Tennessee GOP wants to require party registration to vote in primaries

Republican members vote during a House GOP caucus meeting in Nashville on Nov. 20, 2018. (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)

The Tennessee Republican Party’s state executive committee met over the weekend to re-elect Scott Golden as chairman and to make several policy recommendations to the GOP-controlled General Assembly. They include a call to require party registration in order to vote in primaries. The proposal comes on the heels of 792,888 people voting the Republican gubernatorial primary in August.

Democrats oppose the move.

“No Tennessean should be required to join a political party in order to exercise their constitutional right to vote, including independent voters,” Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini said in a statement. “And as the share of independent voters continues to increase in Tennessee, this move would suppress them from making their voices heard in the primary process.”

Here’s the release from the state GOP:

Nashville, Tenn. — The Tennessee Republican Party’s State Executive Committee voted today to approve the following resolutions urging the 111th General Assembly to update Tennessee election law.

Required Signatures for Public Office
This resolution asks the 111th General Assembly to increase the number of signatures required to run for public office to be equal to the level of office being sought.

Timing for Special Elections
This resolution asks the 111th General Assembly to create a requirement for a special election to be called in the case of a vacancy within forty five (45) days of the general election.

Tennessee Voter Registration
This resolution asks the 111th General Assembly to include a question regarding political party affiliation on Tennessee voter registration forms as well as requiring party registration in order to vote in a party’s primary election.

Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden released the following statement:

“These common-sense resolutions will help maintain the integrity of our elections and elect the best-qualified Republican candidates to federal, state, and local offices. We ask that the General Assembly consider and adopt the changes put forward by the State Executive Committee.”