2024 Policy Priorities

Voting Rights

Power Coalition is advocating for legislation that will increase democratic opportunities in Louisiana. Contact your legislators today and ask them to support these important bills!

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    SB 96

    Clarify Voter Registration Deadlines
    Sponsored by Senator Samuel Jenkins
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    Senate Bill 96 would clarify voter registration deadlines. Currently, Louisiana has two separate voter registration deadlines:

    The deadline to register to vote in person, by mail or at the OMV Office is generally 30 days prior to the election.    

    The deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is generally 20 days prior to the election.

    To register through the GeauxVote portal, voters must have a Louisiana driver’s license or Louisiana special ID card that has the four-digit audit code on Louisiana IDs.
    This legislation would update the law so that a person registering to vote in person at a Registrar of Voters Office who has a Louisiana ID and can provide the audit code would be eligible to register up to 20 days before an election instead of 30 days. 

    This updated legislation helps people who otherwise may not have access to a computer/internet or who need help navigating the online portal and can get assistance from staff at the Registrar of Voters. Registrar staff could assist voters in completing the online application to ensure there are no delays in transcribing information from a written form. 

    This bill would alleviate confusion regarding voter registration deadlines. 

    Learn More

    HB 319

    Reason for Polling Place Changes
    Sponsored by Representative Candace Newell
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    House Bill 319 would require that when a polling location is changed, that the reason for the change must be identified online. In recent years, polling locations have been changed ahead of elections due to storms, power outages, staffing concerns, and other last minute local changes. 

    This legislation would ensure voters and organizers are able to better understand why a polling site changed and if it is a permanent or temporary relocation. 

    Requiring the parish governing authority or parish president to include the reason for the change with his notice of the change of a polling location will make this process more transparent and work to reduce voter suppression. 

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    HB 412

    Publication of Proposed Recommendations of the State Board of Election Supervisors
    Sponsored by Representative Denise Marcelle
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    House Bill 412 would require the State Board of Election Supervisors to post their draft recommendations on the Secretary of State’s website at least 72 hours before the Board votes on them. 

    Many recent policies regarding voting rights and election laws were the direct product of this Board’s recommendations.  Currently, the draft recommendations and final report are not provided to the public in advance of the Board’s meeting or after.

    Learn More

    SB 384

    Remove Barrier for Voter Registration
    Sponsored by Senator Cleo Fields
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    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. 

    SB 97

    Update Political Advertising Regulations
    Sponsored by Senator Royce Duplessis
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    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. 

    HB 261

    Non-Partisan Groups at Polling Sites
    Sponsored by Representative Matthew Willard
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    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.

    Upcoming Events


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    Geaux Far Advocacy Day at the Capitol

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