The 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination process is rolling along and Louisiana Democrats will get to pick their candidate April 4th. State Party Executive Director Stephen Handwerk says it’s a closed primary, which means only Democrats can vote. But Handwerk says if you’re not a Democrat, you can always join the party.
“You can just reregister your registration and you can submit that online at GeauxVote.com and you will be able to then cast your ballot in this election,” says Handwerk
The deadline to register to vote in the primary either for the first time, or to change your party registration is March 4th in person, or March 14th online.
A little over a third of all delegates will be awarded by the time Louisianans vote, but Handwerk says the packed, highly competitive field means the race will still very much be in contention by April.
“If you look at all of the polling in all of these states, including all of the Super Tuesday states, you come to the conclusion that there is no one candidate who is going to be running away with any of these races,” says Handwerk.
There are no Louisiana Primary polls at the moment, but nationally the race remains tight with Senator Bernie Sanders in the lead, followed by Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg.
The Democratic primary began with a widely panned Iowa Caucus that was criticized for severe mismanagement. Handwerk says that won’t be the case in Louisiana, which is not a caucus state.
“We will be getting our results just like we always do for all of our elections. It will be published on the Secretary of State’s website, and people will be able to cast their vote at their normal precincts,” says Handwerk.
Republicans will also be voting in their primary April 4th. The GOP so far has seen sky-high turnout for a primary during an incumbents turn.
