On June 16, the Delaware Senate unanimously passed SB 118, which relaxes somewhat restrictions on the the ability of voters to change parties. Current law says voters may not change their party registration between November 1 of the year before a presidential election year, and the Monday following the presidential primary. Therefore, current law won’t let a voter switch parties during November and December of 2011, nor January and part of February 2012. That is a severe burden on any group trying to qualify a new party. This is because the only way to qualify a new party in Delaware is to persuade approximately 625 voters to register into the party, and if no one can switch parties for a period that long, that inhibits qualification of new parties.

The bill says people would be barred from switching parties in the period 60 days before the presidential primary, to the Monday after the presidential primary. That is also restrictive, but at least it gives voters freedom to switch parties during odd years. Another bill, SB 89, also passed the Senate on June 16, and it moves the presidential primary from February to April. Assuming both bills pass, voters will be able to switch parties between now and February 2012. Thanks to Tony Roza for this news.