No-party voters still have access to Louisiana’s closed primary elections, for now

A Louisiana bill aiming to restrict primary election access to registered Republicans and Democrats failed to pass the state Senate. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Beth Billings, would have allowed party leaders to control primary ballot access for certain offices, potentially excluding no-party voters, who comprise about a third of the state electorate. The bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate, and its sponsor plans to propose an alternative in 2027.