Amends TCA Title 2.

This bill prescribes a process by which a person must declare a statewide political party or recognized minor party affiliation before voting in a primary election as described below.<br /> <br /> Present law requires eligible voters to provide certain information required for the voter's permanent registration record, which must appear substantially in a particular form. This bill adds to the form for such record an indication by the registrant of the registrant's statewide political party or recognized minor party affiliation, along with notice that if the registrant chooses not to select such affiliation, then the registrant is deemed to be an independent and not eligible to vote in a primary election.<br /> <br /> This bill requires a qualified voter who has not declared a political party affiliation to declare a statewide political party or recognized minor party affiliation at the first primary election in which the person casts a vote. Once done, this bill requires the county election commission to add that information to the voter's permanent registration record. Alternatively, this bill provides that a qualified voter who chooses to declare such affiliation prior to a primary election, or to alter a previously selected statewide political party or recognized minor party affiliation, may do so in accordance with present law regarding altering a voter's registration. This bill provides that a qualified voter who has not declared a political party affiliation in accordance with this bill or upon registering to vote is deemed to be an independent voter. <br /> <br /> Present law authorizes a registered voter to vote in a primary election for offices for which the voter is qualified to vote at the polling place where the voter is registered if the voter is a bona fide member of and affiliated with the political party in whose primary the voter seeks to vote; or at the time the voter seeks to vote, the voter declares allegiance to the political party in whose primary the voter seeks to vote and states that the voter intends to affiliate with that party. This bill rewrites this provision to instead authorize such voter to vote in a primary election:<br /> <br /> (1) If the voter is registered as being affiliated with that political party; or<br /> <br /> (2) If the primary election is the first primary election the voter has participated in and the voter declares allegiance to that political party.<br /> <br /> Present law requires the coordinator of elections to establish a website that permits an applicant to submit an online voter registration application by allowing the applicant:<br /> <br /> (1) To submit a voter registration application, including first-time voter registration applications and updates to current voter registration records;<br /> <br /> (2) To submit information necessary to establish an applicant's eligibility to vote; and<br /> <br /> (3) To swear or affirm to the oath required for the applicant's permanent registration record.<br /> <br /> This bill adds to the aforementioned list the ability for the applicant to affiliate with, or change a registered voter's affiliation with, a statewide political party or recognized minor party on the website.<br />