Starting August 1, Louisiana will no longer recognize the state’s Independent Party and will transition to a closed primary system, affecting future elections for offices including the U.S. Senate, House, state Supreme Court, and education boards.
The change, approved by the legislature and signed by the governor, does not impact presidential primaries. Secretary of State Nancy Landry said the update aims to reduce confusion by shifting approximately 150,000 voters registered as “Independent” to “No Party” status. These voters will retain the ability to choose either party’s primary ballot.
“Many Louisiana voters… mistakenly believe they are unaffiliated,” Landry explained. The move is intended to clarify party registration and broaden participation in the closed primary format launching in spring 2026.
More than 650,000 Louisiana residents are already registered with no party affiliation. The state will continue recognizing other third parties such as the Green and Libertarian parties.
The dissolution of the Independent Party comes as Louisiana reshapes its electoral system, aligning with states that prioritize formal party participation in primaries while maintaining some access for unaffiliated voters.
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