If you want to vote in the Louisiana Presidential primary

You need to register before the next parades rolls.

Louisiana voters who want to take part in the March 5 presidential primaries have through Wednesday to decide whether they will do so as Republicans or Democrats.

The presidential preference primary is a rare closed election in Louisiana in which only registered Republicans can vote in the GOP primary and only registered Democrats will cast ballots in the Democratic primary. It’s a departure from recent statewide elections here, including those held last fall, that haven’t been restricted by party.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler warned that the shift can create confusion for some voters. “To avoid confusion, now is a good time to check out our website and our voter app to see what’s on the ballot as well as check your registration if you want to participate in the (presidential primary),” he said.