BOISE, Idaho — A bill that would require unaffiliated voters to join a political party earlier in the year if they want to vote in the primary narrowly passed the Idaho House on Monday after lively debate.
The bill from Rep. Doug Okuniewicz, a Republican from Hayden, would require Idaho’s roughly 310,000 unaffiliated voters to join a political party before the candidate filing period closes if they want to vote in a closed primary election. Current state law allows unaffiliated voters to make that decision at the polling place on Election Day.
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But opponents on both sides of the aisle said the bill could block some voters who have legitimate reasons for staying unaffiliated.
