Voting hours, vehicle inspection bills signed into law
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 12:10 PM
BATON ROUGE (AP) — The governor has agreed to shorten Louisiana voting hours on Saturday election days.
Poll hours run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. But under the measure pushed by Secretary of State Tom Schedler and signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal, polls will open at 7 a.m. on Saturday elections, beginning in 2013.
Lawmakers gave final passage in their just-ended regular session to the proposal by Baton Rouge Rep. Franklin Foil.
Supporters say they want to shorten work days for poll workers, who often are elderly. They say the state has added dozens of additional voting hours by expanding early voting locations around the state.
Opponents worried the change could limit voting opportunities.
Also on Tuesday, vehicles can be inspected once every two years, instead of annually, under a bill signed by Jindal.
The new law, sponsored by Keithville Sen. Sherri Buffington, takes effect Sept. 1.
The Times-Picayune reported that Buffington's bill keeps the fee for the inspection at $10 for each year the sticker is in effect — $10 for one year and $20 for two years. Some local parishes or cities may tack on additional costs.
Annual inspections still will be required in cities or parishes that have pollution problems and have been cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The two-year inspection also will not apply to commercial vehicles and "student transportation vehicles" like school buses.
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