Primary elections; voter registration by political party. (HB20)

Introduced By

Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge) with support from 16 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Clay Athey (R-Front Royal), Del. Rob Bell (R-Charlottesville), Del. Ben Cline (R-Amherst), Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg), Del. Frank Hargrove (R-Glen Allen), Del. Tim Hugo (R-Centreville), Del. Bill Janis (R-Glen Allen), Del. Steve Landes (R-Weyers Cave), Del. Manoli Loupassi (R-Richmond), Del. Joe May (R-Leesburg), Del. Sam Nixon (R-Richmond), Del. Dave Nutter (R-Christiansburg), Del. Glenn Oder (R-Newport News), Del. Brenda Pogge (R-Williamsburg), Del. Chris Saxman (R-Staunton), Sen. Frank Ruff (R-Clarksville)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Primary elections; voter registration by political party. Adds party affiliation to the information that an applicant is asked to provide when registering to vote. The applicant may indicate that he is an independent. Voters registered prior to January 1, 2009, will be designated as independent unless they provide a political party designation in writing to the general registrar. Voters may change their party affiliation or independent status by written notice at any time except the 28 days before an election when the registration records are closed. The state party chairman of each political party must notify the State Board by January 31 of each year of the party rules governing who may participate in the party primary. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
11/28/2007Committee
11/28/2007Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 087605600
11/28/2007Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/11/2008Assigned P & E sub: Elections
01/30/2008Impact statement from DPB (HB20)
02/08/2008Continued to 2009 in Privileges and Elections

Comments

carson martin writes:

i think that the two party system is a major downfall of my country. if the people of va. are too lazy to pick through the retoric of the candidates then maybe they should just stay home.we should be allowed to vote in primaries (every primary) for the less evil or threat of every party. if my person doesn't win maybe the best of the next party will.

signal writes:

NO NO NO NO

Lyle Corcoran writes:

It makes absolutely no sense to allow open voting in a single party primary. We are not, as mistakenly stated above, a two party system. Each party should select their own candidate for the general election, including Libertains, Constitution party and others.

This practice has always produced weak candidates selected by those who have no intention of voting for them in the general election. Caucuses are no better. At a recent caucus held to select a nominee for a specfic party, I encountered many friends and neighbors that I know for a fact have never voted for a candidate from that party.

By the reasoning of those opposed to registering affiliation in order to vote, I should be allowed a vote in every organization of which they are a member, without benefit of membership.

Today is primary day and to illustrate my point, I just returned from crossing over and voting for the candidate that I think my candidate can beat in November. The truth is that I have been doing it for 40 years and unless a bill like this one passes I will continue the practice.