If you plan on voting in Louisiana’s April 4 presidential primary election, there is little time left to register.
Voters have until Wednesday, March 4 to register in person and March 14 to do so online in order to vote in the April 4 election. Louisiana residents planning to take part in the Democrat or Republican presidential primaries must be sure they are registered based on their party affiliation in order to do so.
Because of Louisiana’s closed primary system, voters currently registered as independents or under “No Party”, will not be able to vote for a party nominee. A closed primary means registered voters can only vote for candidates running for their party’s nomination.
Current Democratic presidential nominees include former vice president Joe R. Biden Jr.; billionaire former New York City mayor and media executive Michael R. Bloomberg; U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders; billionaire and former hedge fund executive Tom Steyer; and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. In recent days, two candidates for the Democratic nomination, former South Bend Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Sen. Klobuchar suspended their campaigns and endorsed Biden.
Louisianans registered as Republicans also have a choice to make as President Donald J. Trump has drawn competition for his party’s nomination on the April 4 ballot.
In addition to the party primaries for the presidential nominations, Louisiana voters will also head to the polls to fill several seats on the Democratic State Central Committee, the Democratic Parish Executive Committee and the Republic Parish Executive Committee.
Voters in Orleans Parish will also select a judge for First City Court, Section B to fill the unexpired term of the late Judge Angelique Reed who died last November. Candidates in that race include Aylin Acikalin, Robbins Graham, Schalyece Harrison, Marissa A. Hutabarat and Sara Lewis.
Residents can register to vote at the Registrar of Voters Office or at any of the following locations: Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, WIC offices, food stamp offices, Medicaid offices, offices serving persons with disabilities such as the Deaf Action Centers and Independent Living Offices, or Armed Forces recruitment offices.
Early voting for the April 4 primary takes places 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. March 21-28, except Sunday. The deadline to request an absentee by mail ballot is by 4:30 p.m. March 31 by 4:30 p.m. You can request an absentee by mail ballot online through the state of Louisiana’s Voter Portal or in writing through your Registrar of Voters Office.
The deadline for a registrar of voters to receive a voted mail ballot is April 3 by 4:30 p.m.
