Despite Democrats’ Objections, House Passes Another Election Bill

The latest election bill in the House of Delegates has some lawmakers questioning their colleagues’ motivations. 

The House has passed four election-related bills so far this session, with more in committee or being read on the chamber floor.  

The latest of which – House Bill 4710 – was approved by the body Wednesday. Candidates planning to switch political parties would have to do so at least 180 days prior to an election, rather than the 60 days required now.

Supporters of the bill like Del. Joe Funkhouser, R-Jefferson, said it ensures election integrity.

“Election integrity is important, and I think it is our job to ensure that our elections have the most integrity as constitutionally permissible,” he said. “This bill treats all West Virginians, regardless of party, equally. I think that’s a good thing, and that’s why I’ll be supporting it.” 

But House Democrats like Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, expressed concern the new rule would limit involvement from independents.

“The West Virginia way is about thinking for yourself, being your own person,” he said. “And these individuals who aren’t tied to partisan nonsense, independents, are growing in West Virginia because they’re tired of the partisan hackery that goes on down here, and we’re shutting the door on them to participate in our democracy, which is what we should want.”

One in four voters in West Virginia are registered as “no party” according to the latest data from the Secretary of State.  

Fluharty and House Minority Leader Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, tied HB 4710 back to the other election bills the body has passed so far and the others it is still considering, calling the House “fixated” on elections. 

“I want to make it very clear, and just to be frank, I know sometimes we hear it in our districts and back home, but people always talk about politicians just doing something because you can, and we lose the trust of the public when we do these things just because we can,” Hornbuckle said. “It’s not right. It stinks. Quite frankly, we need to be preserving the right for people to choose and do as they wish.”

Shortly after the end of the House floor session, House Democrats published a post to their Substack calling the G.O.P’s policies “Orwellian.”The post highlights two more election bills in committee – HB 5401, & HB 5219 – that they say would impose additional voting restrictions.