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House approves bill restricting exit polling to "bona fide" news organizations after sharp debate over access
Summary
Senate Bill 80, which defines exit polling and requires a secretary of state certification for organizations conducting exit polls, passed the House after an hours‑long debate in which lawmakers questioned whether the provision unduly restricts bloggers, academics and civic groups.
The Louisiana House on May 27 approved Senate Bill 80, a measure that narrows who can conduct exit polling at polling places to what the bill defines as "bona fide news gathering organizations," and creates a process for the secretary of state to certify organizations that may conduct such polling.
Representative Brooke Billings carried the bill and told the chamber the language aims to reduce disruptive activity near polling places and to codify accepted norms for exit polling. Under the bill, exit polling is defined as data collection done by bona fide news organizations to gather demographic information and voters' candidate and proposition preferences; it must be conducted in a non‑disruptive manner and not within a designated 600‑foot buffer for electioneering.
A principal point of contention was the bill’s definition of "bona fide news gathering organization." Representative Billings and committee testimony cited Revised Statute language that describes bona fide organizations as newspapers, television or radio broadcast stations, cable operators or wire services that can show one year of publication and membership in a statewide or national press organization. Critics argued the definition is exclusionary and could bar academic researchers, civic groups, independent bloggers and civic polling organizations from conducting exit surveys.
Representative Omidy and others warned the bill would narrow polling participation to traditional media and could exclude social researchers, public‑policy organizations and students. Representative LaFleur noted the bill references an existing statutory definition and that the secretary of state would be the gatekeeper in issuing certificates allowing polling at precincts; opponents warned that gives an elected official broad discretion.
Supporters said the measure protects voters from a chaotic or intimidating climate at precinct entrances and preserves the integrity of the voting environment; several members urged clarification on details such as where outside the 600‑foot buffer pollsters may operate and how the secretary of state would administer certification.
After extended questions and a few floor amendments were resolved, the House passed SB 80. The final recorded tally in the transcript was 93 yeas, 0 nays.
Why it matters: The bill changes who may legally conduct exit polling at precincts and creates a role for the secretary of state to review and authorize organizations to collect polling information. Supporters say it prevents electioneering and matters that disrupt voting; critics say it risks limiting speech by non‑traditional media and researchers.
What's next: With House approval, the bill will move on according to the legislative process and could prompt additional guidance on how certifications will be issued and how the 600‑foot zone is applied in practice.
