Virginia Voters: Cheated by Two-Candidate Ballot on Super Tuesday?
Voters will decide between Romney and Paul; other campaigns didn’t secure enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
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In the states holding a Republican presidential primary on Super Tuesday, voters will choose among four candidates. But in Virginia, only two names will appear on the ballot: Texas Congressman Ron Paul and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Some Virginia voters, who so far have donated more than $4 million to help elect a Republican president, feel a little cheated.
“The primary would have been more lively with more candidates on the GOP ballot,” conceded Anthony Bedell, chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee. “That being said, the rules to get on the ballot have been in place for some time. All the campaigns were aware of the rules and what they had to do to qualify for the ballot on March 6th.”
Two of the GOP candidates whose names will not appear on the ballot—Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum—are residents of Fairfax County.
“It's odd for major candidates to not make the ballot, but voters shouldn't feel ‘cheated.’ We're all going to get a lot of attention come the fall,” said Stephen Bragaw, a government professor at Sweet Briar College near Lynchburg. “Plus, for supporters of Ron Paul, he finally gets his ‘one on one’ against a frontrunner.”
Paul supporters were out in force earlier this week at a rally attended by the candidate in Springfield.
The last GOP presidential primary in Virginia saw Paul best Romney, among a larger group of candidates. While John McCain got 50 percent of the vote and Mike Huckabee 41 percent, Paul got 4.5 percent and Romney 3.7 percent, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
Virginia Voters Not Too Focused on Super Tuesday
"Voters are being shortchanged by having only two names on the ballot," said Mark Rozell, professor of Public Policy at George Mason University. "The restrictive GOP ballot access procedures have rendered the primary in Virginia almost a non-event."
This year, "Virginia is not seriously in play in the GOP primary," Rozell said. "Thus, the results here will largely be ignored by national media. A Romney victory here will be taken as a given. All the focus will be on other states. Too bad—because Virginia has played an important role in the past. In 2000 on the GOP side, Bush and McCain were in a stiff battle, and the Bush win in the state solidified his path to the nomination. Given the long drawn-out competition this year, Virginia could have been a big player in the process."
Gainesville resident Rachel Suson, visiting the Alexandria waterfront this week with 9-month-old daughter Bella, said she does not plan to vote in the primary, because it’s too hard to take off from work. She said if she were voting, it would be for Ron Paul. “I’m not really a Republican or a Democrat,” she said.
Walter “Tripp” Howell of Alexandria also has one foot in both parties, saying this week that although he is a longtime supporter of Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat, he also supports Romney for president and plans to vote for him on Tuesday. “I’m satisfied with Mitt Romney; he’s a businessman,” he said.
Springfield resident Chris Mayer, who called himself “on the fence politically,” said he probably will not vote in the primary. “Politics lately has been disappointing,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what we do, we get the same result.”
The fact that there are only two candidates on the ballot hasn’t registered with some Virginia voters, a quick street survey this week showed. One of those potential voters was Jennifer Schulz of Alexandria who said she’s “leaning toward” Santorum, but hadn’t realized he was not going to be on the ballot Tuesday. “I don’t want to vote for Romney and definitely not Ron Paul,” she said.
Bob King of Alexandria, watching the ducks paddle in the water on the Alexandria waterfront Thursday with 17-month grandson Dylan, said he’s not particularly satisfied with any of the GOP candidates, but wishes he could somehow mix them all together to make the perfect candidate.
King said he is disillusioned with the Republican Party. “It’s an absolute joke,” he said. “The process in Virginia is ludicrous.” He said he doesn't believe primaries in general are reflective of the population at large.
Mike Ambrose of Falls Church, echoed those same sentiments, and said he might be out of town Tuesday and isn’t sure if he’ll vote. He called the Republican primary ballot “a little bizarre” and said infighting among Republicans was playing into Democrats’ hands.
“It’s just the whole thing is extremely frustrating right now,” Ambrose said. “We seem to be battling ourselves instead of talking about the issues.”
Gingrich Campaign: Virginia Ballot Issue an ‘Unexpected Setback’
Virginia’s rules require each campaign to secure 400 signatures in each of the Commonwealth’s 11 congressional districts. Ballot Access News reported that Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry would have qualified had the state Republican Party not double-checked the validity of the signatures. Ballot Access News reported that the party only started verifying signatures in 2011, after being sued previously.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has since taken himself out of the race, filed a lawsuit against the state Board of Elections—later joined by Gingrich, Santorum, Jon Huntsman and Michele Bachmann—to appear on the primary ballot, but was unsuccessful.
