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| Voting systems | Constitutional plurality requirement for statewide executive offices; single transferable vote (STV) can be implemented for state House and Senate elections by appropriate legislation; state law must be changed before a local government can implement instant-runoff voting for executive offices; local governments can implement single transferable vote for their local legislatures and for school board elections. Single transferable vote (STV is a preferential Voting system designed to minimize Wasted votes and provide Proportional representation Instant-runoff voting ( IRV) is a Voting system used for single-winner elections in which voters have one vote and rank Candidates in order of A board of education or a school Board or school committee is the title of the Board of directors of a school local School district | ||
| Ballot access requirements | Requirements are as follows[1]:
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| Absentee ballot provisions | One of the following excuses is required[2]:
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| Initiative and referendum provisions | Only on subjects authorized by specific statutes. In Political science, the initiative (also known as popular or citizen's initiative) provides a means by which a Petition signed by a certain A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita | ||
| Redistricting rules | Joint Reapportionment Committee consisting of House and Senate Privileges and Elections Committee members appointed by those committees' chairs. Redistricting, a form of redistribution, is the process of changing of political Borders in the United States | ||
| Voting equipment used/allowed | Marksense tabulators, DRE. Voting machines are the total combination of mechanical electromechanical or electronic equipment (including Software, Firmware, and documentation required to program An optical reader is a device found within most Computer scanners that captures visual information and translates the image into Digital information the | ||
| Youth voting | Voting age of 18 set by Article II, Section 1 of Constitution of Virginia. The youth vote is a political term used primarily in the United States to describe 18 to 25-year-olds and their voting habits The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia is the document that defines and limits the powers of the state government and the basic rights of the citizens of the United States | ||
| National Popular Vote Interstate Compact ratification status | Bills introduced in both houses in 2007; both failed. National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among U | ||
| Other reforms | None at this time. | ||
Electoral reform in Virginia refers to efforts to change the electoral system in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Electoral reform is change in Electoral systems to improve how public desires are expressed in election results The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Virginia has undergone much electoral change since its settling in 1607, many of which were required by federal legislation. However, it remains a relatively conservative state in this respect compared to California and others which have experimented with various alternative systems. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean.
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Direct election of U. S. Senators
Originally, U.S. Senators were chosen by the Virginia General Assembly. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia. On February 19, 1914, legislation was introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates calling for the direct election of United States senators by the voters of Virginia[3]. Virginia House of Delegates is the Lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. This followed enactment of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution on April 8, 1913. The Seventeenth Amendment ( Amendment XVII) of the United States Constitution was passed by the Senate on June 12 1911 and by the House on May 13 1912 Virginia had not voted to ratify the amendment.
Ballot access
There have been many changes designed to make the electoral system more favorable to third parties. These included allowing write-in ballots in U.S. presidential elections. A write-in candidate is a candidate in an Election whose name does not appear on the Ballot, but for whom voters may Vote nonetheless by writing in the Elections for President and Vice President of the United States are In 1998, SB 316 was passed, changing the number of signatures required for ballot access as follows[4]:
- In statewide races, reducing the number of signatures required from 0. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) 5% of the number of registered voters (approximately 17,000 in 1998) to a flat 10,000;
- In congressional district races, reducing the number of signatures required from 0. 5% of the number of voters registered in the district (approximately 1,550 signatures based on the January 1, 1998, registered voter total) to 1,000; and
- Increasing the number of signatures required from each congressional district from 200 to 400.
Voting system changes
In 2003, FairVote's analysis of Virginia's voting systems determined that amendments to the Constitution of Virginia might be required to implement instant runoff voting in statewide executive elections[5]. FairVote is a Non-profit organization based in Takoma Park Maryland, whose mission is to achieve universal access to participation a full spectrum of meaningful The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia is the document that defines and limits the powers of the state government and the basic rights of the citizens of the United States Instant-runoff voting ( IRV) is a Voting system used for single-winner elections in which voters have one vote and rank Candidates in order of § 24. 2-673 of the Code of Virginia appears to require use of the plurality system in local executive office elections[6]
HB 2739, a bill to implement instant runoff voting statewide, was introduced by Del. The Code of Virginia is the Statutory law of the US state of Virginia, and consists of the codified Legislation of the Virginia The plurality voting system is a Single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member William K. Barlow in 2003 but stricken at his request[7]. William K "Bill" Barlow (born March 13, 1936 in Isle of Wight County Virginia) is an American politician in the Democratic Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. In 2004, Barlow introduced HB 956, a bill to allow IRV on a test basis in localities; it died in committee[8]. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " However, Barlow remained confident that "instant runoff is going to happen soon"[9]. Virginians for Instant Runoff Voting organized in 2006 and launched plans to implement the system in more student government elections[10]. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, or guild of students is a Student Organization IRV is presently used in single-winner student government elections at the University of Virginia, as promulgated in III(G)(3) of the Spring 2007 University Board of Elections Rules and Regulations[11]. The University of Virginia (also called UVa, UVA, Mr Jefferson's University, or The University) is a highly selective public research UVA's use of the system predates VIRV's formation.
