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Bill

HB 1057

VOTERS/VOTING: Provides for an application to vote absentee by mail made by a member of the United States Service

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mandie Landry and 1 co-sponsor

Extends absentee-by-mail validity for U.S. service members abroad until deployment ends and requires reapplication if a ballot is undeliverable.

Effective date: 07/01/2027.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1057

Summary of HB 1057 (2026, Louisiana)

Purpose

HB 1057 seeks to modify the rules governing absentee-by-mail voting for two groups:
- Members of the United States Armed Forces (U.S. Service) stationed or deployed outside the United States.
- Individuals who reside outside the United States.

The bill aims to clarify and extend the validity of absentee-by-mail applications for service members abroad, and to address the scenario where mail to a service member is undeliverable.

Key Provisions

  • Applicability and methods (unchanged baseline):

    • The bill retains current options for obtaining an absentee-by-mail application: the federal postcard application (FPCA) or an electronically transmitted application by the registrar or secretary of state.
    • Applications must be received by the registrar no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day before the election.
    • The existing rule that such applications remain valid for at least one year from receipt and must cover at least one regularly scheduled federal general election remains in place.

  • New validity period for stationed/deployed service members (expansion of current law):

    • For a U.S. Service member stationed or deployed outside the U.S., an application meeting current law requirements remains valid until the member is no longer stationed or deployed outside the U.S. (i.e., potentially longer than the one-year automatic validity period).

  • Undeliverable absentee ballots (new safeguard):

    • If an absentee-by-mail ballot sent to a U.S. Service member abroad is returned to the registrar as undeliverable, the member’s absentee application becomes invalid.
    • The registrar must send notice by forwardable mail to inform the applicant that the application is no longer valid.
    • The applicant must submit a new application meeting the current requirements and provide a current address before being eligible to vote absentee by mail again under the law.

Who is Affected

  • Primary: Louisiana residents who are members of the U.S. Service stationed or deployed outside the United States.
  • Secondary: Louisiana voters abroad who utilize the FPCA or electronic applications to request absentee ballots.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The baseline deadline remains: applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on the day before the election.
  • Validity for service members abroad is extended to when they are no longer stationed/deployed abroad.
  • There is an added requirement to refile if mail is undeliverable, including a notice to the applicant and a current mailing address before reapplication is considered.

Overall Effect

HB 1057 simplifies and extends the absentee-by-mail process for U.S. Service members abroad, reducing the need for repeated reapplication within a deployment, while also introducing a mechanism to ensure current contact information is used when ballots cannot be delivered. The bill retains existing protections (such as written reasons for rejection when applications are denied) and existing methods (FPCA or electronic submission).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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