Louisiana is holding a special election this year to fill a vacancy in the office of Secretary of State. The Louisiana Libertarian Party has nominated Rayburn Clipper for that office. Since the party is ballot-qualified, he will appear on the ballot with the label “Libertarian” next to his name. He will be the first person to run for that office with the name of a party (other than Democratic or Republican) on the ballot next to his name, since 1912, when the Socialist Party ran J. W. Basset for that office.

Louisiana kept all minor party and independent candidates off its ballot between 1918 and 1947. In 1948 it eased ballot access for minor party and independent candidates for president, but it continued to keep all minor party and independent candidates (for office other than president) off, until 1970.

In 2004 the legislature drastically eased the definition of “party”, effective in 2005. As a result of the 2004 change, the Libertarian, Green and Reform Parties became qualified parties. This is the first time the new law has had an effect in a statewide race. Under the law in existence before 2004, any Libertarian or member of any unqualified party could have been on the ballot by paying a filing fee, but no party label would have been shown. This year, the label “Libertarian” will be next to Clipper’s name.