“I’m sorry it’s a limited choice for voters,” said Oakton resident Jayne Young, president of the New Providence Republican Women. “They all had a level playing ground. All the candidates were playing from the same rules, they knew what was required, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy or that it’s doable. Virginia is known as one of the toughest states to get your name on the ballot.”
How difficult was it to get on the ballot? Gingrich’s campaign likened Virginia’s signature-gathering process to Pearl Harbor. “Newt and I agreed that the analogy is December 1941,” campaign director Michael Krull wrote on the Gingrich Facebook page. “We have experienced an unexpected set-back, but we will re-group and re-focus with increased determination, commitment and positive action. Throughout the next months there will be ups and downs; there will be successes and failures; there will be easy victories and difficult days — but in the end we will stand victorious.”
Gingrich turned in signatures but officials could not verify all of them. “We hired somebody who turned in false signatures,” Gingrich told the media afterward. Santorum did not attempt to gather signatures.
Nevertheless, that still leaves political donors like Kevin and Liza Hutchinson of Old Town Alexandria, who donated $5,000 to the Gingrich campaign in October according to Federal Election Commission records, out in the cold come Tuesday, unable to vote for their candidate in the primary.
“If Gingrich’s backers should be angry with anyone it should be with Gingrich,” said Rich Galen, a former top aide to Gingrich when he was speaker and currently a columnist and Republican strategist. “Remember how he crowed about not needing a traditional campaign nor a traditional staff? He hired some firm to gather the signatures and the firm got caught, as I understand it, cheating and he didn't make the ballot. Romney and Paul figured it out. Statewide candidates in Virginia figure it out all the time. He has no one to blame but himself.”
No Write-Ins Allowed
And for anyone thinking of writing in a candidate’s name on the ballot, think again. The Virginia State Board of Elections has issued the following memo to all election officials: "No ballot issued during the Republican Primary on March 6, 2012 will contain an area where a write-in name may be entered. In the case of electronic voting equipment, the option for a write-in vote has been disabled. In the case of paper ballots, if a name is written in a blank area on a ballot, or a name is scratched through and another is inserted, it will not register as a vote. In no way will defacement of an official ballot be tallied as a vote for any person other than those candidates currently listed."
So, should Virginia voters feel cheated? "Cheated is…too strong a word,” said Northern Virginia tea party member John Jaggers. “Concern is a better way to put it.”
“I don’t feel cheated in that these were the rules ahead of time, and they knew them,” said Mark Kelly, former chairman of the Arlington County Republicans.
“Four years ago Republicans didn’t seem to have problems getting the signatures to get on the ballot,” Kelly said. “While I'd certainly like to have as many choices as possible, at the end of the day… the rules are the rules. That speaks to me. I have spoken to other Republicans who feel cheated. I would hope they would come and vote anyway.”
“Usually, to turn people out in a primary you have to work to do that,” he said. “I haven't gotten the first phone call from either campaign.”
Patch editors Jason Spencer and Nicole Trifone contributed to this report.
T Ailshire
3:46 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
I won't vote for Paul, and will not vote for Romney (because he's endorsed by McDonnell) unless McDonnell vetoes the abortion bill by Tuesday.
Since I can't write in "NONE OF THE ABOVE" which I usually do when I can't vote for any of the candidates in a race, I plan to try to cast an empty ballot on Tuesday.
Norminha
7:00 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
I agree regarding romney, but not Paul for he knows the principle of subsidiary, which states the fed has no business intruding citizen's liberties. It is up to the lower level of government, the states to decide, in the case of the infamous abortion. Do you know of any president once as president has ordered or will order the states his way -that would be outrageous, not even obama (I hope) is willing to do it.
A blank vote means a vote for romney because, unfortunately, weak minds have been lured by promiscuity and they want to change only the name -from obama to romney who are the dictators of relativism.
Dawn
11:45 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Me, too--"undervote", or leave it cast a blank ballot in protest. I want Santorum, and won't vote for the other 2/our only options!
Terry Lee
11:52 am on Sunday, March 4, 2012
I think that the parties should be able to run their own primaries on the state level, and that only members of the parties should be allowed to vote in them. That said, Tuesday is a wonderful opportunity for Democrats to show their strength and come on out to vote for Ron Paul!
T Ailshire
3:47 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
In all, I feel cheated by the Republican Party, not by the fact that only two of their candidates appear on our ballot.
Jonathan Erickson
4:11 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Tell the woman who says it's difficult to vote because of time constraints that you can get a ballot to mail in if you have the time after your visit to the waterfront. I feel cheated that I read TA's post. If this is a non-event so be it, we do not need all the drama queens who cannot get enough signatures telling us how to play by their rules.
