Opening of qualifying period

A. Except as otherwise provided in Part I-A of this Chapter, the qualifying period for candidates in a primary election shall open: (1) For candidates in a fall primary election in a gubernatorial election year and those in any special primary election to be held at the same time, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August of the year of the election. (2) For candidates in a fall primary election in a congressional election year and those in any special primary election to be held at the same time, on the last Wednesday in July of the year of the election. (3) For candidates in a spring primary election in a gubernatorial election year, for all candidates for a party primary office to be elected that year, and those in any special primary election to be held at the same time, on the second Wednesday in January of the year of the election. (4) For candidates in a nongubernatorial, odd-numbered year fall primary election for parochial and municipal officers in a parish containing a municipality with a population of three hundred thousand or more and those in any special primary election to be held at the same time, on the second Wednesday in July in the year of the election. (5) For candidates in a spring primary election in a presidential election year and for candidates in a presidential primary election, for all candidates for a party primary office to be elected that year, and those in any special primary election to be held at the same time, the qualifying period shall open on the third Wednesday in December. (6) For candidates in a spring primary election held in a nonpresidential congressional election year, for all candidates for a party primary office to be elected that year, and those in any special primary election to be held at the same time, on the second Wednesday in January of the year of the election. (7) For candidates in a spring primary election held in a nongubernatorial, odd-numbered election year, for all candidates for a party primary office to be elected that year, and those in any special primary election to be held at the same time, on the second Wednesday in January of the year of the election. B. The qualifying period for candidates qualifying for the general election for a party primary office in the manner provided in R.S. 18:410.8 shall be the qualifying period for candidates qualifying for a party primary office as provided in Subsection A of this Section.