Study possibly in the works on Louisiana disabled voter access

A proposal to study the rights of Louisiana’s disabled voters to see if additional accommodations are needed to give them access to the polls cleared the Louisiana House of Representatives on Thursday.

House Concurrent Resolution 14, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Willard, D-New Orleans, advanced unopposed from the House floor and heads next to the Senate. A study resolution is a common way to gain nonpartisan recommendations on a particular issue. 

Willard’s resolution would assemble a task force, which would examine the amenities and procedures currently available in Louisiana for disabled voters and any impediments that might exist. The task force would then make recommendations that may be included in future legislation.

Prior to Wednesday’s vote, the resolution underwent changes Republican lawmakers wanted to remove curbside voting as a topic to study for people who use wheelchairs or cannot physically enter a polling place. 

The amended resolution calls for a 13-member task force that would include seven members who have disabilities.