T Ailshire
4:30 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Jonathan, if you're referring to me (TA), it's not because I support one of the others. They didn't qualify, and thus don't belong on the ballot. They made their beds, so to speak.
The message will be to the Republican Party that they are not providing candidates the electorate wants.
Fred Johnson
4:42 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Why should any established party, either one, tell the people of America who they're allowed to vote for??? That means we need their approval to be able to vote for someone.
One would think that, with the country in as poor a shape as it is these days, we would be looking for any help we could get to get back on track.
But I guess, with the Washington Politicians having NO connection with MAINSTREET SMALLTOWN america, it's just a bother to them to allow the people they don't want onto the ballot.
Jonathan Erickson
4:47 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
I'm quite content with the choices the republican party has versus the democrats. And yes I vote every election as a member of the electorate. Who would you have on the ballot that would make it seem like you were not being cheated? I do not care who McDonnell supports as I can make my own mind up about Romney without his help. His endorsement has nothing to do with anyone voting for Romney unless we are getting back to stupid as in Samuel L. Jackson who voted for a president because he was black.
T Ailshire
4:57 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
The comment about not supporting Romney is due to McDonnell's stance on the abortion bill. I have vowed not to vote for a Virginia Republican or for a national ticket that holds McDonnell's name or endorsement (see amcit.wordpress.com for rationale) unless McDonnell vetoes that disgusting bill.
Skip Endale
6:21 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
sorry I had to chuckle, there is only one republican that could have beaten President Obama, and that would have been his friend Huntsman. that said, I think the republican beat themselves, no matter who is on the ballet. so much for all the vitriol,,,
Jonathan Erickson
6:52 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Isn't Vitriol a old timers energy drink? Seems a little backwards to me. Can Romney say thanks but no thanks. I think what a woman does is between herself, other and the doctor. Don't need the state the feds or the church involved. Does a endorsement really stand as a reason to back or not to back a canidate. If that's the case who is snoop dog endorsing or how about the unions or maybe China? What is Romneys stance on abortion that is probably going to make you angry. Look at the current office holder making a political football out of abortion and contraceptives. I know Geritol.
Brandon
7:07 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Ron Paul all the way. He's the only candidate with a consistent track record and support from independents to beat Obama. http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/2012/02/28/poll-ron-paul-bests-obama-for-the-first-time-nationally/ He was the only one that had grass roots supporters getting him on the ballot. Romney has so much money he paid a company to collect signatures months before the deadline. Newt was paying GOP lackeys up to $5 a signature up until the filing deadline and look how miserably he failed.
Mike
7:33 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Ron Paul is on it, works for me!
Ann H Csonka
4:47 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
It's really a sorry lot of candidates -- even if all were listed.
The candidates KNOW the rules of their party and should have gotten the signatures turned in. If they didn't, tough.. . no one to blame but theselves and inability to organize.
Ben Glass
7:03 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
hosting a primary this late in the political process makes it almost meaningless, no matter who is on the ballot. Pretty much a waste of whoever's money is funding this. Good for the folks who make those signs that will show up in the medians.
Terrence Dankel
7:03 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
If you propose to lead a country, at least run an effective Campaign...which includes accurate signatures for Primary purposes. Similar to telling the electorate you can do without them for that stage of the game.
BurkePatriot
7:54 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
We can't have a "progressive" Mitt Romney as Republican president if we want government to get out of the way of our personal lives and bring prosperity back. He has governed with a heavy hand against civil liberties and does not believe in free market capitalism or just doesn't understand how economics works in a true free society,tariffs against China advocate, is just a sample.
Ron Paul will not win the nomination so voting for him this Tuesday will give the national victory. Ron Paul winning Virginia would be a real victory for those who want their candidate that is not on the ballot to win by not giving Romney delegates. That is key to keep Romney big government "manager" out of the White house.
A vote for Paul is a vote for Santorum or Gingrich. Don't vote for Romney but DO VOTE! This to important not to.
In Liberty,
Carolyn Jones
9:30 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
The problem with the above strategy is that Paul may likely give his votes to Romney,which means Romney collects all votes either way. Those Virginians who want their voice to be heard for a conservative have been silenced. We cannot win for losing. Do we live in America or Ameritopia? I am more convinced each day that it is the latter.
John Kuchenbrod
8:34 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
First, excellent article. It balances the facts of the election rules with opinions on both sides of the issue. Other publications could take some lessons from this.
Second, excellent discussion for the most part. It's refreshing to see a comment section that isn't filled with attacks.
