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Numerous requests for information about the upcoming Virginia Presidential Primary on February 12th, 2008...
The following information was retrieved from several election websites with some links provided…
Information on the Dual Presidential PrimaryFebruary 12, 2008
(A dual primary is actually two primary elections conducted concurrently.)
When you get to the polls, you will be asked "Do you wish to vote in the Democratic Party Primary? OR Do you wish to vote in the Republican Party Primary?"
Why do I have to state a party preference to vote in this election? Under Virginia law, a dual primary consists of two separate elections conducted on the same day for the same office or offices. There are separate pollbooks, separate ballots and/or ballots boxes, and results for each primary are tallied separately. Virginia law only allows you to vote in one of these two separate elections. See Codes below…
All persons qualified to vote may vote in either primary. (§ 24.2-530)
But, the voter may not vote in both primaries held on the same date, even if the desire is to vote for candidates running for different offices. (§ 24.2-530)
No voter may be challenged on their choice of a primary. (§ 24.2-530)
The choice to vote in a party's primary does not mean that the voter will be "registered" with that party.
Is this party registration? No. Voter registration by political party does not exist. Your name will be marked in the pollbook for the party in whose primary you choose to vote, and that information will be available to that political party after the election.
Why can’t I vote in both primaries or vote for candidates from different parties?Virginia is an open primary state which means that any qualified voter can vote in either party's primary election. Virginia does not have party registration in its voter registration process. In other words, citizens do not designate a political party affiliation when registering to vote in Virginia. Virginia election law stipulates that while any qualified voter may voter in either political party's primary election, no voter may vote in more than one political party's primary on the same election day.
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Voter ID RequirementVirginia voters are reminded that legislation adopted by the 2000 Virginia General Assembly requires them to provide identification (ID) at the polls (or to sign an Affirmation of Identity) in order to vote. Acceptable forms of identification include the following:
Virginia Voter Information Card
Virginia driver's license or special identification card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles
Valid United States passport
Military ID card
Any Federal, state or local government-issued ID card
Employer-issued photo ID card
Social Security cardAny voter who forgets to bring acceptable ID to the polls may still vote but, will be requested to sign, under oath, an Affirmation of Identity form affirming that he/she is the voter he/she claims to be. A voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of physical disability or an inability to read or write may, if he so requests, also be assisted in completing this statement.
New ID Requirements for Certain Voters
For persons who registered to vote in Virginia by mailing their registration applications on or after January 1, 2003, the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires those persons to show identification (ID) when voting for the first time in a federal election if they did not send a copy of one of these IDs with their voter registration applications. Any of the following types of ID are acceptable:
A current and valid photo ID (for example a driver’s license);
or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck that shows name and address;
or another government document that shows name and address (for example a voter card).
This new federal ID requirement applies the first time a person votes in any federal election, either on the day of the election or by absentee ballot. If the voter does not present one of these forms of ID at the polls, that person can still vote, but must cast a conditional ballot. This is a paper ballot that the local electoral board counts the day after the election, after it verifies the person was qualified to vote in that precinct.
When the person votes in other elections after his or her first federal election, the regular Virginia ID requirement will apply, as it does to all other voters.REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
February 12, 2008CANDIDATE NAME
WEB AND/OR E-MAIL ADDRESS
Ron Paul
http://www.ronpaul2008.comJohn McCain
http://www.johnmccain.com
Mike Huckabee
http://www.mikehuckabee.comMitt Romney
http://www.mittromney.com
