Delaware Representative Stephanie T. Bolton (D-Christiana) and thirteen other legislators have introduced HB 89. It would move the Delaware primary from September to the fourth Tuesday in April. Delaware already has presidential primaries in April, but primaries for all other office are in September. The bill would set the primaries for all offices, in all election years, in April.

An indirect effect of the bill would be to move the deadline for a new party to qualify from late August, to March. Also, minor party nominating conventions would need to be held before March 15.

The bill would probably be unconstitutional, as applied to new parties trying to qualify in an election year. Not only would the registration drive need to be completed by March; no voter would be allowed to switch parties during February and March, so it would be almost impossible to qualify a new party except during the odd year before the election year. Thanks to ElectionLine for news of this bill.

The bill will have a hearing in the House Administration Committee in the next two weeks.