CHAPTER 3. REGISTRARS OF VOTERS

§51. Registrar for each parish; appointment; commission; bond and oath

            A. There shall be a registrar of voters for each parish in the state, who shall be appointed by the governing authority of the parish in the manner provided in this Section and R.S. 18:51.1.

            B.(1) Upon receipt of notice and supporting documentation from the governing authority that show the governing authority complied with the requirements of this Section and R.S. 18:51.1 in appointing the registrar, the governor shall issue a commission to the registrar, who thereupon shall make the bond, subscribe to the oath, and receive the compensation prescribed in this Chapter.

            (2) If the governing authority fails to submit notice and documentation pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection or if the notice and documentation submitted by the governing authority is not sufficient to show the governing authority complied with the requirements of this Section and R.S. 18:51.1 in appointing the registrar, the governor shall not issue a commission to the registrar but shall instead send notice to the governing authority that it has failed to show compliance.

            C.(1)(a) A vacancy for any cause in the office of registrar shall be filled by the parish governing authority within ninety days after the date on which the vacancy occurs. An appointment to fill a vacancy that is made prior to the time the office is actually vacated is premature and without effect. The parish governing authority shall advertise the vacancy and solicit applications for the office in the manner provided in R.S. 18:51.1.

            (b) Until the appointment is made, the chief deputy shall perform the duties of the registrar in a parish having a chief deputy. If there is no chief deputy, within forty-eight hours after the office becomes vacant, the parish governing authority shall appoint a person temporarily to perform the duties of the registrar until the parish governing authority fills the vacancy as provided in this Section. However, if the parish governing authority neither fills the vacancy nor, in a parish having no chief deputy, designates a person temporarily to perform the duties of registrar within forty-eight hours after the office becomes vacant, the State Board of Election Supervisors shall appoint a person to perform the duties until the parish governing authority fills the vacancy. A person appointed temporarily to perform the duties of registrar shall have authority to register voters in accordance with law.

            (2) The person performing the duties of registrar until the parish governing authority makes its appointment shall be issued a commission by the governor and shall give the bond required of a registrar of voters, unless the person previously has done so in his capacity as deputy registrar. He shall receive the compensation prescribed by this Chapter for the registrar. If the person appointed by the State Board of Election Supervisors held a position in the office of the registrar prior to such appointment, then upon the appointment of a registrar to fill the vacancy, he shall be eligible to return to the position previously held.

            D. A registrar who has no chief deputy or other permanent employee shall file an affidavit with the parish governing authority and the secretary of state designating a person as chief deputy who would operate the registrar's office in the event the registrar becomes unable to name a chief deputy and perform his duties due to illness, injury, or disability.

            Acts 1976, No. 693 §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 544, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2016, No. 360, §1, special eff. date; Acts 2019, No. 374, §1, eff. June 19, 2019.