§ 18:1373 — Notice of preparation of machines for election; preparation of machines for election;

Louisiana § 18:1373

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 18: Conservation

Text

§1373. Notice of preparation of machines for election; preparation of machines for election;
testing and adjusting; examination by candidate or his representative; securing and
sealing machines
A.(1) The secretary of state shall notify each parish custodian of the time and place
at which he will begin preparing and testing the voting machines for an election. The
qualifying official shall at the time of qualifying provide each candidate in the election with
a chronological table of procedures for the election that instructs the candidate to contact the
registrar of voters for the time and place at which the preparation and testing of the early
voting machines will be conducted and the appropriate election official for the time and place
at which the preparation and testing of the machines will be conducted and when the
machines will be sealed and states that the candidate or his representative may be present to
observe the preparation and testing of the machines by the secretary of state's technicians.
(2) The secretary of state shall prepare the voting machines for the election by
placing them in order, inserting the proper ballots, and testing and adjusting the voting
machines for the election. A test vote report shall be produced by each machine, and a
signed certification of such testing shall be submitted to the parish board of election
supervisors. In preparing the machines, the secretary of state shall lock out against use on
each machine those vote indicators or devices that are not to be used at the election. In
preparing and testing machines, the secretary of state shall use the mechanics and technicians
authorized by R.S. 18:1353.
(3) Each candidate or his representative shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity
to inspect and review the test vote report of the machines to see that they are in the proper
condition for use in the election, which shall not be less than thirty minutes beginning at the
time designated by the parish custodian, in conjunction with the secretary of state, to seal the
machines.
(4) No candidate, representative, or citizen shall interfere with the secretary of state
or any employee or technician or assume any of their duties during the preparation and
testing of the voting machines. Each candidate or representative shall identify to the
secretary of state and parish custodian the candidate whom he is representing. In addition,
any citizen of this state may be present to observe the preparation and testing of the machines
by the secretary of state's technicians and shall be afforded an opportunity to inspect and
review the test vote report of the machines.
(5) After the machines have been prepared and tested by the secretary of state's
technicians and examined by each candidate or representative, citizen, or parish board
member who is present, the parish board shall confirm the enclosure of the registration books
or lists and other paraphernalia and shall forthwith seal each machine with a numbered seal.
At that time, the parish custodian, in the presence of the candidates or their representatives,
parish board members, and any citizens who are present, shall certify to the numbers of the
machines, that all of the public counters are set at zero, and as to the number registered on
the protective counter of the machine.
B. After each voting machine has been properly secured, sealed, and locked, the
keys, if applicable, shall be placed in the key envelope on which shall be written the precinct
number and the assigned precinct location of the voting machine, the number of the seal, and
the number registered on the protective counter or device. The envelope shall be sealed in
the presence of the candidates or their representatives then present and shall be held by the
parish custodian or his representative until turned over for delivery to the election
commissioners at the polling place on election day.
C. The preparation, testing, inspection, sealing, and locking of the machines and all
duties required pursuant to this Part shall be completed as scheduled by the secretary of state
and the parish custodian, but in no case later than thirty-six hours prior to the time fixed by
law for the opening of the polls.
D. The preparation, testing, inspecting, sealing, and locking of the machines shall
not be video, audio, or tape recorded, filmed, or broadcast live.

Legislative History

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1982, No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1983; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2009, No. 369, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 381, §1, eff. June 17, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 572, §1; Acts 2024, No. 754, §1.