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LA began using this method of non partisan elections back in 1977 with the non partisan primary held prior to the General in Nov. The procedure used now is the results of a court ordered ruling (sometime in the mid 90s) that stopped LA from electing Federal positions prior to the date specified in the Constitution. Many times the non partisan primary produced a majority winner thus that person was elected before the Constitution called for date. So the Legislature (1998 or so) changed the law to hold the non partisan elections for Federal positions on the Constitution specified date with a runoff if needed to be held later... Georgia has a run off like this if no one gets a majority on the appointed date, if I'm not mistaken.

Isn't this election unconstitutional? Are not states mandated to elect senators on a specific date? When will LA get its act together.

Actually..Louisiana has not a "unique" system as the press will tell you..it really is a common sense system..to think Louisiana is the only state that does NOT pay for Democrat or Republican party primary..why should tax payers pony up to pay for these two parties when no other state does it for other parties like the libertarian or taxpayer or nose picker parties??? Let everyone run together..if no one gets a majority then the top two run against each other..and there is no spoiler..which has hurt GOP candidates..GOP candidates can be sore losers and run third parties in the so called "runoff" and give the demos a win without a majority..