Deadlines and Changes to Voter Registration for May 16 Election

Louisiana voters have until April 15 to register or make changes ahead of the state's first closed party primary.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:51pm

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A photorealistic painting of an old-fashioned metal ballot box sitting alone on an empty city sidewalk, the box illuminated by warm, diagonal sunlight casting deep shadows across the pavement, capturing a sense of civic duty and political reflection.The quiet, solitary image of a ballot box on a deserted urban street evokes the contemplative mood surrounding Louisiana's upcoming closed primary election.Baton Rouge Today

The Louisiana Secretary of State's Office is reminding voters of the upcoming deadlines for voter registration and changes to existing registrations ahead of the state's May 16 closed party primary election. The new closed primary system will provide Democratic and Republican voters with ballots specific to their party, while unaffiliated voters can choose to participate in either party's primary.

Why it matters

Louisiana's transition to a closed party primary system is a significant change that will impact how voters participate in the upcoming election. The Secretary of State's Office is working to educate the public and address misinformation about voter registration status to ensure all eligible voters can successfully cast their ballots.

The details

Voters have until April 15 to register to vote or make changes to an existing registration in person or by mail. Online registration and updates can be completed through April 25. In the new closed primary system, Democratic and Republican voters will receive ballots specific to their party, while unaffiliated voters can choose to participate in either party's primary by completing a Declaration of Ballot Choice. Third-party voters cannot participate in the Democratic or Republican primaries but can vote in eligible races, propositions, and constitutional amendments. During the November general election, all registered voters will be able to vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation.

  • The voter registration deadline is April 15.
  • The deadline to make changes to an existing registration is April 15 for in-person or mail submissions, and April 25 for online updates.
  • The closed party primary election will be held on May 16.

The players

Louisiana Secretary of State's Office

The state agency responsible for overseeing elections and voter registration in Louisiana.

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What’s next

Voters on the inactive list will have the opportunity to confirm their address and be placed back on the active voter list either at the polling place or by contacting their parish Registrar of Voters. Failure to do so within two federal election cycles will result in their record being removed, at which point they will need to submit a new voter registration application to re-register.

The takeaway

Louisiana's transition to a closed party primary system is a significant change that will impact how voters participate in the upcoming election. The Secretary of State's Office is working to educate the public and address misinformation to ensure all eligible voters can successfully cast their ballots.