MONTGOMERY — After a lengthy floor debate, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill that would require party registration to participate in the state's partisan primary elections.
The bill (HB541), sponsored by State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity), passed along party lines, 63-35, with State Reps. Russell Bedsole (R-Alabaster), Terri Collins (R-Decatur), Phillip Rigsby (R-Huntsville), Bob Fincher (R-Woodland), Tim Wadsworth (R-Arley) and Brett Easterbrook (R-Fruitdale) voting with Democrats against it.
Currently, Alabama's primaries are open. However, if one opts to participate in a party's primary, they may participate only in that party's primary runoff.
Yarbrough's bill would require voters to register with a political party to vote the party's ballot in a primary election or a primary runoff. It would impose a 60-day blackout period before a primary election, before which voters could redeclare party affiliation.
"I think it is really important that we, as the Republican Party, or parties in general, just lean into who we are and our identity, and let that be the choice let that be the choice that voters make," Yarbrough said to reporters after the vote.
A handful of Republican lawmakers, including House Pro Tem Chris Pringle (R-Mobile), Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City) and Jennifer Fidler (R-Silverhill) expressing skepticism about the proprosal's long-term impact on elections.
Democrats voted unanimously against the measure. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) called the bill's passage a "dark day."
"For me, today is a dark day in Alabama," Daniels said. "I'm hopeful there will be many other changes to this bill before it sees the finish line or before it gets to the finish line. I would urge voters to speak up and speak against this piece of legislation that puts them in a box because you're more than a box," he said. "For me, as the Democratic leader, we encourage and embrace everyone to participate in our primaries. We don't want to close our primaries. We want you to be able to pick and choose a person of your choice and we welcome all of you -- that's Democrats, recovering Republicans and Republicans in general and independents. We encourage everyone to participate in our process."
The bill was co-sponsored by House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) and State Reps. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle), Mack Butler (R-Gadsden), Cindy Myrex (R-Cullman), Ben Harrison (R-Elkmont), Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), Kerry Underwood (R-Tuscumbia), Matthew Hammett (R-Dozier), Ritchie Whorton (R-Owens Cross Road), Allen Treadaway (R-Morris), Phillip Pettus (R-Killen), Rick Rehm (R-Dothan), Kenneth Paschal (R-Pelham), Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs), Jim Carns (R-Vestavia Hills) and Shane Stringer (R-Citronelle).
The bill is now awaiting consideration by the Alabama State Senate, where its future is uncertain with just six full legislative days remaining. According to Yarbrough, State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) will carry the legislation in the Alabama State Senate.
Jeff Poor is the editor-in-chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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