Senate advances bill to define exit polling, limits activity inside 600-foot buffer to news organizations

Senator Mike Miller introduced Senate Bill 80 on April 28, asking the Senate to define “exit polling” and to limit exit-polling activity inside the statutory polling-place buffer zone to bona fide news-gathering organizations. The bill’s sponsor said the measure is a request from Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin and aims to clarify existing practice.

Supporters and questioning senators focused on the buffer zone and who qualifies as a news organization. Miller said the bill preserves the ability of news outlets to collect basic, nonidentifying demographic information from voters while preventing crowding and electioneering near polling places.

Senator Jenkins asked whether the measure stops individuals from doing exit polls outside the buffer zone; Miller replied it does not and that people outside the buffer zone can conduct polling. Senator Fessy pressed whether organizations may enter the buffer zone; Miller said the bill limits activity in that zone to bona fide news organizations and that the buffer zone is a 600-foot radius tied to electioneering limits.

Senators exchanged further clarifying questions about how a “bona fide news gathering organization” is defined; Miller said the bill references existing state law (RS 44:3.101) for that definition and that 2021 law (14:62.1) already addressed related requirements such as registration. No amendments were proposed during floor debate.

The Senate recorded final passage with a roll-call of 33 yeas and 5 nays.