§ La. R.S. 18:1306(untitled)

Preparation and distribution of absentee by mail and early voting ballots
A.(1) The secretary of state shall prepare absentee by mail and early voting ballots. The size and
weight of paper, size and type of print, and other matters pertaining to absentee by mail and early voting
ballots shall be determined by the secretary of state, subject to approval as to content by the attorney general.
All ballots and paraphernalia of the same kind shall be identical as to size and weight of paper, size, type,
and color of print, and other matters, except for ballots transmitted electronically to members of the United
States Service, as defined in R.S. 18:1302, and to persons residing outside the United States.
(2)(a) Each ballot shall have printed on its face instructions informing the voter of the types of marks
which may be used on that ballot to indicate his vote.
(b) The instructions shall inform the voter that a combination of marks may not be used on the same
ballot and that the use of more than one type of mark on the same ballot will result in that ballot being
voided.
(3) A ballot shall be marked by the voter with a pencil containing black lead or a pen containing
black or blue ink, and the instructions printed on the face of the ballot shall inform the voter of this
requirement. The instructions printed on the face of the ballot shall also inform the voter concerning how
to change or correct his vote on the ballot before it is cast and counted, including through the issuance of a
replacement ballot if the voter is otherwise unable to change or correct his vote on the ballot.
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(4) The secretary of state shall prepare a special absentee ballot for candidates and constitutional
amendments to be voted on in general elections, subject to approval as to content by the attorney general.
This special ballot shall only be for use by a qualified voter who is either a member of the United States
Service or who resides outside of the United States. Such special ballot shall contain a list of the titles of
all offices being contested at the primary election and the candidates qualifying for the primary election for
each office, and shall permit the elector to vote in the general election by indicating his order of preference
for each candidate for each office. On the special ballot shall also be printed each constitutional amendment
to be voted on in the general election. To indicate his order of preference for each candidate for each office
to be voted on in the election, the voter shall put the number one next to the name of the candidate who is
the voter's first choice, the number two for his second choice and so forth so that, in consecutive numerical
order, a number indicating the voter's preference is written by the voter next to each candidate's name on the
ballot. A space shall be provided for the voter to indicate his preference for or against each constitutional
amendment contained on the ballot. The voter shall not be required to indicate his preference for more than
one candidate on the ballot if the voter so chooses. The secretary of state shall also prepare instructions for
use of the special ballot, including instructions for voting by mail using an electronically transmitted ballot.
B.(1) The secretary of state shall prepare absentee by mail ballot envelopes, absentee by mail
instructions, certificates, and other absentee by mail balloting paraphernalia consistent with the provisions
of this Chapter, subject to approval of the attorney general as to content. The specifications of the absentee
by mail ballot envelopes shall be determined by the secretary of state. Notwithstanding the provisions of
R.S. 18:1316 relating to distinguishing marks on absentee by mail ballots, absentee by mail voting
instructions on absentee by mail ballots to be transmitted by facsimile in accordance with R.S.
18:1308(A)(1)(b) shall inform the voter of the types of marks which may be used on the ballot to indicate
his vote. When a court of competent jurisdiction, a registrar of voters, the secretary of state, or other
competent authority determines that there exists a literate linguistic minority equal to more than five percent
of the total population of any parish, the secretary of state, with approval of the attorney general as to
content, shall prepare and furnish absentee by mail and early voting ballots, absentee by mail and early voting
instructions, and certificates in the minority language in sufficient quantity to provide to each absentee by
mail and early voter requesting voting material in that language.
(2) The secretary of state shall include with the election paraphernalia accompanying absentee by
mail ballots instructions, approved by the secretary of state and the attorney general, generally describing
the particular absentee by mail counting equipment utilized in the election to count absentee by mail ballots.
The instructions shall inform the voter how to cast his vote, which shall include if applicable instructions for
marking the absentee by mail ballot and examples of the correct and incorrect methods of marking the ballot.
(3) The secretary of state shall prepare early voting ballots and include with the election
paraphernalia accompanying early voting ballots instructions approved by the secretary of state and the
attorney general, which generally describe the particular early voting counting equipment used in the election
to count early voting ballots or voting machines used to cast early voting ballots. The instructions shall
inform the voter how to cast his vote, which shall include if applicable instructions for marking the early
voting ballot and examples of the correct and incorrect methods of marking the ballot.
C.(1) At least twenty days before each primary election and at least thirteen days before each general
election, the secretary of state shall deliver to the registrar in each parish in which the election is to be held
the paper absentee by mail ballots, envelopes, certificates, instructions to be used in voting an absentee by
mail ballot in that election, and a statement, approved by the attorney general, explaining the scope and
nature of any proposed constitutional amendment. The number of paper absentee by mail ballots and other
necessary paraphernalia to be delivered shall be up to ten percent of the registered voters within each parish.
(2) At least twenty days before each primary election the secretary of state shall deliver to the
registrar in each parish in which the election is to be held the special absentee ballot for qualified voters who
are either members of the United States Service or persons residing outside of the United States. The number
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of special ballots and other necessary paraphernalia, including instructions for the use of the special ballot,
to be so delivered shall be up to one percent of the registered voters within each parish.
D. An absentee by mail ballot envelope shall have printed on its face in red bold face type:
FOR BALLOT ONLY
VIOLATION OF ABSENTEE BY MAIL OR EARLY
VOTING LAWS VOIDS BALLOT
AND MAY RESULT IN CRIMINAL PENALTIES
VOTING AT POLLS AFTER VOTING ABSENTEE BY MAIL
OR DURING EARLY VOTING IS PROHIBITED
AND MAY RESULT IN CRIMINAL PENALTIES
E.(1) The secretary of state shall prepare an absentee by mail certificate, the content of which is
subject to approval of the attorney general. The certificate shall include but not necessarily be limited to:
(a) The full name and place of residence of the voter in Louisiana, including state, parish, ward,
precinct, city, and street.
(b) The statement of the voter certifying that he applied for the ballot, marked the enclosed ballot(s)
himself or that they were marked for him according to his instructions and in his presence.
(c) The statement of the voter that he is entitled to vote at the precinct he names.
(d) Authorization to the parish board of election supervisors to open the ballot envelope and count
his ballot.
(e) His mother's maiden name.
(f) An attestation followed by a line for the handwritten signature or mark of the voter, certifying
that the statements made by him are true and correct and that the voter is aware of the penalties for
knowingly making a false statement therein, which penalties shall be stated on the certificate.
(g) Repealed by