Local officials must canvass the election returns and declare the result; if a majority favors the proposition, the Louisiana Public Service Commission gains control of the public utility.
§4494. Canvassing returns; order declaring result of election; powers of control vested in public service commission If the proposition has been submitted at a special election then the governing body of a town, city, or parish where the election has been held, shall meet on the first Monday after the election, canvass the returns, and declare the result. Immediately upon the completion of the canvass or upon the completion of the canvass of the returns of any general election at which the proposition has been submitted the governing body shall make an order declaring the result of the election upon the proposition and shall cause the same to be entered upon its minutes, which order shall show the total number of votes cast upon each proposition and the number of votes cast respectively for and against each proposition. If a majority of the votes cast are in favor of the proposition, the Louisiana Public Service Commission shall have the supervision and control of the public utility. Immediately after the entry of the order declaring the result of the election, the clerk of the municipal or parish government shall make copies in duplicate of the order and attach to each copy his certificate over the seal, if any, of the town, city, or parish, and the clerk shall forthwith file one of the certified copies in the office of the Louisiana Public Service Commission and one in the office of the Secretary of State. Immediately upon the filing of such certified copy in the office of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the powers of control theretofore vested in the town, city, or parish government over any class of public utility which a majority of the qualified electors surrendered in the manner hereinabove provided, shall thereupon vest in the Louisiana Public Service Commission until such time as the municipal or parish government reinvests itself with such powers of supervision, regulation and control.