Different take on federal elections

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office is pushing statewide public service announcements this week as Louisiana’s annual Voter Registration and Voter Education week gets under way.

The Secretary of State’s office says it will be using the week to remind voters of the importance of accurate voter registration and of major changes going into effect this year, such as closed congressional primaries.

“It’s gonna be a confusing election,” said Secretary of State Press Secretary Jacques Berry.

For the first time in nearly three decades, Louisiana will have closed Congressional primaries Sept. 6.

Republican primaries will be open only to Republicans while Democratic primaries will be open to Democrats and those who have not registered with another party officially recognized in Louisiana.

Parties recognized in Louisiana are Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, Green and Reform.

Runoffs for the congressional primaries will be held Oct. 4 — the same date as municipal primaries.

Municipal elections will be the open primaries voters are used to.

After the open primaries, the top two candidates regardless of party have a runoff during the presidential election in November.

“The final election for everything is in November,” Berry said. “The only closed primaries at all are for Congress.”

This, however, will not affect the 3rd Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, was the only person to register and was re-elected to his third term without opposition.