Committee approves bill that would require party choice on voter registration

The House Ethics and Elections Committee approved House Bill 3,722 on a 5–1 vote after debate over whether the state should default unmarked registration forms to "unaffiliated." The bill’s proposed committee substitute limits the topic to requiring registrants to choose a party when they register.

"So that's what the amendment does is clarify that," the bill’s sponsor said while explaining the PCS.

Representative Valens warned the change could prevent otherwise qualified people from becoming registered voters if they omit the party field. "If they give their address or age, their citizenship status or residency, they fill out all the criteria that's necessary to become a registered voter, but they just don't fill out any of the political parties. They do not get to become a registered voter," Valens said.

The sponsor said the proposal is intended to protect voters' choice by ensuring the registrant makes the party-selection decision for themselves rather than allowing the state to default them to unaffiliated.

The committee adopted the PCS as a working draft and approved the bill 5–1. The measure will move forward for further consideration in the legislative process.