Starting in 1978, the Louisiana legislature changed the rules for conducting US House and Senate elections, changing them to the nonpartisan blanket primary format, with primaries in late September or early October, and general elections on the federal election day in November.
In 1978, Louisiana lawmakers modified their state's electoral laws, transitioning from partisan to nonpartisan blanket primaries for US House and Senate races. These primaries were scheduled for late September or early October, followed by the general election on the federal election day in November.