The new analysis shows Tennessee is currently aligned with most of the country in allowing voters not registered with a political party to participate in primary elections.
NASHVILLE – A new fact sheet from nonpartisan think tank ThinkTennessee details how primary election participation works for voters across the country as Tennessee lawmakers consider legislation that would significantly change the state’s current approach.
The fact sheet finds that Tennessee is among the majority of the country – 40 states – where voters who are not registered party members may participate in primary elections in some way. In the remaining 10 states and DC, in order to vote in a primary election, voters must be registered members of the political party. Lawmakers in Tennessee are currently considering legislation that would change the state’s voting policies to align with that minority group – requiring party registration before Election Day to participate in a primary election. The proposed legislation wouldn’t go into effect until after this year’s election cycle.
“Primary election participation rules vary widely across the country, with most states providing the opportunity for a larger pool of eligible participants,” said Erin Hafkenschiel, president of ThinkTennessee. “This analysis places Tennessee’s current system within the broader national context and highlights how the proposed changes would compare to other states.”
Key Findings:
- Most states allow participation in primaries by voters not registered as party members. These “unaffiliated” voters can participate in primary elections in 40 states (including four states where participation is limited to one, not both, of the major parties).
- States provide different models for allowing primary participation by non-registered party members. In some states, voters choose a party primary with no restrictions, and in others, voters must affiliate with a party at the polling place – either for the election only or until they change affiliation.
- Voters are required to be registered party members to participate in primaries in just 10 states and DC. If voters wish to change parties, they must do so before Election Day – on or before the state’s voter registration deadline.
- Tennessee currently follows the majority approach. Tennessee voters are not registered by party but do declare an affiliation with a party when choosing a primary ballot.
- Tennessee is one of 17 states where voters do not register by political party. The majority of the remaining states that do allow voters to register by party (22 of 32 and DC) prevent voters registered as members of another party from participating in primaries, but allow those unaffiliated with either party to participate.
As policymakers debate potential changes to Tennessee’s primary participation process, ThinkTennessee’s fact sheet provides context on how the state compares to others and the range of approaches used nationwide. The full fact sheet, Primary Elections: Voters Unaffiliated with a Political Party Can Participate in Most of the Country, can be found on ThinkTennessee’s website at thinktennessee.org/research/elections-civic-life.
