SPONSOR:	Rep. Jaques & Sen. Blevins
	Reps. Lavelle, Outten, Scott; Sen. Ennis

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

146th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 11

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 3106, Title 15 of the Delaware Code by adding a new subsection “(f)” to read as follows:

“(f) At the time of the filing of the notice required by this Section, as well as at the time of the primary election, the person filing such notice shall be a registered member of the party whose nomination such person seeks, as shown on the voter rolls of the Department of Elections.”.

Section 2. Amend § 3301, Title 15 of the Delaware Code by adding a new subsection “(j)” to read as follows:

“(j) Notwithstanding anything else set forth herein to the contrary, a candidate for office nominated by a party under this Section must be a registered member of the party nominating such candidate at the time of such nomination, as shown on the voter rolls of the Department of Elections (except in the case of presidential and vice-presidential nominees, who need not be registered voters in the State of Delaware).”.

SYNOPSIS

Most states abolished “fusion” candidacies over a century ago. Only a few states other than Delaware still permit such practice. Moreover, the United States Supreme Court has upheld state laws prohibiting fusion candidacies.

This Bill would allow only members of a political party to seek that party’s nomination for an elected office in a primary or otherwise be nominated for office by that party.