Closed Primary Bill Passes Alabama House Amid Heated Debate

Lengthy and contentious debate over Colbert/Lawrence/Morgan County Rep. Ernie Yarborough's (R-7) House Bill 541 to close political party primaries ended with a 63 yea, 35 nay, 3 abstention vote in the Alabama House this afternoon.

Democrats and some Republicans opposed the bill. Democrats based their argument largely along racial and disenfranchisement lines. Republicans claimed the bill ensures maintenance of party structure and helps to elect the candidate who most reflects a party’s platform and to curb “crossover voting.”

Independents or "unaffiliated" voters would still be able to vote in general elections but would not be able to cast a ballot in a party primary or a runoff.

Two of the several Democrats who took to the podium to voice opposition and concern were Tuscaloosa's Chris England (D-70) and Bibb/Greene/Hale/Tuscaloosa Rep. Curtis Travis (D-72).

Travis believes the bill disenfranchises the significant number of Alabamians who do not identify themselves as a member of a political party. He offered an amendment to the legislation that would have let a political party opt out of the "closed primary" process - it resoundingly failed.

Directly addressing the bill's sponsor, England alleged the bill could be called the litmus test bill that eliminates Republicans that you don't think agree with you 100%. "But that's not how the process is supposed to work, right?" England added. He went on to say the ideas and arguments made by a candidate are supposed to provide the strongest candidate, not the candidate that most reflect the party line. England thinks that will alienate more people in the state from the GOP.

Lee/Macon counties Rep. Pebblin Warren (D-82) warned Yarborough there will be some Republicans who do not like the idea of having to declare party before they can vote in a primary. "They might decide, well, ok, if they want me to tell everything they want, I'm going to vote Democrat this time and we're going to welcome them over here."

To the applause of Democrat members, House Speaker Pro Tem, Montgomery Rep. Chris Pringle (R-101) was a dissenting GOP voice. "You don't think you are going to drive the independent voters against incumbent Republicans...You are going to drive the independent voters against Gary Palmer (incumbent 6th District Republican congressman). They are going to retaliate."

It was the sentiment of Madison County Rep. Rex Reynolds that carried the issue. "This is the party's primary. Republicans should elect the Republican candidates, and the Democrats elect the Democratic candidates." He claimed closed primaries will keep voters from either party crossing over and attempting to elect the weakest candidate from the other party.