Louisiana
Louisiana’s new closed party primary causes confusion at the polls on election day
Louisiana’s new closed party primary system on Saturday left many voters confused and election commissioners exasperated.
Most of the angst centered on the new rules for no-party voters, who have to choose whether to vote Democratic, Republican or no-party on a one-page form called Declaration of Ballot Choice.
Election commissioners reported delays throughout the day from having to explain the new process to no-party voters and then having those voters choose which election to vote in.
No-party voters who checked the “no-party” box found when they went behind the curtain that they could not vote in the high-profile Senate election for one of the Republican or Democratic candidates. To do that, they had to check the box for Republican or Democratic.
Louis Perret, the clerk of court in Lafayette Parish, said one election commissioner was so frustrated that she went home for lunch on Saturday and didn’t return.
“I’ve been here 22 years,” said Diane Broussard, the clerk of court in Vermillion Parish. “By far, this has been the worst election. I’m on a text chain with other clerks of court. There’s confusion throughout the state.”
Broussard and other clerks of court reported another problem: Some people who have been registered as Democrat for years, but who typically vote Republican, showed up not realizing that, under the semi-closed party primary, they could only vote for a Democrat.
“The closed party primary is idiotic. It’s a waste of money,” said Harry LeBlanc, a retiree and no-party voter, after he voted at Lakeshore Playground in Metairie. “I don’t understand why it exists except for the parties trying to give themselves an advantage.”
LeBlanc noted that, having chosen on Saturday to vote in the Republican primary, he will now have to vote for Republicans in the June 27 runoff as well.
“That takes away choices,” LeBlanc said.
Polling stations are open on Saturday until 8 p.m. Many polling stations reported no problems on Saturday.
Early voting from May 2-9 also produced many problems.
In the Senate election, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming are trying to unseat Sen. Bill Cassidy, as is little-known business owner Mark Spencer.
Three Democrats are on the ballot Saturday in a separate party primary. They are Jamie Davis, a farmer from northeast Louisiana who has the endorsement of the Louisiana Democratic Party; Nick Albares, a policy analyst in New Orleans who has the support of his former boss, ex-Gov. John Bel Edwards; and Gary Crockett, a business owner in New Orleans who spent 24 years in the Navy.
Cassidy held a press conference by phone with reporters on Friday to express concerns about the new semi-closed party primary system.
Cassidy opposed moving from the open, or jungle primary, in January 2024 when Gov. Jeff Landry pushed the change through the Republican Legislature, with the senator citing the cost of having an extra runoff election under the new system.
On Friday, Cassidy warned that turmoil would disenfranchise voters and who would end up not voting.
“As Louisianans vote today, it’s becoming crystal clear that No Party voters are facing a disjointed, difficult process to actually cast a vote in the GOP primary,” he said Saturday.
On Friday, Cassidy noted that then-Gov. Bobby Jindal and the Legislature switched to a party primary in 2008.
“It was a disaster,” Cassidy said. “So after one election, we went back to the open primary, which has served us well.”
Landry initially sought a completely closed party primary system where only Democrats could vote for Democrats and Republicans for Republicans.
But U.S. Sen. John Kennedy and others got the state Senate to amend the closed party primary bill by then-state Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, who is now Landry’s chief of staff, to allow no-party voters to choose which party primary to vote in.
Kennedy said the change was necessary to allow the state’s no-party voters to participate in the primary. As of May 1, no-party voters constitute about 813,000 voters, or 27% of the electorate, according to pollster John Couvillon, who conducted surveys for Fleming.
William Vandermeer, a retiree in New Orleans, thought he had changed his registration to no-party to be able to vote for Cassidy on Saturday.
But he learned when he went to vote at a fire station on Norman C. Francis Parkway that he was still listed as a Democrat.
Under the jungle primary, Vandermeer noted he could have voted for Cassidy or any of the other Republican candidates.
Adding to the confusion is Landry’s April 30 decision – following a court order – to cancel the six U.S. House races in Louisiana but proceed with the races for Senate, Public Service Commission, state Supreme Court, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and local races.
“A lot of people think the whole election has been canceled,” Broussard said. “Voters have been calling all week about that. There wasn’t enough time to get out the word.”
Perret agreed.
“All the education and outreach efforts that all of us put together seem to have made a small dent but not a big dent in voter confusion,” Perret said.
At 2 p.m., he found only 6.9% turnout of Lafayette Parish’s registered voters, leading him to estimate that the overall turnout would be less than 30%.
The office of Secretary of State Nancy Landry is projecting a 28% turnout, which would be a big drop from the typical 50% turnout for past primary elections in non-presidential, even years.
State Rep. Aimee Adatto Freeman, a Democrat who represents Uptown New Orleans, said she found uncertainty when she went to vote Saturday morning at the St. Joan of Arc School on Cambronne Street.
She said she didn’t see a sign telling voters that their vote in the 2nd Congressional District wouldn’t count. Freeman went ahead and voted anyway for U.S. Rep. Troy Carter.
“We need to go back to the jungle primary,” said Freeman, who voted two years ago against moving to the semi-closed party primary.
Andrew Farnsworth, an elections commissioner at Hynes Charter School in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans, said he and others have been able to reset voting machines for no-party voters who chose “no-party” and then emerged irate from the polling booth that they didn’t have a choice in the Senate election.
“It’s slowing things down,” he said, adding that commissioners began taking extra time to explain the new rules to no-party voters beforehand.
Said Judy Chauvin, an election commissioner working another table at Hynes: “If they don’t change the system before the general election, we’re staying home.”
