TX HB951

Requires voters to register their political party affiliation (or "independent" status) with the voter registrar to vote in a party's primary election, replacing the current system where voters affiliate by participating in a primary

Party affiliation changes take effect on the second Monday in December following the request, and voters who don't declare an affiliation will be listed as "independent" on registration records

Creates criminal offenses for voting in a party's primary without being affiliated with that party: second-degree felony for voting, state jail felony for attempting to vote

Requires county voter registrars to mail notices to all registered voters by October 1, 2025, explaining the new affiliation requirements and including a postage-paid postcard to indicate party preference

Mandates that independent candidates for general election ballot access must not be affiliated with any political party, and petition signers for independent candidates must also be unaffiliated with parties holding primaries