2026 Elections Hub

Important Change: Louisiana’s New
Closed Party Primary

This year, Louisiana is switching from its open “jungle primary” system to a closed party primary system for select races — and the rules have changed significantly for many voters. How you cast your ballot on May 16 will depend on your party registration:

• Registered Republican or Democrat: You may only vote in your own party’s primary for closed primary races (U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, and BESE).
• Unaffiliated (no party) voter: You may choose to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary for closed primary races — but you must pick one and stick with it for the entire election cycle.
• Registered with a third party (Libertarian, Green, etc.): You are not eligible to vote in the closed party primaries at all. You will only be able to vote in the November general election for those races.
• All other races (local offices, state legislative races, etc.) remain under Louisiana’s traditional open primary system — all voters participate regardless of party.

PAR Louisiana has published a helpful voter guide on the new system.

View PAR’s “Closed Party Primary: A Guide for Voters” >>

U.S. Congressional Primaries

The May 16 ballot includes the Republican and Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. The marquee race is the U.S. Senate Republican primary, which features incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy facing challengers Rep. Julia Letlow and State Treasurer John Fleming.

U.S. House seats are also on the ballot under the new closed primary system. In the Acadiana region, Rep. Clay Higgins (R) is unopposed in the Republican primary for the 3rd Congressional District, and Rep. Cleo Fields (D) is unopposed in the Democratic primary for the 6th Congressional District.

The winners of each party’s primary will advance to the November 3 general election. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote on May 16, the top two vote-getters within each party will advance to a runoff on June 27.

Constitutional Amendments

In addition to the party primaries, five Louisiana constitutional amendments are on the May 16 ballot. These amendments cover a range of topics, from the judicial retirement age to civil service, teacher compensation, and the business inventory tax. 1A has compiled information on each amendment below.

Amendment 1 – State Civil Service (Unclassified Positions)

Would allow the legislature to add officers, positions, and employees to the unclassified state civil service by law, and prohibit their removal except by law. (Act 223, 2025 Regular Session)

Official ballot question: “Do you support an amendment to allow the legislature to remove or add officers, positions, and employees to the unclassified state civil service?”

Amendment 2 – St. George Community School System (East Baton Rouge Parish)

Would grant the proposed St. George community school system in East Baton Rouge Parish the same constitutional authority as a parish school system, including for purposes of state and local funding and the ability to raise local revenues. (Act 218, 2025 Regular Session)

Official ballot question: “Do you support an amendment to grant the St. George community school system in East Baton Rouge Parish the same authority granted parishes for purposes of Article VIII, Section 13 of the Constitution of Louisiana, including purposes related to the minimum foundation program, funding for certain school books and instructional materials, and the raising of certain local revenues for the support of elementary and secondary schools?”

Amendment 3 – Teacher & Support Staff Pay Raises (TRSL Funds)

Would repeal the Education Excellence Fund, Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund, and Louisiana Quality Education Support Fund, directing those monies to pay down debt in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL). Savings realized from paying down that debt would be used to fund a $2,250 pay raise for teachers and a $1,125 raise for support staff in public school systems participating in TRSL. (Act 222, 2025 Regular Session; effective January 1, 2027)

Official ballot question: “Do you support an amendment to fund a $2,250 teacher pay raise and $1,125 support staff pay raise by utilizing the remaining savings from paying down the debt of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana with monies from certain constitutional funds?”

Amendment 4 – Local Option to Exempt Business Inventory Tax

Would allow a parish to reduce or exempt property taxes on business inventory, and would establish a separate constitutional classification for Public Service Property (such as utilities and railroads) for purposes of ad valorem taxation. (Act 221, 2025 Regular Session)

Official ballot question: “Do you support an amendment to allow a parish to reduce or exempt property tax on property held as business inventory and to provide for the classification of Public Service Property?”

Amendment 5 – Judicial Mandatory Retirement Age (70 → 75)

Would raise the mandatory retirement age for Louisiana judges from 70 to 75. A judge who reaches age 75 during a term of office would be permitted to continue serving to complete that term. (Act 219, 2025 Regular Session)

Official ballot question: “Do you support an amendment to change the mandatory retirement age for judges from seventy to seventy-five, provided that a judge may continue to serve to complete a term of office?”

Other Elections Resources

The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR) provides nonpartisan analysis of constitutional amendments. Check their website for a guide once it is published ahead of the May 16 election.

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s GeauxVote portal is a clearinghouse for elections-related information, from voter registration to sample ballots and more.

Visit Louisiana’s Voter Portal >>