You’ve probably heard the rumors or seen the scattered signs, but walking into a polling place without a game plan is basically a recipe for a headache. Today is Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and if you’re asking what are we voting for today in louisiana, the answer isn't a simple "everyone." In fact, today isn't a statewide election day for the general public.
Wait. Don’t close the tab yet.
While most of the state is sitting this one out, today is actually a massive deadline day for the folks who will be on your ballot later this year. It’s also the first day of a brand-new era for Louisiana’s famous "jungle primary" system—or rather, the beginning of its end. Honestly, what’s happening behind the scenes today at the Secretary of State’s office and in local registrar buildings is going to dictate exactly who you get to choose from when the real fireworks start in a few weeks.
The Big January 13 Deadline: It's Selection Sunday for Candidates
Basically, today is the final "put up or shut up" moment for anyone wanting to run for a party primary office via a nominating petition. If you aren't a Republican or a Democrat and you want to get on the ballot for those high-profile spring races, your signatures are due today.
By the time the sun sets, the "unofficial" list of candidates for the 2026 cycle starts to become very official.
Think of it like the trade deadline in sports. While you aren't casting a ballot in a booth today, the "teams" are being finalized. If a candidate didn't get their paperwork in or their signatures verified by this afternoon, they’re out. Period. We are looking at a massive shuffle for:
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- U.S. Senate seats (currently held by Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy).
- All six U.S. House districts.
- The State Supreme Court.
- Public Service Commission and BESE seats.
The Massive Change: No More Jungle Primaries for Everyone
If you’ve lived in Louisiana for more than five minutes, you know how we do things. Everyone runs together, and if nobody gets 50%, we do a runoff.
Well, that’s dead for certain races starting right now.
This 2026 cycle is the first time we are using closed primaries for federal offices and select state roles. This is a huge deal. Steven Procopio over at the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) has been shouting this from the rooftops: check your registration.
If you’re a registered Democrat, you’re only going to see Democrats on your primary ballot this spring. If you’re a Republican, same thing. If you’re "No Party" or Independent? You’ve got a choice to make at the door. You can basically pick which party’s ballot you want to "crash" for that day. It’s a seismic shift in Louisiana politics that most people aren't ready for.
Why this matters today
Because the qualifying and petition deadlines are happening now, candidates are having to decide if they can actually survive a closed primary. In the old system, a moderate could appeal to everyone. Now? They have to survive their own party's base first.
Special Elections on the Horizon
While the statewide primary is set for May 16, 2026, we have special elections coming up fast on February 7. If you live in these specific spots, you actually do need to be checking your mailbox for a sample ballot:
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- State Senate District 3: Covering parts of Orleans and St. Bernard.
- House District 37: Calcasieu and Jeff Davis.
- House District 60: Assumption and Iberville.
- House District 97 & 100: New Orleans.
If you are in one of those districts, your registration deadline was actually a few days ago (January 7) for in-person, but you still have until January 17 to register online through the GeauxVote system. Honestly, if you haven't checked your status on the app yet, just do it. It takes two seconds and saves you from being that person arguing with a poll worker in February.
What’s Coming in the Spring (The Real Ballot)
When you finally do head to the polls for the primary on May 16, you aren't just picking people. The Legislature has already loaded the 2026 ballot with constitutional amendments. We love amendments in Louisiana. We’ve had over 300 of them since the 70s.
Here is the "short version" of what’s already locked in for the spring:
- The Judge Age Limit: They want to move the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75.
- Civil Service Tweaks: A move to let the Legislature decide which state jobs are "classified" versus "unclassified."
- Business Taxes: Parishes might get the power to stop taxing business inventory (something local businesses have been begging for).
- Teacher Retirement: Re-routing money from specific education funds directly into the Teachers' Retirement System.
Actionable Next Steps for Today
Since you can't actually go vote today (unless you’re in a very tiny municipal runoff I haven't mentioned), here is how you actually "participate" in what what are we voting for today in louisiana really represents:
1. Check your party affiliation. With the new closed primary rules, being "Independent" or "No Party" changes your experience. Go to voterportal.sos.la.gov and make sure you are registered the way you want to be. You can still change it for the May primary if you act soon.
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2. Download the GeauxVote App. It sounds cheesy, but the Louisiana Secretary of State actually has a decent app. It’ll show you your specific ballot, your polling place, and any upcoming deadlines.
3. Mark your calendar for January 24. That’s when early voting starts for the February special elections. If you live in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, or the Lake Charles area, there's a good chance you have a local race coming up that will have a direct impact on your neighborhood.
The "big" election day isn't today, but today is when the deck is shuffled. If you care about who represents you in D.C. or how your local schools are funded, keep your eyes on the candidate list that drops this evening. That’s the real story.