Party Primary Primer: What Louisiana Voters Need to Know for the May 16 Election

What voters need to know about the state’s new election rules

Louisiana voters will navigate a major shift in election mechanics this May as the state replaces its long-standing “jungle” primary with a closed, party-based system for key federal and statewide races, Louisiana Illuminator writes.  Under the new structure, voters must select a party ballot aligned with their registration or switch affiliation to participate, a change expected to reshape campaign strategy and voter turnout dynamics. The May 16…

Party primary primer: What Louisiana voters need to know for the May 16 election

Voters leave the polling location at the Bricolage Academy gym in New Orleans on Nov. 5, 2024 election. (Photo by Matthew Perschall/Louisiana Illuminator)Candidates will square off for control of Congress and key state-level offices in Louisiana next month in the state’s switch to closed party primaries. Voters can opt for the party ballot that aligns with their registration or switch parties to vote in the primary of their choice, which leads s…

This Week in Louisiana Politics: Closed party primaries, Misti Cordell, and Sammy Wyatt

Louisiana's new closed primary system has prompted some voters to change their party registration to "no party" to influence upcoming elections, allowing them to choose either party's ballot in the primary.