidavits must include the voter's date of birth and mother's maiden name.

ELIGIBILITY

Codified the process allowing voters without picture ID to vote by signing an affidavit and presenting a secondary form of identification.

SB319 Original → Senate Floor Bureau Note, #2392, Pressly, Adopted · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to clarify that its provisions apply specifically to election commissioners, adding a new section title and scope. Additionally, the text regarding voter identification procedures was significantly restructured to correct citation errors and improve the logical flow of instructions for handling voters without picture IDs.

Scope change

The bill's scope was explicitly narrowed and clarified to apply 'relative to election commissioners,' ensuring the new instructions are directed at the correct officials.

SCOPE

Added a new scope clause stating the bill is 'relative to election commissioners' to clarify the target audience of the legislation.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized the text describing voter identification procedures to fix citation errors (e.g., changing 'A Louisiana driver's license,;' to 'A Louisiana driver's license') and clarify the sequence of offering affidavits to voters without picture IDs.

Corrected fragmented text in the commissioner instruction section to properly link the duty to offer affidavits with the opportunity for voters to provide alternative identification.

SB319 Enrolled → SB319 Original · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill transitions from an 'Enrolled' version to an 'Original' draft, reversing the formatting of the header and title page. Substantively, the text of the bill itself remains unchanged, as the line-by-line comparison shows identical legislative language for election procedures, identification requirements, and commissioner duties. No new policies, funding, or eligibility criteria were added or removed in this specific version comparison.

TECHNICAL

The document header and title page were reformatted from 'Enrolled' status to 'Original' draft status, indicating a change in the bill's legislative stage rather than a change in content.

SB319 Reengrossed → SB319 Enrolled · 4 edits · May 27, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled version, changing the header from 'Reengrossed' to 'Enrolled' and adjusting the pagination. Substantively, the text includes minor formatting corrections to the list of acceptable identification documents and clarifies that voters with disabilities may receive assistance in signing the affidavit without it being considered a violation of the law.

TECHNICAL

The document header was updated from 'REENGROSSED' to 'ENROLLED', indicating the bill has been approved by both houses and is ready for signing into law.

The page count was updated from 12 pages to 10 pages, reflecting the final version of the document.

REQUIREMENT

Minor text adjustments were made to the list of acceptable identification documents to correct punctuation and formatting inconsistencies.

Clarification was added stating that voters unable to complete the affidavit due to disability may receive assistance, and the commissioner must note this on the form.

SB319 Engrossed → SB319 Reengrossed · 3 edits · May 26, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to update the effective date from August 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027, and to expand the scope of the election commissioner training program. The reengrossed version clarifies that the training must cover duties regarding voters without picture identification and ensures the curriculum includes specific instructions on how to handle affidavit signatures for these voters. Additionally, the document formatting was adjusted to reflect the new version status.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include instruction on handling voters who lack picture identification within the mandatory training for election officials.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the legislation was changed from August 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027.

REQUIREMENT

The training requirements for election commissioners were updated to explicitly include instruction on offering affidavits to voters who do not have picture identification.

The description of the training curriculum was revised to ensure it covers the specific procedures for assisting voters in providing identification via affidavit.

ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT: Provides for instructions to elections commissioners. (7/1/27)

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