Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler says Louisiana could have saved an estimated $3.5 million if the legislature had heeded his advice last year and decided to hold presidential caucuses instead of a presidential primary.
Schedler’s statement comes as lawmakers scramble to find ways to plug Louisiana’s massive budget deficit—nearly $1 billion for the current fiscal year and approximately $2 billion projected for the next fiscal year that begins July 1.
Schedler testified on Thursday before the House Appropriations Committee about the impact of budget cuts to his department. He reminded lawmakers that savings could come from replacing the presidential primary, which is paid for by the state. Party caucuses, he noted, are paid for by the state political parties.
Though it’s too late to do anything about it for the current fiscal year, Schedler advised lawmakers to consider it for future years.
“In approximately 30-plus states across the country, the political parties choose to caucus, thus picking up the cost,” Schedler said. “In several other states legislators have chosen not to fund presidential primaries. Given those statistics Louisiana should certainly explore that possibility for future savings.”
Louisiana’s presidential primary is typically a low turnout election. That’s in part because of voter apathy but also because the primaries are closed, meaning only Republicans are allowed to vote in the GOP primary and only Democrats are allowed to vote in their party’s primary.
In Louisiana about 25% of voters are independents or do not belong to any party, so they are ineligible to vote in the primary.
“Unless there is some other reason to go to the polls, like a special election, there is really no reason to hold an election,” says Meg Caspar, a spokesperson for the secretary of state’s office.
The Louisiana presidential primary is scheduled for March 5.
—Stephanie Riegel
