Louisiana primary ballots changing in 2026 could further division

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Louisiana ballots are changing in 2026 with the implementation of Closed-Ballot primaries.

Act 1 of the 2024 First Extraordinary Session introduces a different voting process than open-ballot primaries, which have been in place since the 1970s.

Republicans and Democrats will select a candidate to represent the two major parties for certain elected offices. With the change by the bill, ballots will only display candidates with the same political affiliation as the registered voters.

No Party voters who participate will select a party’s ballot at their polling place. This will remain their party in the event of any run-off.

The change has drawn mixed reviews from Louisiana officeholders, some fearing further division in an already split political landscape.

Among those is Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, saying that this is “a major shift from what Louisianans have known for nearly half a century — trading simplicity and fairness for complexity and confusion.”

Shreveport’s Mayor Tom Arceneaux says there are advantages and disadvantages to the bill’s implementation.

“The perceived advantage of having it is, you end up with the parties, in essence, making nominations for particular offices,” Mayor Arceneaux said.

“The disadvantage is we are much more together, than we are apart, and to some extent the party primary, I think, drives us apart a little bit.”

Louisiana Secretary of State’s office is encouraging voters to “K.N.O.W.”:

K – Keep your voter registration current.

N – Not everyone will vote on every race.

O – Offices affected: U.S. House and Senate, Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, and BESE

W – Where to find more information: GeauxVote.com