Rotarian Chesney Chandler, Winn Parish clerk of court, was Rotarian of the Day and guest speaker for the Aug. 27, 2025, Rotary meeting. Chandler described changes in election law providing for closed primaries in the next election and beyond.

She explained that Louisiana has had open primaries in which any voter could vote for any candidate in the first round regardless of the candidate’s party affiliation or the voter’s party registration. With the latest change in the law, registered Republican voters will be able to vote only for Republican candidates, registered Democratic voters only for Democratic candidates, and No Party voters only for No Party candidates.

The law will be applicable to the November general elections. For that election, candidates must qualify with the secretary of state or by nomination petition by Sept. 16.

At the ballot box, voters will have to make a declaration of ballot and choose a party among Democratic, Republican or No Party. The voting machine will be programmed to lock the voter out of the primary for candidates of any other party.

Between elections, voters can change their party selection at the registrar of voters’ office any time up to 30 days before the election. If a voter misses that deadline at the registrar’s office, they can change their party selection on the secretary of state’s website up to 20 days before the election. The last opportunity to change one’s party selection is when the voter goes to the polls on election day.

Chandler also mentioned a change in the law that requires all attorneys to file every pleading or document electronically with the clerk’s office, effective Jan. 1, 2026.