BATON ROUGE — Louisiana voters will see a significant shift at the polls in 2026 as the state moves away from its long-standing jungle primary system for several major races.
Beginning with the 2026 election cycle, Louisiana will use closed party primaries for contests including U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The change stems from legislation approved during a 2024 special session and backed by Gov. Jeff Landry.
What this means for voters
Under the new system, voters can no longer simply walk in and vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation.
Instead, registered Republicans will vote in Republican primaries, and registered Democrats will vote in Democratic primaries.
Voters registered as “No Party” may choose which primary to participate in. Once that choice is made, voters are locked into that party’s runoff if one is required.
Voters registered with third parties, including those registered as Independent, will not be eligible to vote in these primaries. They may only vote in general elections or in races not subject to the party primary rules.
Why the change?
For decades, Louisiana operated under an open or “jungle” primary system. Every candidate appeared on the same ballot, and every voter could choose freely.
If a candidate secured more than 50% of the vote, the race was over. That is how Gov. Jeff Landry won outright in 2023. If no candidate received more than 50%, the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advanced to a runoff.
Supporters argue closed primaries strengthen political parties and prevent crossover voting.
Critics say the change limits voter participation and reduces flexibility, particularly for independent voters who prefer evaluating candidates rather than party labels.
Now, party registration matters. Voters can verify their registration status and party affiliation through the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Geaux Vote portal.
Key dates voters need to know
May 16 primary:
- Early voting: May 2-9 from 8:30am-6pm; excluding May 3
- Deadlines: The deadline to register to vote in peron, by mail, or at an OMV Office is April 15. The deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is April 25.
June 27 run-off:
“No Party” voters must vote within the affiliation they previously chose in May.
- Early voting: June 13-20 from 8:30am-6pm; excluding June 14
- Deadlines: The deadline to register to vote in peron, by mail, or at an OMV Office is May 27. The deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is June 6.
The general election is scheduled for November 3.
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