Louisiana § RS 18:419.2 - Spring elections in 2026

§ RS 18:419.2. Spring elections in 2026

            A. Notwithstanding R.S. 18:402(C)(1) or 410.10 or any other provision of law to the contrary, the following dates shall apply for the spring elections in 2026:

            (1) There shall be a spring primary election held on May 16, 2026, for municipal and ward officers elected in the spring of a nonpresidential congressional election year and for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office to be elected in that year. Any contest, proposition, question, or constitutional amendment scheduled to appear on the ballot for the April 18, 2026, election shall instead appear on the ballot for the May 16, 2026, election.

            (2) There shall be a spring general election held on June 27, 2026, for municipal and ward officers and, if necessary, a second party primary for candidates in a party primary election for a party primary office to be elected that year. Any contest, proposition, or question scheduled to appear on the ballot for the May 30, 2026, election shall instead appear on the ballot for the June 27, 2026, election.

            B.(1) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:467 or any other provision of law to the contrary, the qualifying period for candidates for the spring primary election in 2026 and for all candidates for a party primary office to be elected in 2026, and those in any special primary election to be held at the same time, shall open on February 11, 2026.

            (2)(a) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:410.5 and 465(B) or any other provision of law to the contrary, any signature collected on or after September 16, 2025, on a nominating petition for an office for which qualifying opens on February 11, 2026, shall be considered timely.

            (b) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:465(C)(3)(b), the number of qualified voters who must timely sign a nominating petition for a candidate for United States representative in Congress to be elected in 2026, is seven hundred fifty from within the state.

            (c) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:465(C)(1), the number of qualified voters who must timely sign a nominating petition for a candidate for United States senator to be elected in 2026, is two thousand five hundred from within the state.

            C.(1) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:1491.6(B)(1), each committee which is participating in the election of a candidate for major office in the May 16, 2026, election, excluding a candidate for party primary office, shall file a report as required by R.S. 18:1491.6 no later than November 20, 2025, which shall be complete through the one hundred ninetieth day prior to the May 16, 2026, election. However, it shall not be a violation of Chapter 11 of this Title for a committee to fail to file such a report prior to November 20, 2025.

            (2) Notwithstanding R.S. 18:1495.4(B)(1), each candidate for major office in the May 16, 2026, election, excluding a candidate for party primary office, shall file a report as required by R.S. 18:1495.4 no later than November 20, 2025, which shall be complete through the one hundred ninetieth day prior to the May 16, 2026, election. However, it shall not be a violation of Chapter 11 of this Title for a candidate to fail to file such a report prior to November 20, 2025.

            (3) A candidate who is required to file a supplemental report by February 15, 2026, pursuant to R.S. 18:1495.4(D)(3)(b) shall instead file the supplemental report by March 2, 2026.

            (4) A candidate who is required to file an annual report by February 15, 2026, pursuant to R.S. 18:1495.4(E) shall instead file the annual report by March 2, 2026.

            D.(1) The secretary of state may make necessary changes to any rules, regulations, forms, instructions, statements, ballots, nominating petitions, early voting ballot instructions, or absentee by mail ballot envelopes, instructions, certificates, or other balloting paraphernalia to reflect the dates and deadlines provided for in this Part without approval as otherwise required by R.S. 18:18, 423, 431, 552, or 1306.

            (2) The secretary of state may proceed with emergency rulemaking pursuant to R.S. 49:962 if necessary to implement the provisions of this Part.

            Acts 2025, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. Oct. 30, 2025.