HB206 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

John Merrill

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Primary elections, vote only for candidates of voter's designated political party, required, Secs. 17-3-52, 17-13-7, 17-13-8 am'd.

Summary

HB206 would require Alabama voters to register with a political party and vote only for that party’s candidates in primaries, replacing the current open-primary system.

What This Bill Does

It changes primary voting so only party-affiliated voters can participate in that party’s primary and receive that party’s ballot. It also allows voters to register with a party when registering to vote, and directs the Secretary of State to create a process for current electors to register with a party or change party affiliation. It requires separate, party-specific ballots (color-coded) and includes party-specific rules and a possible pledge on the ballot.

Who It Affects

• Registered voters: must register with a political party to vote in a primary and can only vote for that party’s candidates; those already qualified can register with a party or change affiliation under a new process.
• Political parties and election officials: must maintain separate ballots for each party, manage party-affiliation requirements for primary participation, and implement election procedures (including poll lists and ballots) consistent with the new rules.

Key Provisions

• Amends §17-3-52 to allow (and require in practice) voters to register with a political party and to include an oath and privacy provisions in the voter registration application; includes a provision for voluntary party registration.
• Amends §17-13-7 to limit primary voting to electors who are qualified electors and registered members of a party, who shall receive the related party’s official primary ballot.
• Amends §17-13-8 to require separate, party-specific ballots (color-coded) and outlines ballot design, including office designations and voting caps, plus an optional party pledge at the bottom of the ballot and consequences for altering the pledge.
• Section 2 requires the Secretary of State to establish a method for pre-existing qualified electors to register with a party and to allow changes in party affiliation.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Primary Elections