Bills to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact were introduced in 2007[12][13], but they died in committee. National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among U A bill to study Virginia's methods of allocating electoral votes also died in committee[14]. The Electoral College consists of 538 popularly elected representatives who formally select the President and Vice President of the United States. Virginia is commonly considered a swing state in the upcoming 2008 U.S. Presidential election, which could have interesting effects on the debate of any National Popular Vote bills in the General Assembly session convening in January 2008. A swing state (also battleground state or purple state) in United States The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled for Tuesday November 4 2008 will be the 56th consecutive
Approval voting appears to be prohibited by laws defining an "overvote" as follows: "'Overvote' means a ballot on which a voter casts a vote for a greater number of candidates or positions than the number for which he was lawfully entitled to vote and no vote shall be counted with respect to that office or issue"[15]. Approval voting is a single-winner voting system used for Elections Each voter may vote for (approve of as many of the candidates as they wish
Balloting methods
2007 also saw increased interest in voter verified paper ballots and other measures to regulate electronic voting machines. Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT or Verified Paper Record (VPR is intended as an independent verification system for Voting machines designed to allow voters Voting machines are the total combination of mechanical electromechanical or electronic equipment (including Software, Firmware, and documentation required to program A bill to establish a pilot project to audit electronic equipment died in committee[16]. HB 2707 was passed, requiring the phaseout of direct recording electronic devices and prohibiting wireless communication with voting machines[17]. Voting machines are the total combination of mechanical electromechanical or electronic equipment (including Software, Firmware, and documentation required to program
Absentee ballot rights have been expanded in recent years as well. An absentee ballot is a Vote cast by someone who is unable or unwilling to attend the official Polling station. However, a bill to grant absentee ballots without requiring an excuse (e. g. having to work/commute at least 11 hours between 6 AM and 7 PM) was defeated in 2006[18] and again in 2007[19] as was a bill to allow pregnant women to vote absentee[20]
Initiative and referendum
Currently, referenda can be submitted to the people only when authorized by statute or charter[21]. A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita The Code specifies numerous types of referenda that voters may petition for, such as a referendum to abolish a county police force[22]. With those exceptions, however, voters cannot propose their own referenda. In 1914, an I&R bill was passed by the House of Delegates but failed in the Senate[23]. The Hampton, Virginia city charter has an I&R provision, however. Hampton is an Independent city in Virginia, and therefore not part of any Virginia county
Redistricting
Democrats controlled the Virginia General Assembly for decades, but Republicans gained control at the close of the 20th century[24] and have used their power to gerrymander districts in their favor, just as the Democrats did. Gerrymandering is a form of redistribution in which electoral district or Constituency boundaries are manipulated for electoral advantage Proposals to establish a redistricting commission or put redistricting in the hands of retired judges have failed. A redistricting commission is a body designated to draw district lines In 2007, a bill was introduced to draw district lines on the basis of political subdivisions and to ban the consideration of incumbency; this bill died in committee[25].
Prospects for future reform
Any statewide electoral reform bill must be approved by Privileges and Elections committees in the Virginia House of Delegates[26] and Virginia Senate[27]. Virginia House of Delegates is the Lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. Senate of Virginia is the Upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. Lacey Putney, chair of the House committee, has been reluctant to embrace major changes to the system. Lacey E Putney (born June 27, 1928) has been a member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 1962 representing Bedford Virginia. Important players in the electoral reform movement include Virginia resident and Libertarian Party national chair Bill Redpath and others associated with FairVote. The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 Bill Redpath is the chairman of the United States Libertarian Party, first elected by delegates to the 2006 Libertarian National Convention in Portland
External links
References
- ^ § 24.2-506. Petition of qualified voters required; number of signatures required; certain towns excepted., Code of Virginia.
- ^ Virginia Absentee Ballot Application
- ^ Legislative Moments in Virginia History, Virginia Historical Society.
- ^ SB 316 Petition requirements in presidential elections.
- ^ Fair Elections and the Law for the Commonwealth of Virginia, Elizabeth Reed, FairVote, 2003.
- ^ § 24.2-673. Candidates having highest number of votes to receive certificate of election, Code of Virginia.
- ^ HB 2739 Instant runoff voting to elect candidates to office.
- ^ HB 956 Instant runoff voting; used to elect candidates to local governing bodies and school boards.
- ^ Legislator's proposal: Vote for a first choice - and a second, Ron Capshaw, Scott County Virginia Star, January 20, 2003.
- ^ Virginians for Instant Runoff Voting
- ^ Spring 2007 University Board of Elections Rules and Regulations, University of Virginia.
- ^ HB 2742 Presidential elections; agreement among states to elect by National Popular Vote.
- ^ SB 864 Presidential elections; agreement among states to elect by National Popular Vote.
- ^ SJ 325 Electoral College votes; joint subcommittee to study method of allocating.
- ^ § 24.2-802. Procedure for recount, Code of Virginia.
- ^ HB 1243 Electronic voting equipment; State Board of Elections to design pilot program.
- ^ HB 2707 Electronic voting equipment; requirements and recount procedures.
- ^ HB 11 Absentee voting and ballot applications; no qualification for voters to use.
- ^ HB 2574 Absentee voting; qualified voters may vote absentee for any reason.
- ^ HB 2072 Absentee voting; requirements for pregnant women to vote absentee.
- ^ § 24.2-684. How referendum elections called and held, and the results ascertained and certified, Code of Virginia.
- ^ § 15.2-1703. Referendum to abolish county police force, Code of Virginia.
- ^ Virginia, Initiative and Referendum Institute. The Initiative and Referendum Institute is an organization promoting Initiative and referendum in the United States.
- ^ Virginia General Assembly: Winners Exercise Raw Power, Dec. 2006.
- ^ HB 1629 Redistricting advisory commission; establishment thereof, report.
- ^ 2007 House of Delegates Committee Assignment
- ^ Senate of Virginia 2007 Standing Committees