Bill
HB 1048
Expands early voting to include Sundays and Sundays/Saturdays excluded from holidays, with emergency-time extensions and funded costs for counties.
Bill: HB 1048
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Session: 2026
Sponsor: Rep. Murray (Co-sponsor: Ed Murray)
Title: VOTERS/VOTING: Provides relative to the early voting period
Overall purpose
- This bill modifies the early voting framework in Louisiana to ensure Sunday voting during the early voting period and to address scheduling when a state of emergency suspends or delays election activities. It also clarifies who bears certain election expenses.
Key provisions and changes
1) Sunday voting during the early voting period
- Requires the registrar of voters to remain open on Sundays during the early voting period.
- Daily hours during the early voting period remain 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with active voting continuing until all voters in line at the close of regular registrar office hours have had an opportunity to vote. This extends coverage to Sundays in addition to Saturdays.
2) Holidays and office hours
- Current law requires registrars to observe holidays proclaimed by law or the governor for state departments during early voting.
- HB 1048 would exempt Saturdays and Sundays from those holiday observances for purposes of early voting. In effect, Sundays (and Saturdays) would generally be treated as eligible days for early voting, not holidays that require a shutdown.
3) Early voting timeline and emergency suspensions
- The default early voting window remains from 14 days to seven days before a scheduled election (the bill retains the existing baseline).
- If the governor declares an emergency or impending emergency, and early voting is suspended or delayed:
- One additional day of early voting is added to the early voting period for each day of suspension.
- If early voting had already been completed before the emergency order delaying election day, early voting for the rescheduled election may reopen upon authorization of the governor for a reasonable time before the new election date.
- Notice requirements for delays/suspensions remain in place (publication in a newspaper of general circulation and, where possible, public service announcements on radio/TV).
4) Early voting locations and accessibility
- If the Secretary of State determines registrar office space is insufficient or inconvenient for early voting, registrars may conduct early voting at an alternate location that is an accessible and conveniently located public facility within the parish. Public notice must be provided.
5) Early voting expenses
- Expenses incurred by registrars and their permanent staff to perform early voting duties on any day during the week (including evenings) and on Saturdays and Sundays shall continue to be paid by the state from funds appropriated to the Secretary of State. Sunday early voting is explicitly covered under the same funding provision.
What would be affected
- Registrars of voters and their offices/parishes statewide.
- Voters seeking to vote during the early voting period, including Sundays.
- State funding for election administration (Secretary of State) to cover eligible early voting expenses, including Sundays.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Amends and reenacts several sections of Title 18 (Election Provisions) and adds a new provision:
- Amends R.S. 18:401.1(C), 1309(A)(1)(a)(ii) and (b)(ii), (2), and (4), and 1400.8
- Enacts R.S. 18:1309(A)(1)(c)
- Effective date: Not specified in the provided text; typically, such amendments take effect on the date of enactment or a specified future date unless otherwise stated.
Why this matters
- Expands early voting access by adding Sundays.
- Improves resilience and continuity of voting operations during emergencies by adjusting the early voting period accordingly.
- Maintains a government-funded model for election administration costs, including Sundays.
- Provides flexibility in choosing accessible polling locations when registrar offices are space-constrained.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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