On June 22, the Louisiana Senate passed HB 420 unanimously, after amending it to add new provisions. The original purpose of the bill is to extend the deadline for independent presidential candidates, and political parties, to file their paperwork for presidential elector candidates. The bill also makes these deadlines clearer.

Amendments by the Senate include nonrelated provisions. One such provision specifies that government photo-ID used at the polls for voter eligibility to vote need not include the voter’s address. This change permits the use of a passport (passports don’t include the holder’s address). The bill also says that Deputy Registrars of Voters can work outside their home parish, although the law will continue to require them to be Louisiana residents. And another amendment says that poll watchers (people who watch for election law violations at the polls on election day) must live in Louisiana. The spirit of this latter amendment contradicts international treaties that require nations to permit foreign observers.

A conference committee will take up the bill on June 23.