June 12, 2023

SECRETARY ARDOIN ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING LEGISLATION PASSED DURING 2023 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION

BATON ROUGE, La. — Following the conclusion of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature this week, Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin issued the following update on the Department of State’s legislative package:

“I am grateful to the legislature for passing instruments included in our agency’s legislative package, and I am especially thankful to the members who carried these bills and worked so hard to ensure their passage. I call on Governor Edwards to swiftly sign these unsigned bills into law so that we can continue to improve upon our stellar election integrity measures,” Ardoin said. “Louisiana voters will also have the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment to ban the private funding of elections in October, thanks to Representative Blake Miguez’s HB 311.”

Selected bills that were part of the department’s package include:

• HB 311 by Representative Blake Miguez, which would amend the constitution to ban the private funding of elections in Louisiana (This bill does not require the Governor’s signature).
• HB 646 by Representative Les Farnum, which would make improvements to the annual voter canvass to improve the accuracy of Louisiana’s voter rolls.
• HB 135 by Representative Mike Johnson, which would ban sex offenders from serving as election commissioners (This bill passed the legislature unanimously).
• HB 216 by Representative Dodie Horton, which will allow members of the military stationed in Louisiana, and their dependents, to serve as election commissioners (This bill has been signed into law and is now Act 18).
• HB 361 by Representative Daryl Deshotel, which would ban TikTok on state-owned devices and networks (This bill passed the legislature unanimously). 

To view and download this Press Release, click here.

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Senate joined the House of Representatives in passing HB 311 by Representative Miguez, which will place a constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall prohibiting the use of funds and resources from a foreign government or a nongovernmental source in the conduct of Louisiana elections, functions and duties called for in the election code (Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes).

“Louisiana’s elections are among the safest in the nation, and this endorsement of Representative Miguez’s legislation by a supermajority of members in both houses only serves to help further protect Louisiana’s ballot from outside influences,” said Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin. “I thank Representative Miguez for his diligence in bringing this opportunity for Louisiana’s citizens to decide this crucial issue once and for all!”

A link to the bill’s final language can be found here.

Click here to view or download the official press release.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Today, the United States Election Assistance Commission announced that Louisiana’s 2022 I Voted sticker design, New Orleanian Becky Fos’ “Louisiana State of Mind,” won its annual Clearinghouse Award for creative and original “I Voted” sticker design.

“I’m proud and excited that Louisiana’s ‘I Voted’ sticker design has once again won national recognition,” Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin said. “Louisiana voters are passionate about their ‘I Voted’ stickers, especially given how creative each of them have been. I wish to thank Becky Fos for her work and creativity in showcasing Louisiana’s beauty and uniqueness.”

Beck Fos’ design for the 2022 “I Voted” sticker is the second Louisiana sticker in a row to win the EAC’s Clearinghouse Award. Tony Bernard’s design, used in the 2019 elections, won previously.

Click here to view or download the official press release.

We have some exciting news to share! 

Our Amite office is moving to a brand new location on Monday! 

Our new address is 110 N. 1st Street, Amite, LA 70422. 

Our courthouse office will remain open for a few days while we make the transition. 

By Thursday, we will be fully operational at our new location. 

Our mailing address and contact information will remain the same.