Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced Thursday that the state is suspending its House elections just days before early voting was scheduled to begin, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the state's congressional map. Landry declared an "electoral emergency," giving him authority to delay the closed-party primaries originally set for May 16 and June 27.
The suspension applies only to U.S. House races; other elections and ballot measures will proceed as planned. Early voting was slated to start Saturday, and absentee ballots had already been mailed to overseas voters. "Allowing elections to proceed under an unconstitutional map would undermine the integrity of our system," Landry said in a statement.
Landry, along with Attorney General Liz Murrill, is working with the state Legislature and the Secretary of State's office to chart a path forward. The delay gives lawmakers time to draw a new congressional map, though Landry did not provide a timeline for when primaries might be rescheduled.
The move halts a process that was already in motion, raising concerns about voter confusion and logistical challenges, particularly for overseas and military voters who had already submitted ballots. How quickly the Legislature can agree on a new map remains unclear, with partisan tensions likely to complicate negotiations.
Critics argue the suspension could disenfranchise voters and set a troubling precedent for executive overreach in election administration, though Landry insists the action is necessary to uphold constitutional standards.