A new poll released shows there is support for closed primaries. A survey released last week found that 56% oppose changing to a closed primary system. But Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says a majority of respondents to his survey of 600 likely voters approve several features of a closed party primary.
“90% of Louisiana is not out there worried to death that we are going to change our election system and that’s primarily what we intended to show and I think that’s what the poll basically ended up revealing,” said Pinsonat.
59% said it makes sense for Republicans and Democrats to pick their own party candidates in a closed primary and 56% like the idea of a November ballot with one Democrat, one Republican and potentially independent candidates.
Pinsonat says 70% of their respondents said party primaries in the spring and general elections in the fall would give voters more time to understand the candidates.
“Other states do that, they have their primary in the spring and then candidates can go across the state campaigning for months,” said Pinsonat.
Heated debate at the capitol is expected over Governor Jeff Landry’s proposal to shift from the state’s unique open “jungle primary” system to closed party primaries. Pinsonat says there is support for closed primaries but it’s not overwhelming.
“The public is going to listen to the argument, listen to what both sides say, but at the present time there’s no great passion for one position or the other,” said Pinsonat.
Project Louisiana Values funded the poll.
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