Alabama Republican Party Chairman, State Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) is calling on his colleagues in the upper chamber of the Alabama Legislature to pass a bill to close primary elections in the Yellowhammer State.

The Alabama House passed the SAVE Act party registration bill earlier this month.

The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity), requires party registration to be able to vote in the state’s partisan primary elections, and stipulates that existing voters must register with a party to participate in primary elections starting in 2027.

Stadthagen discussed the issue Monday on “The Rightside” with Allison Sinclair and Amie Beth Shaver, presented by Yellowhammer News.

“In 2022 the Republican Party big time voted in favor of closing the primaries in a resolution,” Stagthagen explained. “And so here we are, 2026, we’re years later, and I think this is the time to strike. This is the opportunity for us to get to the governor’s desk…I think there’s a, there’s a really good path for this. I think we’ll see, of course, once we get to Montgomery and we start gambling in and it has to go through committee this week for it to have a chance. So I think that’ll be the, you know, the big teller, if it goes or not.”

Not everyone in the Legislature is optimistic about the bill making it through before the end of the session. Last week State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville), who is carrying the bill in the Senate, even expressed doubts about it getting over the finish line during the 2026 session.

“I don’t think people fully understand the concept of close primaries, and what a primary election actually is the primary election, and I’m kind of getting off track a little bit, but the primary election is for the parties to determine their candidate for the general election,” Stadthagen said.

“And you keep hearing this word independent. Well, guess what? They’re independent. They’re not a part of a party. And they can be if they want to be, but they’re not, and that’s their choice, and that’s great. But guess what their elections in the general if they’re an independent.”

Stadthagen thinks the more lawmakers understand the bill, the more likely it will pass.

“I’m optimistic. I think the Senate is going to take a strong look at it, and very hopeful,” he said. “I’ve heard good things and bad things. I think just the biggest thing is just educating everyone and letting them even people that I’ve talked to around the state, they’re confused. Well, I want my voice to be heard. Well, your voice is in the general if you’re an independent, if you want to be a part of the party, yes, come on, let’s go. And that’s it.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee