Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to eligibility to vote or stand for election in a primary election or caucus
Sponsored by Rep. Derek Wulf (R)
Topics:Elections & voting
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 12, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 13, 2025
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary People running for office under a political party must have been a member of that party for at least one year before they can file their paperwork. To vote in a party's primary or caucus, voters must be registered with that party ahead of time. This change removes the ability for voters to switch their party affiliation on the day of a primary or through an absentee ballot request.1
Read the official explanation
This bill prohibits a person from filing nomination papers on behalf of a candidate for a partisan nomination if the candidate has not been a member of the political party for which the candidate seeks nomination for at least one year immediately prior to the date of filing, unless the candidate has not previously cast a ballot in any primary or general election and is not a member of another political party. The bill requires a person to have been registered as a member of a political party for the days immediately preceding a primary election or caucus held by the political party in order to be allowed to vote in that primary election or caucus. This requirement does not apply to a person who has not previously cast a ballot in any primary or general election and who is not a member of another political party. The bill repeals provisions allowing a registered voter to change or declare a political party affiliation on the day of a primary election or by submitting an absentee ballot request form.
House subcommittee
Named February 13, 2025. On February 19, 2025 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 19, 2025 (1) · on the Legislature’s site