Did Louisiana's Attorney General approve the election expense manual for clerks and parish election boards?

Plain-English summary

Louisiana's Secretary of State submitted the Election Expense Manual used by clerks of court and parish boards of election supervisors for Attorney General approval. The office said the manual would comply with Louisiana law after one correction: the word “machines” was misspelled on page 13, section G, line 7.

The opinion quotes the administrative rule requiring the manual and its updates to be submitted to the Attorney General. It does not reproduce the manual or discuss its expense rules. Its conclusion is limited to the identified correction and approval of that submitted version.

What this means for you

Election administrators

For the manual reviewed, the opinion conditioned compliance and approval for printing and distribution on correcting the specified word on page 13. It identified no other needed edits.

Readers looking for expense rules

The opinion records the approval condition but does not include the manual's reimbursement or spending provisions. Its text cannot supply those substantive rules.

Common questions

Q: Was the clerks' election expense manual approved as submitted?
A: Not quite. The AG required correction of a misspelled word on page 13 before finding the manual compliant.

Q: Does this opinion state what election expenses can be paid?
A: No. It does not reproduce or analyze the manual's expense provisions.

Background and statutory framework

The opinion cites Louisiana Administrative Code 31:701(F), which requires Attorney General approval of the Election Expense Manual and its updates. The reviewed version had one identified spelling error; the AG's compliance conclusion depended on fixing it.

Citations and references

• Louisiana Administrative Code 31:701(F), the approval requirement quoted in the opinion.

Source

• Landing page: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinions
• Original PDF: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinion/Download/24-0128

Original opinion text

STATE OF LOUISIANA
DEPARmIENT OF JUSTICE
OFFICE OF THE ArrORNEY GENERAL
P.O. Box 94005
BATON RoUGE, LA
70804-9005

Liz MuRRILL
ATToRNEY GENEL
September 25, 2024
OPINION 24-0128

23 ELECTIONS
Honorable Nancy Landry
Secretary of State
Louisiana Administrative Code 31:701

State of Louisiana
After editing, the Expense Manual used by the Clerks of Court
P 0 Box 94125
. . and Parish Boards of Election Supervisors will be compliant with Louisiana law and approved for printing and distribution.
Baton Rouge, LA 70804

Dear Secretary Landry:

We received your request for approval from our office of the Expense Manuals used by the Clerks of Court and Parish Boards of Election Supervisors.

The Attorney General’s approval of this manual is required by Louisiana Administrative Code 31 :701(F).1 We have reviewed the document, and it is the opinion of this office that once the following minor correction is made, the manual will be compliant with Louisiana law.

Page 1 3 of the expense manual has a typo under section G line 7. Specifically, the word “machines” is misspelled.

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,
LIZ MURRILL
ATTORNEY GENERAL

BY:____
sistant Attorney General
LM: HNF

1 This provision states, “The Election Expense Manual shall be submitted to the state attorney general’s office for approval. Any updates to the manual shall also receive approval by the state attorney general’s office.”