General Political Party Affiliation Questions
The following provides answers to some commonly asked questions related to party affiliation and voting in the primary election. If you have additional questions related to affiliation, please contact the Secretary of State at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683).
All statutory references are to the Texas Election Code (“the Code”), unless otherwise indicated.
In Texas, there are several main ways for a voter to affiliate with a party: by
being accepted to vote in a party’s primary election, by taking the required
oath at a party precinct convention, or by taking a party oath of affiliation
generally (§§162.003, 162.006, 162.007). A voter’s 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 affairs of another party during the same calendar year.
(§§162.012, 162.013).
If a voter has not voted in a party primary or taken an oath of affiliation with
a party this calendar year, they have not yet affiliated with any party. If a
voter has not yet affiliated with a party, they are able to vote in either
party’s primary election. However, if a voter votes in the primary of one party,
they will only be able to vote in that party’s primary runoff election.
(§§162.012, 162.013). After being affiliated with a party, a voter is not able
to change or cancel their party affiliation until the end of the calendar year.
(§162.010).
No. A registered voter is not required to pre-register or take any steps towards affiliating themselves with a party before voting in a party’s primary election. (§162.003). Additionally, when a person registers to vote in Texas, they do not register with any kind of party affiliation.
No. Section 11.001 of the Texas Election Code prescribes the specific qualifications necessary in order to vote in a Texas election. There is no requirement to have previously voted in the general primary election in order to participate in the subsequent primary runoff election. Therefore, if a qualified voter did not vote in the general primary election, they are still eligible to vote in the primary runoff election.
No. A voter’s party affiliation ends at the end of each calendar year. Affiliation with a party in a prior year does not affect what primary an unaffiliated voter can vote in this year. (§162.010).
After affiliating with a party by voting in a party’s primary or by taking an oath of affiliation with a party, a voter cannot change their party affiliation during the calendar year. (§162.010). However, affiliation will automatically expire at the end of the calendar year.
If a voter signed a candidate’s petition for a place on the primary ballot, that voter is only able to vote in the primary, or participate in the convention, of that candidate’s party during the voting year in which the primary election is held. For example, if a voter signed a Democratic candidate’s petition, that voter is ineligible to vote in the Republican primary or participate in a minor party convention. (§172.026).
No. If a voter signed a candidate’s petition for nomination for the Libertarian Party or Green Party, that voter is ineligible to vote in a primary election or participate in the convention of a different party during the voting year in which the primary election is held. (§§172.026, 141.041).
No. A voter must have an effective date of registration on or before election day in order to vote in that election. (§11.001). A registration is effective for purposes of early voting if it will be effective on election 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 effective until a voter’s 18th birthday. If a voter is not 18 on or before election day, their voter registration will not be effective prior to election day and they will not be able to vote in that election. However, a voter who turns 18 between primary election day and primary runoff election day can register to vote and vote in the primary runoff election.
The primary elections are two separate elections that occur on the same day. These elections are the method for both the Republican and Democratic parties to select their nominees for the general election in May. When a voter votes in a primary election or primary runoff election, 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 party during the same voting year. (§162.012). This means a voter cannot vote in both primary elections, or the primary election of one party and the runoff election of another 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 vote r must identify the primary in which they would like to vote, in order to ensure they receive the correct ballot and are marked as voting in the correct primary election.
No. The offices and candidates that you voted for are confidential and secret, but the fact that you voted in a particular party’s primary is public information and your name will be listed in that party’s early voting and election day rosters.
Because a voter cannot participate in both parties’ primary elections, a voter must indicate, when voting by mail, their party preference to ensure they receive the correct ballot style.
Not immediately. A voter does not become affiliated with a particular party until the early voting clerk receives their voted primary ballot. (§162.003). If a voter requests a certain primary ballot but does not return a voted ballot for that primary election, they will not be affiliated with a party (unless they take other steps to affiliate with a party).
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).
No. A voter who votes in the primary is not required to vote for a particular party’s candidates in the succeeding general election.
The act of voting in a primary election affiliates a voter with a political party. (§162.003). However, if a voter has not otherwise affiliated themselves with a political party, they are able to vote in the primary of either party.