Bill to close primaries moves to Senate on what could be session’s final day

An Alabama Senate committee on Tuesday gave approval to a bill that would close primaries, requiring voters to register with a party to participate.

House Bill 541 by Representative Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, would require a voter to register with a party to participate in primary elections after January 1, 2027. Once assigned to a party, that voter could only switch party alignment up to 60 days before a primary.

The Alabama Republican Party has championed the bill, alleging that Democrats have voted in Republican primaries to sabotage the party and influence its candidates.

Representative Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, is now chair of the party, and said during Tuesday’s hearing that independent voters should have a role in the electoral process, but not in choosing a party’s candidates. 

“If you don’t have a party, a party team, then you shouldn’t be voting,” Stadthagen said.

ALGOP executive committee member Iva Hendon questioned Republicans opposing the bill.

“What I don’t understand is why a true Republican candidate would vote to keep our primaries open and allow for that vulnerability to manipulation,” Hendon said. “If it is because they do covertly represent the values of opposing party members, and they need those crossover votes to win their race as a Republican, then shame on them. They should not be running as a Republican.”

The bill’s approval comes in the nick of time with a maximum of two days left on the session calendar.

That sets up a potential bombastic day on the Senate floor, with some Republicans defecting against the bill—particularly those in purple districts where independent voters are more crucial to election.

Democrats have generally opposed closing the primaries, despite several of them openly commenting their belief that it will only ultimately hurt Republicans and could lead to contested seats turning blue.

“I hope y’all pass it, actually, I hope you do; because what it does is it’s gonna hurt you all more than it’s going to hurt us,” Senator Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, said following the public hearing.

A few Republicans have made the same argument.

Opponents of the legislation have pointed to the state’s history of gerrymandering and noted that, in the case of many local races, the primary stage is the only race a voter may be able to participate in.

“Alabama is ranked as one of the most restrictive states in the country when it comes to voting access,” said Kim Bailey, president of the League of Women Voters of Alabama. “Adding a requirement to declare a party affiliation creates another hurdle.”