When voting in person on election day or during early voting, a voter must show a photo identification card, and if that is not available, the voter must sign and complete an affidavit that includes their date of birth and mother’s maiden name. 

This proposed legislation would remove the option to include mother’s maiden name. Further, it would update the law so that if a voter does not have a photo identification card, they must sign an affidavit with their full name and address where they are registered to vote instead of utilizing their mother’s maiden name. By removing the Mother’s maiden name from the options for additional information and using it as a confirmation of a signed affidavit, it removes a barrier to voting for people who may not have access to their mother’s maiden name and instead uses information that would be available to more voters. 

Inability to include a voter’s mother’s maiden name on otherwise completed forms has been used as a reason for the registrar of voters to decline a voter registration form and this proposed legislation would remove that barrier. 

Increasingly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology is making it easier to create fake videos, voice recordings, and photos that look like real people and events. This is happening across sectors and media, but it can be particularly damaging in elections. Bad actors can create fake videos, photos, and recordings that imply falsehoods about political candidates and can impact election outcomes. 

Currently, Louisiana law prohibits the misrepresentation of political candidates to protect the ability for voters to vote for candidates of choice. 

Senate Bill 97 would update political advertising regulations by explicitly prohibiting the undisclosed use of “deep fake” technology, artificial intelligence, or other similar tools that can be used to impersonate a candidate, employee, or other person with the intention of misleading voters. If political communications utilize the technologies to misrepresent a candidate, the communication must state that the message will use those technologies before the audio or visual is presented. 

The proposed legislation would also prohibit a false depiction or representation of a candidate in materials that would be distributed to voters.  

Power Coalition is in support of this proposed legislation because we know that election and candidate mis-information and dis-information have been rampant in recent elections.

The fast development of AI and deepfake technologies have made it easier than ever to spread false information to voters and influence elections. 

Updating definitions and prohibiting the use of this technology without informing voters is an important step to ensuring that voters have accurate information headed into the voting booth. 

During each election, there is a prohibition of certain activities within 600 feet of each polling location. Candidates can not do direct outreach and there are rules in place for the safety and protection of people wishing to cast their vote. Election commissioners, law enforcement officers, registrars, or deputy registrars may ask people who are violating these rules to leave the area.

Protecting the integrity of polling locations is critical to ensuring fair and free elections, but these laws have also been used to target non-partisan groups who are there to help. In recent years, advocacy groups have passed out non-partisan information at polling sites, and during long lines to cast votes have distributed water or food to people waiting to cast their votes. 

This proposed legislation would ensure that no person or entity would be prohibited from engaging in activities within 600 feet of a polling location that are not otherwise prohibited by law. This would allow non partisan advocacy groups, faith organizations, and other individuals to continue to provide resources for voters during elections.