Alabama GOP Proposes Closed Primaries, Open General

Alabama Republican Party Chairman Scott Stadigan just broke down House Bill 541 on priority

talk, pushing to shut down the state's open.

Primaries.

Right now, Alabama lets anyone grab a ballot without picking a party when they register

to vote.

This bill would change that, making folks declare Republican or Democrat to join primaries,

but Independence Day free for general elections.

Stadigan, who sponsored the measure, says primaries are strictly for parties to pick their

top candidates.

He points out that when Independence snag a Republican or Democrat ballot today, it logs

them as affiliated with that party on the spot.

No more of that under the new plan.

Folks like Independence get their say in the general election, where it's one straight

forward ballot for everybody, no party labels needed.

Stadigan calls that the true Independence cycle, keeping things clean so you're not half

supporting both sides on party business.

Switching parties would be easy too.

This file paper works 60 days before the next primary.

The House passed the bill back in March, and now it's sitting in the Senate with its

future up in the air.

This push aims the sharpened party lines without locking anyone out of the big vote, letting

Alabama's elections run smoother for everyone involved.

I'm Cory with the story.

That's your Birmingham News Today update, AI powered and always on.