Finally, get out there and vote. It always amazes me how low of a percentage of turnout there is for most of the primary elections in our Commonwealth. I understand the percentages being low due to people not "crossing over" to the other party's primary, but single digits or 10-15 percent is quite low.
Don M. Boileau
9:06 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
In the 50's Oregon had a provision that the names on the ballot were decided by the Secretary of State based on the criterion that those people with active campaigns for the presidency should run. In 1960 this was the first time that Kennedy ran against Humphrey as both campaigns were avoiding a head-to-head contest. In 2012 such a process would be advantageous to the people of Virginia.
T Ailshire
9:39 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
@Carolyn Jones - if Paul gives his votes to Romney, it sort of negates his public perception of being a man of integrity who will fight tooth and nail for small government, doesn't it?
Harry Locock
4:48 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
That and all the earmarks he can lay his hands on. BTW, does he have a son in politics?
Jonathan Erickson
9:47 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Don't vote for a national ticket that's a sure sign of I guess being lazy! lol I know the metal can be recycled but can the plastic from the campaign signs go in with the supermarket plastic bag recycling?
Sean Moran
11:14 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Can you write in a candidate? I recently relocated frim another state, so I am not familiar with the rules. I would not cote for either of thise guys.
John Whitten
11:48 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
I would only feel cheated if these were completely independent and outside candidates who honestly don't have the political machine behind them to jump through all the hoops. The fact that they are all coming from well-established parties and have had long careers in politics-- well, let's just say this is a new face on being two-faced. As for the others-- THEY made the rules the way THEY wanted for the EXPRESS PURPOSE of making it hard to compete with THEM. I think its just tough-tittie now that its coming back to bite them in the butt. I think the word "hilarious" might sum it up nicely. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch of fellows.
Mary Ann Barton
11:54 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Sean, thanks for your comments; currently, no write-ins are allowed in Virginia.
CGP
5:43 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I won't vote this election since my candidate is not present on the ballot and I have been prevented from writing in my candidate of choice.
It seems a bit odd that write-ins are not permitted in a democracy like we have here in the USA. Do you know what is the intention of such a rule and how can it be reversed?
It seems that voting is a right to express people's candidate preferences and the choices should not be limited. These rules have essentially limited the candidate choices and denied voters their right to write-in their preference. Virginia has handcuffed their voters to specific candidates and eliminated their freedom to choose someone else. Also, Virginia has shown preference to those candidates with the most resources to get the needed signatures.
Lauren Jost
6:06 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
CGP,
There was legislation in the General Assembly this session about write-ins in primaries. It was tabled until the 2013 session, but if passed would have allowed primary write-ins as early as next year. As it stands, Virginia election law § 24.2-529 does not allow write-ins for primaries. General elections allow write-ins, however.
Lauren Jost
6:07 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Further, you can see the full election law text here: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+24.2-529
Jonathan Erickson
1:41 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Sean you failed the reading part so you do not get to vote!
The Convict
1:42 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
It is indeed just too bad that Santorum isn't on the ballot. I think the Commonwealth's Teahadists are just crazy enough to vote for a candidate who scares most independents.
Romney as the Repub candidate is a close election; Santorum as Repub candidate is an easy win for Obama.
mdennis74
3:13 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Funny thing is, Santorum didn't even bother trying.
Beck Lomax
7:18 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
This entire issue is based on PARTY politics. The simple solution is to vote independently, exclusive of a party, and to not be a lemming by subscribing to what a political party demands of your vote. Political leaders are suppose to work for you...not the other way around. When you kowtow to the whims of a party, you are little more than a cog advancing the gears in a machine that cares nothing of you until election time rolls around again. That certainly seems to be perpetual these days, doesn't it?
Jonathan Erickson
7:53 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Party affiliations are nothing more than a waste. Anyone who votes for someone because of their party association should be water boarded and then I have a new electrical shock therapy I need dummies to work with.
Anthony Moten
8:57 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
It completely baffles me the disrespect Ron Paul gets...If you take the time and listen to what he says how could you possibly want Santorum or Romney? Is America really that dumb? Romney will say and do anything to win including cheat... and santorum is believes that only his version of what God is holds any weight and would take away freedom in the name of God when it was God who gave it to us...
