Tennessee Republicans to consider party registration

NASHVILLE — The executive committee of the state Republican Party at a meeting this weekend is expected to consider a proposal to require party registration before voting in Tennessee primaries.

The General Assembly would have to approve any change in current state law, though the GOP’s expanded majorities in both chambers would likely lend more weight to the executive committee’s recommendations.

Committee member Mark Winslow said his proposal already has the support of 12 of the committee’s 66 members. He says the move toward closed primaries is intended to keep Democrats from influencing Republican primary contests and county party organization sessions.

Not everyone agrees. John Ryder, a committee member from Memphis, said he believes most Tennesseans “enjoy having the freedom to move at will to the party that is most attractive to them.”