ELECTION OFFENSES: Provides relative to exit polling. (8/1/25)
SB 80 clarifies rules around exit polling by specifying that news gathering organizations (as legally defined) may leave polling places to collect voter information. The bill modifies election offense provisions to explicitly permit this activity, directly affecting news organizations conducting exit polls on election day. Key changes include amending the bill text to define "poll" as "poll of voters" and adding language about news organizations leaving polling places to gather information. This update aims to remove ambiguity in current law regarding exit polling near voting locations.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Apr 2, 2025
Signed Jun 4, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
SB80 Original
→
SB80 Act
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill updates Louisiana's exit polling laws by amending existing registration requirements and adding a new definition for exit polls. The changes ensure that only bona fide news organizations can conduct exit polls, clarifying that these polls must focus on ballot measures and not disrupt the voting process.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope by adding a specific definition for 'exit poll' and restricting the activity to bona fide news gathering organizations, whereas the previous text did not explicitly define the term or specify the type of organization required.
DEFINITION
Added a new definition for 'exit poll' requiring it to be conducted by a bona fide news gathering organization to gather demographic data and voting results.
Clarified that exit polls do not include questions about races or issues not on the ballot, nor does it include the dissemination of information to voters.
REQUIREMENT
Amended the registration requirement to explicitly state that polls must be conducted in a nondisruptive manner.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2025 · House May 27, 2025
How they voted
32–4
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 37
Apr 29, 2025
D
Democratic11
100% Yea
R
Republican26
80% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 34 yeas and 4 nays.
upper
May 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 57, nays 38. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 15, 2025
Introduced
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (9-4). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
lower
May 5, 2025
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 5 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Greg Miller
RRepublican
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