S.B. No. 2646 amends the Texas Election Code to enforce stricter requirements regarding political party affiliation for voters participating in primary elections. The bill mandates that voter registration applications must include the applicant's political party affiliation and allows individuals to affiliate with a political party either at the time of voter registration or when voting in a primary election. This affiliation must be clearly indicated on the voter's registration certificate. Additionally, the bill establishes criminal penalties for individuals who vote or attempt to vote in a primary election without being affiliated with the respective political party, classifying such offenses as felonies.

The legislation also includes provisions that require candidates to indicate their party affiliation when applying for a place on the ballot and stipulates that votes cast in a primary election will be void if the voter is not affiliated with the political party conducting the primary. It prohibits political parties from charging fees for candidates applying for county chair or precinct chair positions and ensures that signatures on nomination petitions are valid only if the signer is either unaffiliated or affiliated with the party for which the nomination is sought. Notices will be sent to registered voters to inform them of these new affiliation requirements, which will take effect on September 1, 2025, with certain provisions related to 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 192, Election Code 162, Election Code 112, Election Code 63, Election Code 203, Election Code 161, Election Code 18, Election Code 181, Election Code 172, Election Code 13, Election Code 182, Election Code 142, Election Code 15)