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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Two separate bills which would require party affiliation to help ensure Tennessee primary elections are truly closed are on the agendas for House and Senate committees next week.
Read on to learn more about the legislation and find how to take action on these bills to help secure primary elections.
SB0777– Requires party affiliation for all current and new voters
This legislation would not only require new and already registered voters to select a party affiliation but also says that individuals wishing to change their affiliation after their initial registration will have to provide written notice to the county election commission no later than 90 days before a primary election. Additionally, the party with whom the individual registers must match the party for which the individual requests a primary ballot.
Those registering to vote for the first time would make their affiliation choice while applying for registration while those already registered would select their affiliation at the first primary election for which they pull a ballot after the law takes effect. An individual who fails to make a selection or chooses to do so will be marked as “Unaffiliated” and cannot vote in a party primary election.
Sponsored by Sen. Adam Lowe, SB0777 has been in progress for over a year, stalling in the Senate last session when it did not receive a second on the motion for the bill to be presented. Since then, both the House and Senate bill sponsors have been working to obtain the needed support from committee members to see it across the finish line.
House companion bill sponsor Rep. Chris Todd has previously stated that he has taken HB0886 as far as he can through the House until there is movement in the Senate, so for SB0777 to be back on notice for consideration next week signifies that Lowe probably has some degree of confidence in the legislation’s chances of passage on this go around.
Should the bill clear the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 24, Rep. Todd will likely place his own bill back on notice for consideration by the House Finance, Way, and Means Subcommittee soon after.
Both versions of the bill have gained numerous co-sponsors, with SB0777 showing seven while HB0886 shows 34, all Republicans. This affirms that Rep. Todd’s optimism about getting the bill passed this year may indeed be warranted.
If you agree that only Republicans should be voting in Republican primary elections in Tennessee, be sure to contact members of the Senate State and Local Government Committee about SB0777 before Tuesday. Contact information can be found at the end of the article.
HB1159/SB0831– Requires current and new voters to select a party affiliation
Another carryover from last year, the premise of HB1159/SB0831 is similar to HB0886/SB0777 above, but it does not have quite the same precise language and does not specify a number of days voters would be allowed to change affiliation before a primary election. In previously presenting the bill, Lynn mentioned it would likely be 30 days, the same as already allowed for voters to make any other changes to their registrations.
Nevertheless, the ultimate goal of this bill is the same, to enact party registration and help truly close Tennessee primaries. It is scheduled for the House State & Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 24.
Rep. Susan Lynn had taken HB1159 off notice earlier in the session as a show of support for Rep. Todd’s HB0886, which has been perceived as the stronger bill, but later made the decision to proceed with the bill as there had been no action in the Senate on SB0777. She told The Tennessee Conservative that her hope was “that by showing the House has enthusiasm for this issue, this will encourage the Senate to take action on either bill.”
The Senate companion, SB0831, is carried by Sen. Joey Hensley and is also set to be heard in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 24. Only the House version, HB1159, currently shows any co-sponsors, three Republicans, again indicating SB0777 above may be a stronger piece of legislation with more support, but this certainly does not discount its overall merit.
If either SB0777 or SB0831 pass the committee, one of the sponsors may withdraw their bill or take it off notice as it would be highly unusual for the committee to pass similar or competing legislation.
Again, if you support primaries wherein only affiliated party members can select party candidates, be sure to contact the members of the State & Local Government Committees of both chambers before Tuesday using the information below.
Senate State and Local Government Committee– SB0777 & SB0831 to be heard March 24
SB0777 requires party affiliation for all current and new voters
SB0831 requires current and new voters to select a party affiliation
Sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov; sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov; sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov; sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ed.jackson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov; sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov; sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
House State & Local Government Committee– HB1159 to be heard March 24
HB1159 requires current and new voters to select a party affiliation
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov; rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov; rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
