§1400.2. Election costs paid by secretary of state; governing authorities; reimbursement

A. The costs of publication of the location of polling places; of renting polling places; of drayage; of setting up voting machines; of compensating commissioners and deputy parish custodians; and of transmitting election returns for gubernatorial and congressional elections, whether or not a gubernatorial or congressional candidate appears on the ballot, shall be paid by the state from funds appropriated to the secretary of state for that purpose, except that when a local or municipal candidate or a local bond, debt, tax, proposition, or question also appears on the ballot, the state shall be required to pay one-half of such costs. The remaining one-half shall be prorated between the state and all local or municipal entities participating in such election. In the case of the offices of justice of the peace and constable of a justice of the peace court, the costs shall be prorated to the parish governing authority. The pro rata share of a local or municipal entity shall be determined by dividing the number of that entity's offices, propositions, or questions on the ballot by the total number of all offices, propositions, or questions on the ballot within that local jurisdiction.

B.(1) The cost of publication of the location of polling places; of renting polling places; of drayage; of setting up voting machines; of compensating commissioners and deputy parish custodians; and of transmitting election returns for any special election when any of the following appear on the ballot shall be paid by the state from funds appropriated to the secretary of state for that purpose:

(a) A state candidate, as defined in R.S. 18:452(1).

(b) A candidate for the state legislature.

(c) A candidate for judge of a judicial district court or juvenile court or a candidate for judge of the criminal district or civil district court for Orleans Parish.

(d) A candidate for the office of district attorney.

(e) A proposed constitutional amendment.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1), when a local or municipal candidate or a local bond, debt, tax, proposition, or question also appears on the ballot, the state shall be required to pay one-half of such costs. The remaining one-half shall be prorated between the state and all local or municipal entities participating in such election. In the case of the offices of justice of the peace and constable of a justice of the peace court, the costs shall be prorated to the parish governing authority. The pro rata share of a local or municipal entity shall be determined by dividing the number of that entity's offices, propositions, or questions on the ballot by the total number of all offices, propositions, or questions on the ballot within that local jurisdiction.

C.(1) The cost of publication of the location of polling places; of renting polling places; of drayage; of setting up voting machines, which cost shall be ten dollars per machine; of compensating commissioners and deputy parish custodians; and of transmitting election returns for any election not provided for in Subsections A and B of this Section shall be paid by the appropriate governing authority that relates to the character of office or issue involved in such election. In the case of the offices of justice of the peace and constable of a justice of the peace court, the costs shall be prorated to the parish governing authority. Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, if more than one governing authority is involved in an election, a statement of such expenses shall be transmitted to each governing authority involved in the election and payment thereof shall be prorated among the governing authorities as equitably as possible.

(2) To administratively facilitate the payment of costs with respect to elections as provided in this Subsection, the secretary of state may initially pay such costs; however, the appropriate governing authority shall reimburse all such costs to the secretary of state, who shall remit all such funds to the state treasurer. If more than one governing authority is involved in an election, the secretary of state shall prorate its reimbursable costs among the governing authorities as equitably as possible.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 681, §1, eff. July 21, 1983. Acts 1986, No. 426, §1; Acts 1986, No. 783, §1, eff. July 10, 1986; Acts 1988, No. 909, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 963, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §6, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 526, §2, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2015, No. 269, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2016, and §2, eff. Dec. 31, 2017.