Jonathan Erickson
7:01 am on Sunday, March 4, 2012
No disrespect intended but the odds are really about 50 to 1 that Paul will be chosen President.The closest contender is Romney. Obama is 5/11 to win and Romney is 5/12 with Santorum at 12 to 1. Outside chance for Obama to be defeated, he has a rock star image and his nearest competition is a boring Mormon. How boring you ask, he's a moderate Mormon! Oh my. The church should not be a issue of any sort and if it is as in Santorum's case run very fast from him. Will Romney be a better President then Obama I think so. I do think he will not have to try very hard to outshine BO as President. I don't care if my President can sing, dance , play basketball or drink beer with the boys I need him to govern in such a way that we are on a level playing field with foreign countries and to quit wasting money on failed policies.
Colleen A.
10:25 am on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Disappointed, yes, but in the campaigns - they need to get their act together!
Amanda Bowen
4:37 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
You can not allow the parties to be in charge of the administration of elections for many reasons, most of all being that is would be unconstitutional. The Constitution charges the states with administration of elections, and you can not provide a private entity, such as a political party or a corporation, with the power and responsibility reserved for the states.
While it is disappointing when candidates are not on ballots, the harsh truth is that neither the Santorum or Gingrich campaign met the legal requirements for having their candidate's name on the ballot. Just as the rest of us have to meet deadlines and obligations in our lives every day, the campaigns had their responsibilities, and they failed. Maybe they shouldn't be President if they can't even efficiently manage their campaigns.
Scott H
2:42 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
Most people misunderstand Ron Paul's point of view. His politics are firm, but not "sound bite" material. He supports justified and declared war. He opposes endless undeclared wars that cost the lives of our soldiers and billions of dollars.
Paul supports government action. But Paul opposes the endless expansion of FEDERAL government power. If you read the constitution, it is clear that certain powers are granted to government, and certain powers are granted to the states and the people. So many Republicans complain about 'activist' judges and 'socialist' programs, yet they continue to allow the Federal government to expand. Paul would move us to a legal basis for power rather than the continued power grabs of a large central bureaucracy.
If you want a government that controls how people act, think, and decides what health care you should buy, then vote for Obama or any of the other Republican candidates. If you want a president who will actually change the United States back to a legal republic, then a vote for Ron Paul is the only option. Santorum wants to use government to tell people how to live in social issues, Obama wants to have the government tell you how to live on everything else. Is it really the government's job to decide these things for us? Or should we be willing to let each state and each person decide for themselves, and govern as a free people ought to?
T Ailshire
11:08 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
What he can't tell us is exactly *how* he will do all the things he claims to want. The President can't govern by fiat (despite evidence to the contrary) and Ron Paul can't convince Congressmen to work with him. Most of his introduced legislation lacks significant number of cosponsors, much less enactment. So he has made a career of talking a good game, but can't or won't deliver.
That said, we have two of the four remaining, and I don't feel cheated *by this primary;" I feel cheated by the party.
Jonathan Erickson
7:23 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
Ron Pauls views do not pertain to the subject of this post. Are you unhappy that we have only 2 canididates on the ballot?
Tiger
1:50 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Republican voters are no more cheated than Democrats. We'll all get a choice between two lackluster candidates come November.
Zagros
6:37 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Attention Virginia voters who support Gingrich or Santorum: If you want Gingrich or Santorum to have ANY chance of election, vote for Paul. Otherwise you are conceding a lot of delegates to Romney. If you believe that Paul cannot win, a vote for Paul is a vote for Gingrich or Santorum. If you fail to vote for Paul, you are validating that he can win and that you prefer Romney. Own up to it!
Jonathan Erickson
8:01 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
They have no chance and Paul does not either so vote for the Mittster!
Kirby Harris
12:51 am on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
You guys who are sore because your candidate isn't on the ballot. Grow up, your candidate didn't care enough to get way more signatures than 10,000, say 15,000 to make sure you have enogh like the Paul and Romney campaigns did. You have no one to blame but Gingrich and Santorum. http://thelibertyactivist.com
Karen Laskowsky
8:33 am on Thursday, March 8, 2012
I would be interested to know how much redistricting had to do with candidates not getting on the ballot. I know as someone collecting signatures (as a volunteer) for a candidate for congress, it has become very difficult to collect enough because the DOJ has not even officially blessed the new lines as they have been drawn. Consequently, we are only collecting signatures in the overlap area, and that makes it exponentially more difficult to gather the requisite signatures plus enough above and beyond knowing some of them will get tossed for being on the wrong side of the lines. I wonder if Gingrich and Santorum faced these same difficulties.
Mary Ann Barton
9:14 am on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Hi Karen, a volunteer w/the Gingrich campaign reportedly submitted fake names as part of the 10,000 signatures needed, including Jack Daniels, Jim Beam and the entire cast of 'Mad Men,' according to the exec director of the state GOP, quoted in a recent article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch: http://bit.ly/y7jQZF