H.B. No. 951 amends the Texas Election Code to enforce stricter political party affiliation requirements for voters participating in primary elections and party affairs. The bill mandates that voter registration applications include the applicant's political party affiliation and clarifies that only those affiliated with a party can vote in its primary elections, serve as delegates, or participate in party conventions. It introduces criminal penalties for individuals who knowingly vote in a primary election without being affiliated with the respective political party. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for individuals to affiliate with a political party during voter registration or when submitting a federal postcard application.

The legislation also prohibits political parties from charging fees for candidates applying for a place on the ballot for county chair or precinct chair and invalidates signatures on petitions if the signer is affiliated with a different political party at the time of signing. It emphasizes the necessity of party affiliation by requiring that the signature roster for primary elections includes a warning about the criminal offense of voting or participating in a convention without proper affiliation. The bill ensures that registered voters are notified of these affiliation requirements, with the changes set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and specific provisions regarding voter registration and affiliation status to be implemented by December 11, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 13.002, Election Code 13.122, Election Code 15.001, Election Code 15.025, Election Code 18.005, Election Code 63.011, Election Code 112.002, Election Code 142.004, Election Code 142.008, Election Code 142.009, Election Code 161.005, Election Code 162.001, Election Code 162.003, Election Code 162.010, Election Code 162.013, Election Code 162.014, Election Code 162.017, Election Code 172.021, Election Code 172.026, Election Code 172.027, Election Code 172.086, Election Code 172.088, Election Code 172.126, Election Code 181.006, Election Code 181.031, Election Code 181.065, Election Code 182.0041, Election Code 192.032, Election Code 203.011 (Election Code 172, Election Code 142, Election Code 162, Election Code 13, Election Code 161, Election Code 181, Election Code 18, Election Code 192, Election Code 182, Election Code 63, Election Code 203, Election Code 15, Election Code 112)