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Senate panel passes bill banning photos of precinct registers to protect voters' personal data
Summary
The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee voted to send HB 547 to the floor; the bill would prohibit photographing, recording or reproducing precinct register content because registers contain personally identifiable data. Secretary of State Nancy Landry backed the measure.
The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee voted on April 22 to report House Bill 547, which would bar photographing, recording or otherwise reproducing voter registration information contained in precinct registers used at polling locations.
Representative Thomas, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee precinct registers include voters’ full names, addresses, dates of birth, mother’s maiden name, race and indications of whether a voter needs assistance. She said the prohibition is needed to protect personally identifiable information and guard against fraud and doxxing when register images appear on social media.
Secretary of State Nancy Landry supported the bill, telling senators that current law already protects similar registration information during early voting and that the measure closes a loophole for precinct registers used at polling places. She clarified that certified poll watchers may still use separate lists without personally identifiable information to track who has voted.
After brief questions and no recorded opposition, the committee reported HB 547 favorably to the Senate floor.
