Did Louisiana's AG approve the updated election expense manual for clerks and parish election boards?

Plain-English summary

The Secretary of State submitted proposed changes to the Election Expense Manual for Clerks of Court and Parish Boards of Election Supervisors. The official opinion found the form compliant with Louisiana law and "approved [it] for printing and distribution." The AG expressly said: "this approval is limited to changes made to the form."

The opinion lists three kinds of changes reviewed: compensation amounts in Section 3.02 updated for Act 235 of the 2023 Regular Session, a current list of official parish journals in Appendix A, and updated contact information for Elections Accounting. It cites La. R.S. 18:18 as requiring AG approval of the form.

What this means for you

Clerks and parish election boards. The opinion records approval of the submitted manual changes, including the compensation update. It does not reproduce the manual's rates or approve unrelated provisions.

Secretary of State staff. The AG approved the changed form for printing and distribution, with its approval confined to the changes the office reviewed.

Common questions

Was the election expense manual approved for printing?
Yes. The AG found the submitted form compliant and approved it for printing and distribution.

Which changes did the AG review?
The opinion identifies updated compensation amounts, the official parish journal list, and Elections Accounting contact information.

Did the AG review the entire manual anew?
The opinion does not say so. It expressly limits the approval to the changes made to the form.

Background and statutory framework

The Secretary of State requested approval of a revised election expense form under La. R.S. 18:18. The compensation changes responded to Act 235 of the 2023 Regular Session, which the opinion says increased pay rates. The AG concluded the proposed changes complied with Louisiana law.

Citations and references

Law cited: La. R.S. 18:18 and Act 235 of the 2023 Regular Session.

Source

• Landing page: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinions
• Original PDF: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinion/Download/23-0108

Original opinion text

State of Louisiana
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
CIVIL DIVISION
P.O. BOX 94005
BATON ROUGE
70804-9005
Jeff Landry
Attorney General
October 25, 2023
OPINION 23-0108

R. Kyle Ardoin
ELECTIONS
Secretary of State
State of Louisiana
La. R.S. 18:18
P.O. Box 941 25
The form “Election Expense Manual for Clerks of Court and
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Parish Boards of Election Supervisors’ is compliant with
Louisiana law and is approved for printing and distribution.

Dear Secretary Ardoin:

The Secretary of State has requested this office’s approval of the proposed changes to the Election Expense Manual for Clerks of Court and Parish Boards of Election Supervisors. These changes include:

1 Updating the compensation amounts in Section 3.02 to comply with Act .

235 of the 2023 Louisiana Legislative Regular Session that increased pay rates;

2. Adding the updated list of official parish journals in Appendix A; and

3. Updating contact information for Elections Accounting.

The Attorney General’s approval of this form is required by La. R.S. 18:18. We have reviewed the document, and it is the opinion of this office that the form is compliant with Louisiana law. As such, the form has been approved for printing and distribution. Please note this approval is limited to changes made to the form.

We hope that this opinion has adequately addressed the legal issues you have raised. If our office can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

With best regards,

JEFF LAN DRY
ATTORNEY GENERAL

BY:____
Jff’Fey M. Wale
Assistant Attorney General
JL: JMW