HB 5956 Summary

• Requires voters to declare a party preference during voter registration to participate in primary elections; voters registering with no party preference are ineligible to vote in primaries unless they declare a preference at least 30 days before the election.

• Adds party preference declaration space to voter registration forms used at Secretary of State offices and establishes notice requirements informing voters about party preference eligibility for primary voting.

• Protects voter party preference information from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act by prohibiting release of any portion of voter registration records containing party preference declarations.

• Adds party preference information to the qualified voter file and requires election officials to restrict primary ballot access to the party preference shown on each voter's registration record.

• Removes language allowing voters to split tickets across multiple parties in primary elections and establishes party preference as a requirement for primary ballot eligibility.