Elections; candidate filing requirements. (HB3157)
Introduced By
Del. Leo Wardrup (R-Virginia Beach)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
☐ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Elections; candidate filing requirements. Requires independent and primary candidates to pay a filing fee for expenses equal to the greater of $50 or two percent of one year's minimum annual salary for the office unless a candidate provides an affidavit that he is indigent. Provides a formula for calculating signatures required on candidate petitions for the House of Delegates and local elections of 0.25 percent of registered voters or 50 registered voters, whichever is greater. Retains exceptions for certain small towns and soil and water conservation districts. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/19/2007 | Committee |
| 01/19/2007 | Presented and ordered printed 072215536 |
| 01/19/2007 | Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections |
| 01/24/2007 | Impact statement from DPB (HB3157) |
| 01/25/2007 | Assigned P & E sub: #2 (Jones, S.C.) |
| 02/02/2007 | Committee substitute printed 072225536-H1 |
| 02/03/2007 | Read first time |
| 02/04/2007 | Impact statement from DPB (HB3157H1) |
| 02/05/2007 | Read second time |
| 02/05/2007 | Committee substitute agreed to 072225536-H1 |
| 02/05/2007 | Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB3157H1 |
| 02/06/2007 | Read third time and passed House (69-Y 29-N) |
| 02/06/2007 | Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House |
| 02/06/2007 | Passed House (70-Y 29-N) |
| 02/06/2007 | Communicated to Senate |
| 02/07/2007 | Constitutional reading dispensed |
| 02/07/2007 | Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections |
| 02/13/2007 | Stricken at request of Patron in Privileges and Elections (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
Comments
This bill blatantly attempts to destroy third party participation in VA politics.
Not very nice.
Not only is this bill designed to suppress independent candidacies, it will impose more work on the offices of General Registrars and Electoral Boards by changing a simple, easy-to-understand system of petition requirements to one that is convoluted and complex.
I've read the bill through several times and it seems to affect only candidates in party primaries and truly independent candidates in general elections (i.e. candidates running outside of any party nomination, even third parties). Am I missing something? "Convoluted" sounds about right.
There are no recognized political parties in VA outside the majors. Third party candidates are considered to be independent for state/local elections. There is a mechanism, however, to put a party label next to their name if certain conditions are met.