Voters in Louisiana will go to the polls this Saturday, May 16, to participate in primary elections ahead of the midterm elections to be held in November. The election in the State will be the first in more than a decade to use a “closed” partisan primary system for federal offices such as the Senate and the House of Representatives. The new model partially replaces the traditional “jungle primary” or open primary system that was used for years.
Under this model, Republicans can only vote in the Republican primary and Democrats can only participate in the Democratic primary. Voters registered as “No Party” can choose one of the two ballots, while those affiliated with minor parties, such as the Libertarian or the Green Party, cannot participate in these partisan primaries.
The system applies to elections for the United States Senate, the federal House of Representatives, the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Public Service Commission, and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. For other state offices, the traditional majority system with a possible runoff continues to be used.
When are the primaries in Louisiana?
Election day will be Saturday, May 16, 2026. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Central Time).
If no candidate obtains more than 50% of the votes in a primary, a runoff will be held on June 27, 2026. The general election for the Senate is scheduled for November 3, 2026, with a possible tiebreaker on December 12.
What offices are being voted on?
The main focus is the primary election for the Senate. In the Republican primary, incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy seeks re-election against several conservative rivals, including Julia Letlow and state treasurer John Fleming. On the Democratic side, Nick Albares, Gary Crockett, and Jamie Davis are competing.
The race has received national attention because Cassidy voted to convict Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial in 2021, marking a break with the Republican Party. Trump publicly endorsed Letlow.
In addition to the Senate race, voters will decide on five state constitutional amendments, several local and judicial elections, as well as contests for the Louisiana Supreme Court and other state bodies.
U.S. House of Representatives elections will not be held because they were suspended following a Supreme Court ruling on the State’s congressional maps.
Who can vote?
To vote in Louisiana, one must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, a legal resident, and registered before the deadline. Additionally, the person cannot be under a prison order for a felony conviction nor have been declared mentally incompetent by a court.
Deadlines have already passed for this election. In-person or mail registration closed on April 15, 2026, while online registration remained open until April 25. Early voting was available from May 2 to May 9, 2026.
What identification is needed to vote?
Voters must present valid photo identification with a signature. Accepted documents include a Louisiana driver’s license, a state ID, the digital LA Wallet version, military IDs, and other generally recognized photo IDs.
If the ID does not include a photo or signature, the voter may cast their ballot by affidavit.
Where to vote?
Voters can check their polling place through the State’s election portal or via the GeauxVote app. To find their polling station, they must enter their name, zip code, and date of birth in the voter search system.
Louisiana election authorities recommend verifying the location before election day, as some centers may change.
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