SB 248 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

VOTERS/VOTING: Provides for consolidation of precincts with fewer than 20 voters. (8/1/26)

SB 248 allows Louisiana election officials to close polling places in precincts with fewer than 20 eligible voters for any election. Instead, voters in these precincts must cast ballots at an alternative polling location within the same area. The bill also permits closing polling places if all eligible voters in a precinct have already voted absentee or during early voting. This directly affects small precincts with minimal voter turnout, shifting voting to nearby locations while requiring registrars of voters to make the determination. The law takes effect on February 1, 2027.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB248 Original → SB248 Act · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill removes the requirement for a specific effective date (February 1, 2027) and deletes a provision allowing voters to cast ballots at a closed polling place if it shares a location with an open one. Instead, it adds a new rule permitting registrars to consolidate precincts with fewer than 20 eligible voters into a neighboring precinct, provided all voters in the original precinct have already voted by mail or during early voting.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of precinct consolidation by adding a new scenario where consolidation is allowed if the original precinct has low voter turnout, whereas previously consolidation was only permitted under specific conditions not explicitly detailed in this excerpt.

TIMELINE

Deleted the specific effective date of February 1, 2027, allowing the law to take effect upon enactment or as otherwise determined by the legislature.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the provision allowing remaining eligible voters to vote at a closed polling place if it is located within the same building as an open polling place.

Added a new rule allowing registrars to consolidate precincts with fewer than 20 eligible voters into a neighboring precinct, but only if all voters in the original precinct have already voted by mail or during early voting.

TECHNICAL

Adjusted the bill title and digest to reflect the removal of the effective date and the addition of the new consolidation rule.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2026 · House May 6, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 39

Mar 23, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

25 Yea 3

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 1. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (13-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

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