Which Of These Is Not A Registered Member Of A Political Party? Answers.com

To:

County Clerks/Election Administrators and Canton Chairs

From: Keith Ingram, Director of Elections
Keith Ingram's signature

Date: February 11, 2020 RE: Party Affiliation Questions and Answers

This advisory provides answers to some commonly asked questions related to political party affiliation, voting in the main election, and candidacy in the primary elections. If y'all have additional questions related to affiliation, please contact the Secretary of State at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683).

All references are to the Texas Election Code (unless otherwise cited).

How does party affiliation piece of work in Texas?

In Texas, there are several primary ways for a voter to chapter with a political party: by being accustomed to vote in a political party's principal election, by taking the required oath at a political party precinct convention, or past taking a party oath of affiliation generally (§§162.003, 162.006, 162.007). A voter's affiliation with a political party automatically expires at the finish of each calendar twelvemonth, which is December 31. (§162.010). A voter who has affiliated themselves with a party is ineligible to participate in the party affairs of another political party during the aforementioned calendar twelvemonth. (§§162.012, 162.013)

If a voter has not voted in a party primary or taken an adjuration of affiliation with a party this agenda year, they take not nonetheless affiliated with any political party. If a voter has not yet affiliated with a party, they are able to vote in either party'southward chief election. However, if a voter votes in the principal of one political party, they will merely be able to vote in that party's primary runoff election. (§§162.012, 162.013) After being affiliated with a political party, a voter is not able to alter or cancel their political party affiliation until the end of the calendar year. (§162.010)

Do I take to register or affiliate with a party before I vote in the chief?

No. A registered voter is not required to pre-register or take any steps towards affiliating themselves with a party before voting in a party's primary election. (§162.003) Additionally, when a person registers to vote in Texas, they do non annals with any kind of party affiliation.

Does a voter accept to vote in the full general chief election in social club to vote in a primary runoff election?

No. Department 11.001 of the Texas Election Code prescribes the specific qualifications necessary in society to vote in a Texas election. There is no requirement to have previously voted in the general primary election in gild to participate in the subsequent master runoff election. Therefore, if a qualified voter did not vote in the full general primary election, they are still eligible to vote in the primary runoff election.

If I have voted for one party in a prior agenda yr, exercise I have to vote in the same party'south primary this year?

No. A voter's political party amalgamation ends at the terminate of each calendar year. Affiliation with a party in a prior year does not affect what master an unaffiliated voter can vote in this year. (§162.010)

How can I change my political party affiliation?

Subsequently affiliating with a party by voting in a party's primary or by taking an oath of affiliation with a political party, a voter cannot alter their party affiliation during the calendar year. (§162.010) All the same, amalgamation volition automatically expire at the end of the calendar year.

What if I signed a petition for a candidate for a place on the primary election?

If a voter signed a candidate'south petition for a identify on the main election, that voter is only able to vote in the primary, or participate in the convention, of that candidate'south party during the voting yr in which the master election is held . For example, if a voter signed a Democratic candidate's petition, that voter is ineligible to vote in the Republican primary or participate in a minor party convention. (§172.026)

If I signed a petition for a candidate for nomination in the Libertarian or Dark-green Political party, Can I still vote in a primary election?

No. If a voter signed a candidate's petition for nomination for the Libertarian or Light-green Party, that voter is ineligible to vote in a primary ballot or participate in the convention of a different party during the voting year in which the primary election is held. (§§172.026, 141.041)

If I am not going to exist xviii in time for the primary or primary runoff, simply will be 18 by the time of the general ballot, can I vote in the main?

No. A voter must have an effective appointment of registration on or before ballot mean solar day in social club to vote in that election. (§11.001). A registration is effective for purposes of early on voting if information technology will be effective on election day. (§xiii.143). In Texas, the primeval a voter tin can submit a voter registration application is when they are 17 years and ten months onetime. (§xiii.001). Withal, this application is not constructive until a voter'southward 18th birthday. If a voter is non xviii on or earlier ballot 24-hour interval, their voter registration will not exist effective prior to election 24-hour interval and they will non exist able to vote in that election. However, a voter who turns xviii betwixt main election mean solar day, March three, 2020, and primary runoff election mean solar day, May 26, 2020, can register to vote and vote in the May 26, 2020 primary runoff election.

I voted in the primary election on March 3, 2020. Why did they ask if I wanted a Republican or Democratic ballot?

The primary elections are two split up elections that occur on the same day. The elections are the method for both the Republican and Democratic parties to select their nominees for the general election in November. When a voter votes in a principal election or primary runoff ballot, they are affiliating with the party whose primary they are voting in. (§162.003). A voter who is affiliated with a political party is ineligible to become affiliated with another party during the same voting yr. (§162.012). This ways a voter cannot vote in both primary elections, or the primary election of one party and the runoff election of another party. Some counties volition accept articulation primaries and/or the parties will share polling places. In a canton where the Republican and Autonomous parties are sharing polling places, the voter must identify the primary in which they would like to vote, in order to ensure they receive the correct election and are marked as voting in the correct primary ballot.

Is the fact that I voted in a primary election confidential?

No. The offices and candidates that you voted for are confidential and secret, but the fact that you voted in a particular party's primary is public information and your name will be listed in that party's early voting rosters.

Why did I have to indicate party preference on my Awarding for a Election by Mail service (ABBM)?

Because a voter cannot participate in both parties' primary elections, a voter must indicate, when voting past mail, their party preference to ensure they receive the correct ballot style.

Does requesting a ballot by mail affiliate me with that party?

Not immediately. A voter does non become affiliated with a detail party until the early on voting clerk receives their voted primary ballot. (§162.003) If a voter requests a sure principal ballot but does non return a voted ballot for that primary election, they will not exist affiliated with a party (unless they take other steps to affiliate with a party).

NOTE NEW LAW: HB 2640 (86th Legislature, 2019) amended Section 162.003 to provide that, for purposes of ballots by mail, a voter does not affiliate with a political party until they return a voted ballot. Previously, a person became affiliated only by requesting a certain party's ballot by mail service.

Can I vote in one political party's primary ballot and another party's primary runoff election?

No. By voting in a political party's principal election, a voter has affiliated themselves with that party and is ineligible to participate in the convention or chief runoff election of another political party during that calendar year. (§§162.012, 162.013)

If I vote in a party's master, am I required to vote for that party's candidates in the November iii, 2020 general election?

No. A voter who votes in the primary is non required to vote for a item party's candidates in the succeeding full general ballot.

What if I consider myself an contained, merely wish to vote in a primary ballot?

The act of voting in a chief election affiliates a voter with a party. (§162.003). However, if a voter has not otherwise affiliated themselves with a political party, they are able to vote in the chief of either party.

Candidacy Affiliation Questions

I was a candidate in the main election and I lost my race. Can I run as an independent candidate in November?

Probably not. A person that was a candidate for nomination in a master election is ineligible for a place on the ballot for the adjacent full general ballot for state and county officers as an independent candidate for whatsoever office for which a candidate was nominated in the primary. (§162.015(a)).

I was a candidate in the main election and I lost my race. Tin can I run as a write-in candidate in Nov?

A person that was a candidate for nomination for the primary election cannot run as a write-in candidate for the aforementioned office in the general election in November. Withal, the candidate could run as a write-in candidate for a different office. (§ 162.015(b)).