Louisiana lawmakers and state officials are adjusting voter registration rules as the state transitions to closed primary elections, in order to prevent people from being locked out of the voting process. The Independent Party of Louisiana will be abolished, and its 149,464 members will be moved to unaffiliated “No Party” registrations.
Under the new closed primary election rules, voters registered as Republicans must vote in the Republican primary, and Democrats in the Democratic primary. Unaffiliated “No Party” voters can choose which primary to vote in, but those registered with the Green, Libertarian, or Independent parties are currently unable to vote in certain races. A bill proposed by Rep. Beth Billings aims to dissolve the Independent Party and transition its members to “No Party” status to allow them to vote in upcoming elections.
According to Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry, many voters registered as Independent may not be aware of their party status, causing confusion. The aim of the bill is to prevent voter disenfranchisement as the new closed primary system takes effect.
The legislation would also raise the requirements for a political party to be recognized in Louisiana, making it more difficult to establish new parties. The changes are part of efforts to ensure a smooth transition to the closed primary system while maintaining fair voting access for all residents.
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