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For decades, Texas has trusted voters to participate in primary elections without requiring us to declare a political party. Now, efforts to close Texas primaries would change that system, requiring voters to register with a party before we can participate.
That would mean more government in our elections, less privacy for voters, and fewer Texans able to participate.
The Texas Republican Party has made closing the state's primaries a party priority, and a lawsuit seeking to close the primaries is currently pending in federal court.
But Texas voters aren't asking for this change. Polling found that a strong majority of voters support the current system and oppose being required to register with a political party.
76% of likely voters support the state’s current state law whereby the state’s primary elections, funded by state taxpayers, are open to all voters. By party identification 64% of likely Republican primary voters and 83% of Independent voters agree that current law is sufficient.
78% of likely voters oppose losing the ability to choose which primary election to vote in. By party identification 66% percent of likely Republican primary voters and 81% of Independents oppose losing the ability to choose which primary election to vote in.
76% of likely voters oppose requiring registration by party affiliation in order to be allowed to vote in primary elections. By party identification 58% of likely Republican primary voters and 86% of Independent voters oppose requirements to register by party affiliation.
Texas's voter registration system isn't built around party registration. Closing the primaries would require new systems, new rules for party switching, and new training for election officials across all 254 counties.
That means more bureaucracy and more costs for us as Texas taxpayers.
Why build a new government system when the current one works?
The government has no business telling Texans we must declare a political party just to have a say in our own elections. Closing the primaries would require Texans to register our political affiliation with the government before participating in a primary.
Our political affiliation should be our business.
Closed primaries mean a lack of accountability to voters. Open primaries mean candidates have to earn the support of more Texans. Politicians should answer to all the people they represent.