Rick Perry Won't Be On Virginia GOP Primary Ballot

[Digging4Truth]

I just received the following email from CNN Breaking News.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry will not appear on the Virginia primary ballot after submitting a petition that didn't meet requirements, the Virginia Republican Party announced.

The Virginia GOP wrote on its Twitter feed: "Rick Perry did not submit the required 10k signatures and has not qualified for the VA primary."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also submitted petitions to the Virginia State Board of Elections.

The state party spent Friday verifying that the submitted petitions met the requirements to appear on the March 6 ballot. The Virginia GOP said on their Twitter feed Friday that Romney and Paul had both submitted enough signatures. This leaves only Gingrich's status uncertain.

The Virginia GOP said Thursday that Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum did not submit petitions. Virgi nia's ballot requirements are more stringent than other states.

[onefaith2]

I doubt Rick Perry is going to get the nomination.

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

I just received the following email from CNN Breaking News.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry will not appear on the Virginia primary ballot after submitting a petition that didn't meet requirements, the Virginia Republican Party announced.

The Virginia GOP wrote on its Twitter feed: "Rick Perry did not submit the required 10k signatures and has not qualified for the VA primary."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also submitted petitions to the Virginia State Board of Elections.

The state party spent Friday verifying that the submitted petitions met the requirements to appear on the March 6 ballot. The Virginia GOP said on their Twitter feed Friday that Romney and Paul had both submitted enough signatures. This leaves only Gingrich's status uncertain.

The Virginia GOP said Thursday that Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum did not submit petitions. Virgi nia's ballot requirements are more stringent than other states.

I'm revealing my ignorance in politics by asking this, but can those who did not officially appear on the ballot still be cast as a write-in? Is that a possibility in all states?

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Dagwood

I'm revealing my ignorance in politics by asking this, but can those who did not officially appear on the ballot still be cast as a write-in? Is that a possibility in all states?

I can't say of any real certainty... but it would seem to be a safe assumption that any of "the people" can write in anyone they would want.

But... that is purely speculation on my part.

[Pressing-On]

No write-ins are allowed in Virginia.

Provoking a Virginia election law legal battle: How Gingrich and Perry could still get on the Virginia primary ballot

How did we get here?

Virginia apparently is known for having some of the most onerous ballot access requirements in the country.

Here is what is required generally of primary candidates:

"A candidate for nomination by primary for any office shall be required to file with his declaration of candidacy a petition . . . on a form prescribed by the State Board, signed by the number of qualified voters specified below . . .and listing the residence address of each such voter. Each signature on the petition shall have been witnessed by a person who is himself a qualified voter, or qualified to register to vote, for the office for which he is circulating the petition and whose affidavit to that effect appears on each page of the petition." Va. Code § 24.2-521.

Now what this means is that you have to have a certain number of signatures of qualified voters, and they must be witnessed by a qualified voter who then signs an oath that s/he witnessed the signatures on the petition.

Seems pretty straight forward, the statute then goes on to list the various offices for which the number of signatures are needed: United States Senate, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General, United States House of Representatives, Senate of Virginia, House of Delegates, a constitutional office, membership on the governing body of any county or city, membership on the governing body of any town, and "for any other candidate, 50 signatures." Va. Code § 24.2-521.

Presidential Primary contenders appear to be missing from the list.

Instead Presidential primary qualification and signature gathering is governed under Va. Code § 24.2-545.

Specifically subsection B states in part:

"Any person seeking the nomination of the national political party for the office of President of the United States . . . may file with the State Board petitions signed by at least 10,000 qualified voters, including at least 400 qualified voters from each congressional district in the Commonwealth, who attest that they intend to participate in the primary of the same political party as the candidate for whom the petitions are filed. Such petitions shall be filed with the State Board by the primary filing deadline. The petitions shall be on a form prescribed by the State Board and shall be sealed in one or more containers to which is attached a written statement giving the name of the presidential candidate and the number of signatures on the petitions contained in the containers." Va. Code § 24.2-545

This is a similar process to that set out in Va. Code § 24.2-521, but clearly has different requirements for filing other than a specification of the number of signatures required.

http://northernvirginialawyer.blogsp...law-legal.html

[Pressing-On]

Gov. Perry files lawsuit against members of the Virgina State Board of Elections and Pat Mullins, Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia - December 27, 2011

http://www.latimes.com/media/acrobat...0-27154103.pdf

[Pressing-On]

Paul Goldman helps Newt Gingrich with Virginia ballot

“According to press reports over the weekend,” continued Pascoe, “the Chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, per Section 24.2-545 of the Code of Virginia, has indicated that he will be certifying only two candidates for inclusion on the 2012 GOP presidential primary ballot. Based on our collective knowledge and understanding of the state's election laws – including a previous successful legal action by Mr. Goldman as concerns a Democratic Party nomination process – we intend to formally challenge such certification for specific reasons to be detailed at the appropriate time.


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70866.html

[Digging4Truth]

It sounds like Virginia makes it as hard for the Dems & Repubs as every other state makes it for anyone else.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

It sounds like Virginia makes it as hard for the Dems & Repubs as every other state makes it for anyone else.

The problem seems to be that the law didn't change, but the rule changed on the required signatures and it changed in November 2011. So, we are trying to determine what has happened here.

Before the 2012 elections, the Republican party in Virginia deemed any candidate turning in 10,000 signatures as valid, having met the requirements under the state election laws.

It appears that the Virginia GOP bumped the threshold to 15,000. It's all particularly interesting that only Romney turned in 15,000. Some are saying that he should have his signatures verified as well.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

The problem seems to be that the law didn't change, but the rule changed on the required signatures and it changed in November 2011. So, we are trying to determine what has happened here.

Before the 2012 elections, the Republican party in Virginia deemed any candidate turning in 10,000 signatures as valid, having met the requirements under the state election laws.

It appears that the Virginia GOP bumped the threshold to 15,000. It's all particularly interesting that only Romney turned in 15,000. Some are saying that he should have his signatures verified as well.

Could be. But all the news reports that I am seeing keep saying "The required 10,000 signatures".