September 30, 2026
Greetings League Members and Friends!
People think of voting as a November activity, but especially in Louisiana, October is the main month for election activity. Your Louisiana Leagues have been preparing for this activity, not only in connection with the November 2026, but with a view to the 2027 Louisiana Statewide Elections. We have been preparing in a number of ways.
First, with an infusion of new funding, we are morphing our Closed Party Primaries activity from Spring 2026 into an Inclusive Primaries focus through 2027. As we learned in the horrendously low voter turnout in the Statewide Elections in 2023, voters really need to join us in re-imagining October as the “real” election month. In 2023, we heard from voters who did not know the statewide primary happened in October and not November. They also did not know that candidates could win outright in an October primary, which would make it pointless to wait for the November election. November (and Louisiana’s December runoffs) are really the end of the election season—October is when the real action happens!
There are ways in which these Statewide Election myths could resurface in the November and December federal mid-term elections, too. Suspended by “emergency” order last May, the November U.S. House primary will now be an open primary rather than a closed one. So, unless House candidates win outright, voters will need to go to the polls again in December for a run-off election.
However, winners of the Spring 2026 closed party primaries for BESE, PSC, and Louisiana Supreme Court will now have their general election in November in districts where these offices are up for election this year. These general election runoffs are ones in which all voters—No Party, third party, etc.—can vote. No “Declarations of Ballot Choice” are required for No Party voters this time. Everyone can vote for anyone. But candidates can win with a mere plurality vote instead of majority, which makes the stakes higher, even as it may also decrease voter turnout. When fewer voters vote, every vote counts more.
Speaking of votes and voters counting, we are continuing our usual focus on encouraging voters on the Inactive Voter List to update their information before they head to the polls. Voters on the IVL mostly have “suspended” status and can still vote after filling out an address confirmation form at their polling place. But why not get it done early? (Late-breaking news: It was reported on October 7 that the SOS’s offices accidentally switched 67,000 voters to inactive status, so LWVLA is reminding all voters to follow the ABC Rule when it comes to voter registration status: ALWAYS BE CHECKING.
Early Voting during the October 20-27 period (excluding Sunday) is also a big focus this year. Interest in voting early has increased since it was expanded and more Early Voting Locations declared during and after COVID. Why wait for a hurricane, flood, or tornado to dampen Election Day? Voting early gets the job done and frees you for Election Protection and other GOTV efforts on Election Day.
Both during Early Voting and on Election Day, there are opportunities for remote poll monitoring of polling places, which involved driving around to a list of polling places in your parish (or maybe another parish that you “adopt”), observing what voting looks like (lines, signage, accessibility, intimidation), and helping us add to the data and make improvements to polling places around the state. One League member has visited 16 parishes, filed 400+ reports, eaten many local delicacies, and enjoyed “election tourism” as an interesting way to get to know the state. She even encountered an alligator near a polling place in St. Charles Parish. Talk about voter intimidation!
Our “Unite & Rise 8.5” campaign to register, educate, and activate 8.5 million voters across the nation before the 2026 midterm election continues—and LWVLA is seeking to reach 160,000 Louisiana voters. As always, if you’re not with us yet as a League member, join us, tell your friends, or donate to fund our work.
In League, Your LWVLA State Board
Upcoming Events in October:
- October 5-Deadline to register to vote in-person
- October 5-9-National Voter Registration Week
- October 13-Deadline to register to vote online
- October 20-27—Early Voting (except Sunday)
- October 20-Recommended date to mail ballot, if mailing
- October 30-Deadline to request absentee ballot, 4:30 PM
