He said voting machines could be stored in state highway barns to save money and they might eventually be leased rather than purchased. Bruneau said he and Rep. Charles Lancaster, R-Metairie, committee chairman, started asking questions in the 1980s about questionable voting machine storage contracts, which they said had no rational basis. That is based on the elimination of about 31 positions. Bruneau's measure will need two-thirds approval by both houses of the Legislature and approval of the state's voters in the form of a constitutional amendment. If approved, it will become effective on the second Monday in January of 2004.
Voters have to approve the changes.
Lawmakers and the voters have already approved appointment of the state superintendent of education. Louisiana has eight statewide elected officials, and that would be reduced by one if Bruneau's proposal makes it all the way through the legislative process. Bruneau's legislation requires the secretary of state and commissioner of elections to come up with a transition plan for merging the two offices by Jan. 1, 2002. It would be submitted to the appropriate House and Senate committees for approval. No campaign for a commissioner of elections would be held at the 2003 statewide election.