How to Run for Office in Louisiana
Getting on the Ballot
Louisiana qualifying is a sprint: a three-day qualifying period set by law for each election, during which candidates file a notarized Notice of Candidacy with either a qualifying fee - payable only in cash, certified/cashier's check, or money order - or a nominating petition. State and congressional candidates qualify in person at the Secretary of State's office in Baton Rouge; parish, local, and municipal candidates qualify with the clerk of court in their parish (an agent with a signed affidavit may file for you). Louisiana does not allow write-in candidates - miss qualifying, and the cycle is over. State candidates must also complete an hour of ethics training after qualifying.
Louisiana's famous open "jungle" primary - every candidate on one ballot regardless of party, majority wins outright, else the top two meet in a runoff - still governs state and local races. But the system is in flux: legislation effective 2026 moved certain offices (U.S. Senate, Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, and BESE, with U.S. House rules shifting between cycles) to closed party primaries with their own earlier qualifying periods. Check the current rules for your specific office each cycle.
Where Local Candidates File
The clerk of court is each parish's chief election official and the qualifying office for local races - call ahead for hours during the three-day window. Campaign finance disclosure is administered by the Board of Ethics (the Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure) at ethics.la.gov, which hands every qualifying candidate an information packet covering disclosure and conflict rules.
Worth Knowing
- Three days, exact payment, notarized form - Louisiana qualifying rewards preparation and punishes improvisation. Have the fee in the right instrument and the notarized form ready before the window opens.
- Under the jungle primary, the "primary" is the election if someone clears 50% - many Louisiana races end without a runoff, compressing the real campaign.
Official Louisiana Resources
Filing deadlines, fees, and signature requirements change from cycle to cycle. Always confirm current details with the official sources below.
This page was last reviewed on August 4, 2026. Process details above are believed current as of that date; deadlines and fees should always be verified with your election office.