Program Authorization: La. Constitution, Article IV, Sec. 12; R.S. 36:661; R.S. 18:16-21; R.S. 18:31; R.S. 18:51-64; R.S. 18:1400.2-1400.6; P.L. 98-435; Voting rights Act of 1965, as amended; LAC 31:I.Chapter 1; and LAC 31:III.Chapter 7
The mission of the Election Program to ensure honest and efficient elections in the State of Louisiana and to ensure the financial integrity of the election process.
The goals of the Election Program are:
1. Ensure that election laws are faithfully administered and executed.
2. Administer the laws relating to the payment of election expenses.
3. Administer the laws relating to cost reimbursement functions.
The Elections Program is responsible for the payment of expenses associated with holding elections in the State of Louisiana. Funds are allocated for the payment of the following election expenses: commissioners; deputy custodians; janitors; drayage of voting machines; precinct rentals; clerks of court's expenses; registrars of voters' expenses; and parish boards of election supervisors' expenses.
The Elections Program includes the following activities: Election Administration and Election Expenses. The Election Administration activity is responsible for preparing the necessary information for the payment of election expenses and for the maintenance, repair, and procurement of voting machines. The Election Expense activity is responsible for the payment of direct and indirect costs associated with holding an election.
OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. In FY 1998-99, the Elections Program will provide for the timely payment of all elections expenses, reducing the turnaround time for payment of election expenses to 20 days, and the accurate assessment and collection of all expenses due the state.
1 Turnaround time period begins with the receipt of the turnaround report or invoice from the clerks of court by the Department of Elections and Registration. Average turnaround time is an average of all parishes holding elections on any given date.
2 Election costs for spring elections are normally invoiced out close to the June 30 date. As a result, payments are not received until after the fiscal year closes. The amounts received after June 30 are considered income not available for the department and are deposited in the general fund. The amount of income not available is not reflected in the indicator for amount of election cost reimbursement received.
3 After the Congressional elections in 1998, the number of registered voters will decrease due to list maintenance procedures. The cost per registered voter will appear to increase dramatically but will actually be the artifact of the list maintenance procedure. Each time voter lists undergo this type of maintenance, the new voter registration figure becomes a baseline performance level against which subsequent voter registration figures may be compared.
RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM
This program is funded with state general fund and fees and self-generated revenues. Fees and self-generated revenues are derived from the local governments' share of election costs.
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DIFFERENCE (TOTAL RECOMMENDED AND EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET) |
The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 143.7% of the existing operating budget. It represents 170.9% of the total request ($12,102,243) for this program. The increase from existing operating budget is associated with the election expenses.
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Legal services regarding questions concerning the election code |
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Other Professional Services for technical assistance with the repair and maintenance of voting machines |
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Election expenses for commissioners, deputy custodians and janitors, drayage costs and other election day expenses |
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ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS
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This program does not have funding for Acquisitions and Major Repairs for Fiscal Year 1998-1999. |