Bill > HB4059

This bill introduces significant changes to voting procedures in Texas, specifically requiring voters to be formally affiliated with a political party in order to vote in that party's primary election. The legislation mandates that voters must indicate their party affiliation when registering to vote, with options to choose a specific party or remain "independent." Voters who are not affiliated with a particular party will be prohibited from participating in that party's primary election, and doing so would be considered a criminal offense. The bill establishes that voting in a primary election without proper party affiliation could result in a second-degree felony if the person actually votes, or a state jail felony if they merely attempt to vote. Election officials who knowingly permit unaffiliated voters to cast ballots in a party's primary could face civil penalties. To implement these changes, the bill requires county voter registrars to notify all registered voters about the new affiliation requirements by October 1, 2025, and provides a process for voters to declare their party preference. If voters do not specify an affiliation by December 31, 2025, they will be automatically listed as "independent," which would prevent them from voting in primary elections. The new rules will take effect on September 1, 2025, with full implementation of voter registration certificates reflecting party affiliation beginning January 1, 2026.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB4059