On January 26, the Virginia House Privileges and Elections Committee passed HB 1132, to allow write-in votes in primaries. Virginia already permits write-in votes in general elections. It is ironic that at the same time Virginia is adding write-in space on some ballots, the California legislature is about to pass AB 1413, which eliminates write-in space on general election ballots for Congress and state office.
The Virginia committee vote was 19-3. The only three “no” votes were two Republican delegates, Jackson H. Miller and Israel O’Quinn; and one Democrat, J. M. Scott.
The same Virginia committee also defeated HB 769, which would put party labels on general election ballots for local partisan office. Currently, parties in Virginia nominate candidates for many local offices, but no party labels appear on the ballot for these local offices. Other states in which parties nominate candidates for certain offices, but party labels are omitted from the general election ballot, are judicial races in Michigan and Ohio.
Before 2001, Virginia even omitted party labels from the November ballot for Congress and state office.
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Does this new law allow write-ins for the upcoming 2012 GOP primary?
No, it’s too late for that. The ballots have all been printed without write-in space. The bill, assuming it is signed into law, would have no effect until 2013 primaries. Virginia has partisan elections every calendar year.
Thanks Richard.
Mich – party hack robot nominations only for the Mich. Sup. Ct. — alleged nonpartisan nominees in the general election.
One more EVIL fraud by the robot party hacks.
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Again – 14th Amdt, Sec. 2 is still in the nearly dead U.S.A. Constitution.
How unfair it is to Virginia voters whose desired candidates can not be written in on the Republican primary in March of 2012!! What in the world is wrong with our legislators? There is still plenty of time to change this ignorant policy in order that Virginians be able to express their political choice.
Shirley Wright, I couldn’t agree with you more. It is unfair to the candidate’s, and unfair to Virginia voter’s. This is the most important election of our lifetime, and it is ridiculous Virginia voter’s can not vote for the candidate we feel will best serve as president. A ridiculous law that need’s to change!