This will be the first Party Primary Election since the legislature passed Act 1 during the First Extraordinary Session of the 2024 Louisiana Legislature which created party primary elections.

Below is a breakdown of what this means and how it will affect you.

In party primary elections, when one of the following races is scheduled to appear on the ballot:

• US. Senate,
• US. Representative,
• Public Service Commission,
• Supreme Court, and
• Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

…candidates running in these offices are required to run in a spring party primary election to determine which candidate representing their party will be placed on the ballot for the fall general election along with candidates from all other parties.

To vote on the closed party primary races involved in a party primary election, a voter must be registered with either the Democratic Party, Republican Party or be registered as No Party (Unaffiliated). If you are registered as any other party, you will only be allowed to vote for state and local races/propositions that you are eligible for, and any Constitutional Amendments that may be on the ballot.

If you are registered as No Party (Unaffiliated), you can choose which party ballot you would like to receive. As a No Party (Unaffiliated) voter choosing to participate in a party primary election, it is important to note that this will not change your party affiliation on your official voter registration. You will still be registered as No Party (Unaffiliated).

If you choose to participate in either the Democratic or Republican first party primary election, you cannot change your party ballot choice for the second party primary, if any. In other words, if you are a No Party/Unaffiliated voter and choose a No Party/Unaffiliated ballot for the party primary election, you will have to vote this same type of ballot for the second party primary. Same will apply if you choose a Democratic Ballot or Republican Ballot.

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s office has produced a series of informational videos about these changes.  Click the link below to explore any or all of the five (5) videos in this series.  Each one is a minute to two (2) minutes long.

https://sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/ReviewTypesOfElections/ClosedPartyPrimaryElections/Pages/default.aspx

 Registration Deadline

• In Person/By Mail/OMV – Wednesday, April 15, 2026
• Online – Saturday, April 25, 2026 using the Geaux Vote App, the kiosk in either the Donaldsonville or Gonzales Office, or visiting www.geauxvote.com

Deadline to REQUEST an Absentee by Mail Ballot (other than Military and Overseas)

• Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Deadline to RETURN an Absentee by Mail Ballot

• Friday, May 15, 2026 at 4:30 PM

Early Voting

• In-person at one of our three (3) Early Voting sites will take place from Saturday, May 2, 2026 through Saturday, May 9, 2026 **Excluding Sundays

Please note: the Oak Grove Community Center Early Voting site located in Prairieville is under construction. Although this site will be open for Early Voting, voters will only be able to park and enter/exit the building on the Highway 42 side. Parking will be closed on the other side in front of the skate park.

Election Day

Saturday, May 16, 2026 voting takes place from 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM and you must vote at your precinct