MONTGOMERY — The Senate State Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday on legislation requiring party registration to participate in the state's partisan primary elections.
The bill (HB541) by State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity) wouldn't apply to the 2026 elections, but would go into effect on January 1, 2027, if passed into law. The bill recently passed the House by a 63-35 margin.
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.
The public hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the State House. There are three days left in the 2026 legislative session.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
