Virginia Legislative Committee Passes Bill to Allow Write-in Votes in Primaries

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.

Comments

Virginia Legislative Committee Passes Bill to Allow Write-in Votes in Primaries — No Comments

Pingback: “Virginia Legislative Committee Passes Bill to Allow Write-in Votes in Primaries” | Election Law Blog
Brad M on January 27, 2012 at 9:14 am said:

Does this new law allow write-ins for the upcoming 2012 GOP primary?
Richard Winger on January 27, 2012 at 9:50 am said:

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.
Brad M on January 27, 2012 at 11:36 am said:

Thanks Richard.
Demo Rep on January 27, 2012 at 12:16 pm said:

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.
Pingback: Virginia Legislative Committee Passes Bill to Allow Write-in Votes in Primaries | ThirdPartyPolitics.us
Demo Rep on January 28, 2012 at 10:26 am said:

Again – 14th Amdt, Sec. 2 is still in the nearly dead U.S.A. Constitution.
Shirley Wright on January 30, 2012 at 7:43 pm said:

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.
Jack on February 3, 2012 at 2:04 am said:

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!