Louisiana
We encourage everyone to contact their Senators and Representative in Congress.
Click on the images below for additional information:
SENIOR SENATOR: Bill Cassidy
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JUNIOR SENATOR: John Kennedy
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DISTRICT 1: Steve Scalise
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DISTRICT 2: Cedric Richmond
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DISTRICT 3: Clay Higgins
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DISTRICT 4: Mike Johnson
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DISTRICT 5: Ralph Abraham
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DISTRICT 6: Garret Graves
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STARTING A POLITICAL PARTY IN LOUISIANA:
METHOD: VOTER REGISTRATION ($1,000 registration fee)
SIGNATURES NEEDED: 1,000 Registered Voters
SIGNATURES NEEDED: 1,000 Registered Voters
In Louisiana, a new party will be recognized when the following three things occur:
The registration statement must be sworn to by an officer of the party. The statement must be notarized and include the following information:
In order to be recognized in time to run candidates in an election, the party will have to file and pay the registration fee no later than 90 days before the candidate qualifying period.
A newly recognized political party will not be given a seat on the Parish Board of Election Supervisors, which is a board in each parish that oversees and supervises election proceedings, until at least 5 percent of registered voters in the state are affiliated with the party. Newly recognized political parties also cannot collect party fees from their candidates.
Maintaining ballot access
In order to maintain ballot access, a newly recognized party must continue to put candidates on the ballot. If no registered member of the party qualifies as a candidate for four consecutive years, the party will cease to be recognized.
However, if a presidential or statewide office candidate of a newly recognized party receives at least 5 percent of the votes cast for those offices, the four-year rule will no longer apply. This means that if the party's candidate in a presidential or statewide race receives at least 5 percent of the votes cast for those offices, the party will never have to re-qualify for recognition.
- At least 1,000 registered voters affiliate with the party on their voter registration forms.
- The party files a notarized registration statement with the Louisiana Secretary of State.
- The party pays a $1,000 registration fee to the secretary of state's office.
The registration statement must be sworn to by an officer of the party. The statement must be notarized and include the following information:
- the name of the party, which cannot be deceptively similar to the name of any already-recognized political party
- the mailing address of the party, which must be within the state of Louisiana
- affiliation with a national political party, if applicable
- the names, addresses, and official titles of the party's state officers
- a copy of the party's emblem, if applicable, which cannot be deceptively similar to the emblem of any already-recognized political party
- copies of the party's charter or constitution, its governing bylaws, rules, and regulations.
In order to be recognized in time to run candidates in an election, the party will have to file and pay the registration fee no later than 90 days before the candidate qualifying period.
A newly recognized political party will not be given a seat on the Parish Board of Election Supervisors, which is a board in each parish that oversees and supervises election proceedings, until at least 5 percent of registered voters in the state are affiliated with the party. Newly recognized political parties also cannot collect party fees from their candidates.
Maintaining ballot access
In order to maintain ballot access, a newly recognized party must continue to put candidates on the ballot. If no registered member of the party qualifies as a candidate for four consecutive years, the party will cease to be recognized.
However, if a presidential or statewide office candidate of a newly recognized party receives at least 5 percent of the votes cast for those offices, the four-year rule will no longer apply. This means that if the party's candidate in a presidential or statewide race receives at least 5 percent of the votes cast for those offices, the party will never have to re-qualify for recognition.
As of May 2017, Louisiana officially recognized five political parties: the Democratic, Green, Libertarian, Reform, and Republican parties.
Democratic Party of Louisiana Link Party by-laws
Green Party of Louisiana Link Party by-laws
Libertarian Party of Louisiana Link Party platform
Reform Party of Louisiana Link Party principles
Republican Party of Louisiana Link Party platform
Green Party of Louisiana Link Party by-laws
Libertarian Party of Louisiana Link Party platform
Reform Party of Louisiana Link Party principles
Republican Party of Louisiana Link Party platform
See statutes: Title 18, Section 441 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
