Do I Have To Vote For The Party I'm Registered To

To:

Canton Clerks/Election Administrators and Canton Chairs

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

Date: February 11, 2020 RE: Political party Affiliation Questions and Answers

This advisory provides answers to some usually asked questions related to party affiliation, voting in the primary election, and candidacy in the main elections. If you have boosted questions related to amalgamation, please contact the Secretary of Land at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683).

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

How does party affiliation work in Texas?

In Texas, in that location are several master ways for a voter to affiliate with a party: by being accepted to vote in a party's principal election, by taking the required adjuration at a party precinct convention, or past taking a party oath of affiliation by and large (§§162.003, 162.006, 162.007). A voter'due south affiliation with a party automatically expires at the end of each calendar year, which is December 31. (§162.010). A voter who has affiliated themselves with a party is ineligible to participate in the party diplomacy of another political party during the same agenda year. (§§162.012, 162.013)

If a voter has not voted in a party primary or taken an adjuration of amalgamation with a party this calendar twelvemonth, they have not notwithstanding affiliated with whatever party. If a voter has non nonetheless affiliated with a party, they are able to vote in either party's primary election. However, if a voter votes in the primary of i party, they will only be able to vote in that political party'south primary runoff election. (§§162.012, 162.013) After existence affiliated with a party, a voter is not able to change or cancel their party affiliation until the cease of the agenda year. (§162.010)

Do I have to register or chapter with a political party before I vote in the primary?

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

Does a voter have to vote in the full general primary election in order to vote in a primary runoff ballot?

No. Section 11.001 of the Texas Ballot Code prescribes the specific qualifications necessary in social club to vote in a Texas ballot. At that place is no requirement to have previously voted in the general chief election in club to participate in the subsequent primary runoff election. Therefore, if a qualified voter did not vote in the full general primary ballot, they are withal eligible to vote in the primary runoff election.

If I have voted for one party in a prior calendar year, do I have to vote in the aforementioned political party's master this twelvemonth?

No. A voter's political party affiliation ends at the stop of each calendar twelvemonth. Affiliation with a political party in a prior year does not affect what primary an unaffiliated voter tin can vote in this yr. (§162.010)

How can I change my party affiliation?

Subsequently affiliating with a party by voting in a political party's principal or past taking an adjuration of amalgamation with a party, a voter cannot change their party affiliation during the agenda year. (§162.010) However, affiliation will automatically elapse at the end of the agenda yr.

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

If a voter signed a candidate's petition for a place on the primary ballot, that voter is but able to vote in the primary, or participate in the convention, of that candidate's political party during the voting twelvemonth in which the master election is held . For example, if a voter signed a Autonomous candidate's petition, that voter is ineligible to vote in the Republican primary or participate in a modest political party convention. (§172.026)

If I signed a petition for a candidate for nomination in the Libertarian or Green Party, Tin can I still vote in a chief 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 unlike political party during the voting year in which the primary election is held. (§§172.026, 141.041)

If I am not going to exist eighteen in time for the primary or primary runoff, but will be 18 by the time of the general election, can I vote in the primary?

No. A voter must have an constructive date of registration on or before election 24-hour interval in order to vote in that ballot. (§11.001). A registration is effective for purposes of early on voting if it will be effective on election solar day. (§13.143). In Texas, the earliest a voter can submit a voter registration application is when they are 17 years and 10 months old. (§13.001). However, this application is not constructive until a voter'southward 18th birthday. If a voter is not 18 on or earlier election day, their voter registration will non exist effective prior to ballot twenty-four hours and they will not be able to vote in that election. Notwithstanding, a voter who turns xviii between chief election 24-hour interval, March 3, 2020, and primary runoff election solar day, May 26, 2020, can annals to vote and vote in the May 26, 2020 primary runoff election.

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

The master elections are two separate elections that occur on the aforementioned day. The elections are the method for both the Republican and Democratic parties to select their nominees for the full general election in November. When a voter votes in a primary 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 political party during the aforementioned voting twelvemonth. (§162.012). This means a voter cannot vote in both primary elections, or the primary election of one political party and the runoff election of some other party. Some counties will have joint primaries and/or the parties will share polling places. In a county where the Republican and Democratic parties are sharing polling places, the voter must identify the primary in which they would like to vote, in guild to ensure they receive the correct ballot and are marked every bit voting in the correct chief election.

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

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

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

Considering a voter cannot participate in both parties' primary elections, a voter must indicate, when voting by mail service, their political party preference to ensure they receive the right election fashion.

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

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

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

Can I vote in i political party'south main election and another party's primary runoff election?

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

If I vote in a party'southward primary, am I required to vote for that party's candidates in the November 3, 2020 full general ballot?

No. A voter who votes in the primary is not required to vote for a particular party'south candidates in the succeeding general election.

What if I consider myself an independent, but wish to vote in a principal ballot?

The human action of voting in a primary ballot affiliates a voter with a political political party. (§162.003). However, if a voter has non otherwise affiliated themselves with a party, they are able to vote in the chief of either party.

Candidacy Affiliation Questions

I was a candidate in the primary election and I lost my race. Tin can I run as an independent candidate in November?

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

I was a candidate in the master ballot and I lost my race. Tin can I run equally a write-in candidate in November?

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