Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
The remaining party affiliation bill which would have ensured closed primary elections in Tennessee are actually closed died in the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee on Monday thanks to several Republicans who voted against it and caused a tie vote, killing the legislation.
HB0886 by Rep. Chris Todd would have required new and already registered voters to select a party affiliation and allowed individuals wishing to change their affiliation after their initial registration to do so no later than 90 days before a primary election.
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 select or chooses to do so will be marked as “Unaffiliated” and cannot vote in a party primary election.
During the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee Meeting on Monday, Rep. Todd encouraged committee members to vote for the bill, giving a lighthearted comparison to sports.
“[The current system] allows the Alabama fans to vote and elect our quarterback on the University of Tennessee football team. So, if anybody supports that, then you would vote against my bill. But if you don’t support that, if you think only Tennessee people should be picking their quarterback for UT, then you would support my bill. This literally enforces the closed primaries we’ve had for decades,” he said.
He also pointed to recent examples he received from constituents and seen circulating on social media in the last week encouraging illegal crossover voting, saying, “across the state, a number of folks are going to social media and advocating for folks in their party to literally go pick a primary ballot in another party’s race, and pick their candidate for them.”
“So, it would be no different from Alabama fans picking our UT quarterback, and I don’t think anybody thinks that’s the right thing to do. No different than it would be for folks over in the Methodist Church to come across the street and vote in the Baptist church to elect their pastor,” he reiterated.
During discussion by committee, Todd also reminded members that it is already illegal to crossover vote, but that District Attorneys find the current law almost impossible to track or enforce and that his bill would simply provide an easy solution to creating the enforcement mechanism.
Ultimately, these points were not enough to sway enough Republicans to pass the bill, with the vote being 6-6, meaning the bill died for lack of a majority. One Democrat, Rep. Johnny Shaw, joined five Republicans in voting “Yes” while four other Republicans joined the two remaining committee Democrats in voting “No.”
Those Republicans opting to allow illegal crossover voting in Tennessee primary elections to continue unchecked were Reps. John Gillespie, Gary Hicks, Tim Hicks, and Ryan Williams.
Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov
If just one of these Republicans had voted “Yes” or abstained from voting, the bill would have passed to the full House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.
The Senate companion bill, SB0777, saw much greater success on Monday, passing the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 9-2 along party lines and being referred to the Calendar Committee to be scheduled for a floor vote.
But because the House version is officially dead, the Senate will not be able to consider the legislation further and it will likely come off notice.
While the struggle to obtain enough Republican votes to secure closed primary elections has spanned many years, this is the furthest legislation of this kind has made it through the committee process, indicating a small victory in the ongoing battle.
Rep. Todd has confirmed he plans to re-file the legislation next year, but it will have to start the legislative process over again as it will be the first year in a brand-new General Assembly.
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.