The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 13, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 13 drawing
03-13-44-50-53, Powerball: 02, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 13 drawing
2-8-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 13 drawing
3-7-7-4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from June 13 drawing
6-0-7-3-1
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Easy 5 numbers from June 13 drawing
04-10-16-23-31
Check Easy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto numbers from June 13 drawing
02-03-08-16-18-33
Check Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.
By mail, follow these instructions:
- Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
- Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
- Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
- Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.
Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:
Louisiana Lottery Headquarters
555 Laurel Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:
555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.
When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
- Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Louisiana
High School Graduate, 18, Who Died While Tubing in Louisiana ‘Wanted to Make the World a Better Place,’ His Mother Says
NEED TO KNOW
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Jonis Warren Jr., 18, recently graduated from high school and died in a Bogue Chitto River accident in Louisiana on June 6.
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Following his death, his family and community are honoring his memory with a GoFundMe
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“He was my sunset,” his mother, Shaneika Spicer, said of her late son
Jonis Warren Jr.’s family is paying tribute to the recent high school graduate, days after he died in a Bogue Chitto River accident in Louisiana on June 6.
The 18-year-old was reported missing after he “went under the water and did not resurface” while he was tubing on the river, according to a statement by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office (WPSO). Divers and sonar equipment were used to locate his remains, which were recovered and taken to the coroner on Monday, June 8.
“That was my sunrise, he was my sunset,” his mother, Shaneika Spicer, told WWL 4.
“When he told me he went under, all I could tell the detective was bring my baby home,” Spicer said. “My heart knew my baby wasn’t coming home the way he left.”
“We cannot compete in no form or fashion with nature,” she said.
Jonis Warren Jr.
Credit: gofundme
The teenager recently graduated from Mandeville High School and had plans to become an aerospace engineer. The second-eldest of five was known for his affinity for anime and Icees.
“In his words, Jonis is a legend. He is a legend, that is my legend,” Spicer said of her caring and protective son.
“He wanted to make the world a better place,” Spicer told WWL 4, adding, “I said, ‘son– it’s just you.’ He said, ‘Yeah, mama– but it starts somewhere.’ “
Stacy Gernhauser, the mother of his girlfriend Scarlet’s friend, created a GoFundMe page to help Spicer with the funeral and memorial costs. Although she “never really met” Jonis, Gernhauser told WWL 4 that she felt creating the fund was “my way of contributing.”
The GoFundMe page described the high school football player as a teen who was “loved by so many people, friends, and family.”
The memorial for Jonis Warren Jr.
Credit: gofundme
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“His smile lit up every room he walked into, and he brought so many people together,” the donation page read. “Everyone loved Jonis deeply, especially his beloved girlfriend, Scarlett. Their love for each other was beyond words.”
A memorial for Jonis was created by the scene of the accident, with people leaving small objects reflecting who he was. Jonis’ funeral will take place on June 18.
Read the original article on People
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (KNOE) – The University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) signed a memorandum of understanding agreement Friday in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The goal of the agreement is to establish a general framework for collaboration between the two universities with the intent of supporting academic cooperation, research engagement, student and faculty exchange, and other joint activities that advance the missions of both universities, a ULM news release said.
“We are honored to partner with the University of Puerto Rico for the advancement of both of our universities. Agreements like this broaden the cultural horizons for all of our students, faculty, and staff, while creating new learning and research opportunities. Thank you to Dr. Conde and her team for joining us in this collaborative vision. This is the beginning of a wonderful partnership,” said ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille.
The agreement comes after months of planning and cooperation between the universities, which began when President Castille and other ULM representatives visited Puerto Rico in November 2025 to explore opportunities for future partnerships, ULM said.
The two universities will explore opportunities to enhance academic programs through shared expertise, joint curriculum development, and exchange of academic resources. The agreement also lays the groundwork for students to participate in study-away programs and experiential learning opportunities, while faculty and staff may participate in collaborative research, teaching, and training, the news release said. Under the agreement, both schools may collaborate in pursuing funding opportunities from federal and state agencies, philanthropic organizations, and private foundations, with funding priorities focused on workforce development, cultural exchange, and community engagement.
“This agreement reflects our shared commitment to expanding opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers while strengthening the ties between Puerto Rico and Louisiana,” said UPR President Dr. Zayira Jordán Conde. “The University of Puerto Rico is proud to partner with ULM to foster innovation, promote cultural exchange, and develop initiatives that will positively impact our communities. We look forward to building a lasting relationship founded on academic excellence, collaboration, and a common vision for preparing future generations to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.”
Castille said both universities can learn a lot from each other. She noted Puerto Rico is home to eight of the ten major pharmaceutical manufacturers and ULM has Louisiana’s only publicly funded college of pharmacy. She said ULM’s forthcoming Bachelor of Science in Disaster Management program can potentially aid Puerto Rico in disaster response, readiness and recovery, since the island is vulnerable to hurricanes.
“This moment also reflects something larger—the importance of partnership. Institutions like the University of Puerto Rico and the University of Louisiana Monroe are united in a shared mission: to create opportunity, strengthen communities and prepare students to thrive in a complex and interconnected world. When we work together, we multiply that impact,” said Castille. “Just like Northeast Louisiana, Puerto Rico is working to build the human and physical infrastructure that strengthens its communities. After spending two days on the island and returning to Louisiana, I’m reminded of what a gift this region is and how our partnerships expand opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to learn with and from different culture.”
ULM and Louisiana State University at Alexandra signed a similar agreement in May.
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