§ 18:55 — Compensation of registrar of voters; amount and manner of payment; reduction during

§55. Compensation of registrar of voters; amount and manner of payment; reduction during
tenure prohibited; prohibited increase
A.(1) The annual salary of registrars of voters shall be based on the most recent
population figures as shown by the latest federal decennial census, the Louisiana Tech
University population estimates for Louisiana parishes, or as determined by the governing
authority of each parish in accordance with law.
(2) The salary ranges and pay schedule for the registrars shall be as follows:
Population Range Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
0 to 40,000 $57,769 $59,502 $61,287 $63,126
40,001 to 60,000 $64,188 $66,113 $68,097 $70,140
60,001 to 100,000 $70,607 $72,725 $74,907 $77,154
100,001 to 200,000 $77,026 $79,337 $81,717 $84,168
200,001 to 1,000,000 $83,445 $85,948 $88,526 $91,182
Population Range Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8
0 to 40,000 $65,019 $66,970 $68,979 $71,049
40,001 to 60,000 $72,244 $74,441 $76,644 $78,943
60,001 to 100,000 $79,469 $81,853 $84,309 $86,838
100,001 to 200,000 $86,693 $89,294 $91,973 $94,732
200,001 to 1,000,000 $93,918 $96,735 $99,637 $102,626
Population Range Step 9 Step 10 Step 11 Step 12
0 to 40,000 $73,180 $75,375 $77,637 $79,966
40,001 to 60,000 $81,311 $83,751 $86,263 $88,851
60,001 to 100,000 $89,443 $92,126 $94,890 $97,737
100,001 to 200,000 $97,574 $100,501 $103,516 $106,622
200,001 to 1,000,000 $105,705 $108,876 $112,143 $115,507
(3)(a) A person appointed by the parish governing authority as registrar on or after
July 1, 1997, shall be employed with an annual salary of step one of the appropriate
population range, unless the person is promoted from chief deputy or confidential assistant
and such would result in a reduction in compensation. In such an instance, the newly
appointed registrar shall receive a salary increase to the amount of the nearest step in the
appropriate population range which will provide a minimum increase in salary of five
hundred dollars.
(b) Each parish governing authority shall continue to compensate its registrars at no
less than the same annual dollar amount as that paid by the particular parish on July 1, 1991,
including both the prior mandated parish portion and any supplements authorized. The
difference between the amount of compensation due each registrar and the amount payable
by the parish governing authority shall be paid by the state through the secretary of state.
(4)(a) Each registrar shall automatically receive an annual salary increase to the next
step on July first until his annual salary equals the highest step of the appropriate population
range. However, a registrar whose salary is less than step one of the appropriate population
range shall receive an annual salary increase of four thousand five hundred dollars until that
amount would cause his salary to exceed step one. At that time, he shall receive a salary
increase to the amount of the nearest step which will provide an increase of not less than five
hundred dollars.
(b) Each registrar whose salary is at the level of step one or higher shall be evaluated
as to merit in January. The merit evaluation shall result in a finding of "excellent",
"successful", "unsuccessful", or "not assessed". The criteria and procedure for the merit
evaluation shall be determined by the secretary of state in conjunction with the Registrar of
Voters Association. Each registrar shall be evaluated by the secretary of state or his designee
acting on his behalf. Upon a finding of "excellent" on a merit evaluation, the registrar shall
receive a salary increase to the next step until the registrar's salary is equal to the highest step
of the appropriate population range. A registrar may appeal the finding on a merit evaluation
to the State Board of Election Supervisors in accordance with rules promulgated by the
board. If a member of the board participates in the merit evaluation of a registrar, the
member shall not participate in an appeal of the evaluation.
B. No law to increase or decrease that portion of the salary payable by the parish
shall be enacted hereafter unless notice of intent to enact such a law has been published on
two separate days, without cost to the state, in the official journal of each locality affected
by the enactment of the increase or decrease in the salary figures. The last day of publication
shall be at least thirty days prior to introduction of the bill.
C. The annual compensation of each registrar of voters shall be based upon the most
recent census taken by the United States Government, Louisiana Tech University population
estimates for Louisiana parishes, or upon the population figures of each parish as determined
by its governing authority as provided by law.
D. The state portion of each salary shall be paid biweekly by the state through the
secretary of state, and the parish portion of each salary shall be paid monthly by the parish
governing authority on the warrant of the respective registrars. The funds for the parish
portion of the salary shall be annually appropriated by the parish governing authority and the
funds for the state portion of the salary shall be annually appropriated to the secretary of
state.
E. The registrars of voters shall receive cost-of-living salary increases whenever such
salary increases are given to state employees and a similar structure adjustment shall be made
in the entire registrars' pay schedule.
F. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, no registrar
shall receive an increase in salary as provided in Paragraph (A)(4) of this Section during a
time period when the State Civil Service Commission has suspended the authority to award
merit increases to classified employees.

Legislative History

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 37, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 236, §4, eff. Sept. 1, 1979; Acts 1979, No. 295, §3; Acts 1980, No. 634, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1980; Acts 1980, No. 716, §3; Acts 1983, No. 299, §1; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1991, No. 277, §1; Acts 1991, No. 395, §1, eff. July 1, 1991; Acts 1997, No. 1008, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 972, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 683, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2007, No. 254, §1, eff. July 1, 2007; Acts 2010, No. 622, §1, eff. June 25, 2010; Acts 2016, No. 358, §1; Acts 2025, No. 371, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.