§196. Inactive list of voters; procedure for voting

A.(1) In addition to the official list of voters, there shall be an inactive list of voters which shall consist of registrants who have been mailed an address confirmation card. The names of registrants on the inactive list of voters shall not be counted in computing the number of ballots required for an election, the number of voters required to divide or constitute a precinct, the number of signatures required on any petition, the number of commissioners at a precinct pursuant to R.S. 18:425, the number of voting machines to be allocated and used in each voting precinct pursuant to R.S. 18:1363, or the number of registered voters necessary to recognize or determine the organization of a political party or committee.

(2) However, any registrant whose name appears on the inactive list of voters shall be eligible to sign a petition and such petition signature, if valid, shall be sufficient to return the registrant to the official list of voters. If the registrant still resides at the address on file at the office of the registrar of voters, the address on the petition shall be considered written confirmation of the continuation of that address for that registrant. However, if the address is different from that on file at the office of the registrar of voters, the address on the petition shall be considered written confirmation of the change of address of the registrant.

B. A registrant whose name is on the inactive list of voters may vote:

(1) If the registrant has not changed residence, at the polling place of such registrant's last address upon affirming in writing by completing an address confirmation card affirming that such registrant still resides at the address on file at the office of the registrar of voters.

(2) If the registrant has moved to an address within the parish in the same precinct, at the polling place of such registrant's last address on file at the office of the registrar of voters upon affirming in writing that such registrant resides in the precinct by completing an address confirmation card affirming the new address within the precinct.

(3) If the registrant has moved to an address within the parish in a different precinct, at the polling place of such registrant's last address on file at the office of the registrar of voters for that election only upon affirming in writing that such registrant still resides in the parish by completing an address confirmation card affirming the new address within the parish.

(4) If the registrant has moved to an address outside the parish, at the polling place of such registrant's last address on file at the office of the registrar of voters for that election only upon affirming in writing that such registrant has moved within the last three months and no longer resides in the parish by completing an address confirmation card affirming the new address outside the parish and that the length of time since the move has not exceeded three months. If such registrant does not affirm that he has moved within the last three months, he shall not be permitted to vote.

C.(1)(a) If a registrant whose name is on the inactive list of voters appears at the polls and votes as provided under Paragraph (B)(1), (2), or (3) of this Section, the registrar shall transfer the registrant's name to the official list of voters and make any necessary corrections in the registrant's registration records.

(b) If the registrant appears at the polls and confirms that he has permanently moved to a different parish, the registrar shall transfer the registrant's registration information to the registrar of the new parish of residence.

(c) If the registrant appears at the polls and confirms that he has permanently moved outside the state, the registrar shall cancel the registrant's registration.

(2)(a) If a registrant whose name is on the inactive list of voters votes absentee by mail or during early voting, the registrar shall transfer the registrant's name to the official list of voters and make any necessary corrections in the registrant's registration records if the information on the address confirmation card, as required by R.S. 18:1309, or the residence address provided in an application to vote by mail so indicates.

(b) If the registrant confirms that he has permanently moved to a different parish, the registrar shall transfer the registrant's registration information to the registrar of the new parish of residence.

(c) If the registrant confirms that he has permanently moved outside the state, the registrar shall cancel the registrant's registration.

(3) If a registrant whose name appears on the inactive list of voters has returned an address confirmation card or other signed notice confirming an address change to the registrar of voters that was received after the close of books prior to a primary election and before the close of books for the general election, the registrar shall transfer the registrant's name to the official list of voters prior to the general election and make any necessary corrections in the registrant's registration records.

D. If a registrant who has failed to respond to an address confirmation card and whose name appears on the inactive list of voters does not vote in any election from the date he is placed on the inactive list of voters until the day after the second regularly scheduled general election for federal office held after such date, the registrar shall cancel the registration of the registrant.

Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2004, No. 526, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2005, No. 220, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 369, §1, eff. Aug. 15, 2009, and §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017.