Alabama House Passes Party-Picking Voting Bill

0:00This is Cory with the story, here with your quick two-minute update from Birmingham news today. Alabama's House of Representatives just passed a bill called the Safeguard Alabama Voter Engagement Act or House Bill 541. It would make voters pick a political party before joining primary elections across the state. Voters could sign up for a party online at their local board of registrars or right on election day when picking a ballot. But once they choose, they could not switch parties for 60 days leading up to the primary and all the way through the general election. Supporters say this billed stronger party loyalty and stops people from voting in the other side's primary. Kind of like picking a team in sports and sticking with it. Republicans and Democrats both push back though. Some Republicans wondered why change things when their party has won big lately, while Democrats worried it might scare off independent voters. The bill also calls for the state to keep track of everyone's party choice and which primary ballot they take.

1:01If it becomes law, these rules would kick in starting in 2027. Now the measure moves to the Senate where it could shape how primaries work here for years to come.