Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee holds public hearing on bill to close primaries; vote set for March 17
Summary
A legislative committee heard hours of testimony on House Bill 541, which would require party registration to vote in primaries. Supporters said closed primaries protect party autonomy and prevent strategic crossover voting; opponents warned of voter confusion, added county costs and potential disenfranchisement of unaffiliated voters.
A legislative committee held a public hearing on House Bill 541, the "Save Act," which would require voters to register with a party before participating in that party's primary and would bar party switching inside a 60-day blackout window before a primary and its corresponding general election. The committee chair said the hearing would be informational only and that a formal vote is scheduled for a specially called meeting on Tuesday, March 17 at 10:30 a.m.
Representative Yarro, who presented the bill, told the committee the measure is intended to give parties structural integrity so that nominees reflect party platforms. "The concept here is to close the primaries," he said, describing mechanics that would allow unaffiliated voters to request a party ballot the first time they participate but require…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
