Electoral reform in Virginia

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Electoral reform in Virginia refers to efforts to change the electoral system in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 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.

Direct election of U.S. Senators

Originally,

U.S. Senators were chosen by the Virginia General Assembly. 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.[1] This followed enactment of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
on April 8, 1913. Virginia had not voted to ratify the amendment.

Ballot access

There have been many changes designed to make the electoral system more favorable to

U.S. presidential elections. In 1998, SB 316 was passed, changing the number of signatures required for ballot access as follows:[2]

  • In statewide races, reducing the number of signatures required from 0.5% 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.

Currently, the ballot access requirements are as follows:[3]

  • For a candidate for the United States Senate, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General, 10,000 signatures, including the signatures of at least 400 qualified voters from each congressional district in the Commonwealth;
  • For a candidate for the United States House of Representatives, 1,000 signatures;
  • For a candidate for the Senate of Virginia, 250 signatures;
  • For a candidate for the House of Delegates or for a constitutional office, 125 signatures;
  • For a candidate for membership on the governing body or elected school board of any county or city, 125 signatures; or if from an election district not at large containing 1,000 or fewer registered voters, 50 signatures;
  • For a candidate for membership on the governing body or elected school board of any town which has more than 1,500 registered voters, 125 signatures; or if from a ward or other district not at large, 25 signatures;
  • For membership on the governing body or elected school board of any town which has 1,500 or fewer registered voters, no petition shall be required;
  • For a candidate for director of a soil and water conservation district created pursuant to Article 3 (§ 10.1-506 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 10.1, 25 signatures; and
  • For any other candidate, 50 signatures.

Voting system changes

In 2003,

plurality system in local executive office elections[5]

HB 2739, a bill to implement instant runoff voting statewide, was introduced by Del.

student government elections.[9] IRV is 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.[10]
UVA's use of the system predates VIRV's formation.

Bills to join the

2012 U.S. Presidential election
.

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".[14]

Presently, constitutional

school board
elections.

Balloting methods

2007 also saw increased interest in

Marksense tabulators and DRE
.

Absentee ballot rights have been expanded in recent years as well. 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[17] and again in 2007,[18] as was a bill to allow pregnant women to vote absentee.[19] One of the following excuses is required:[20]

  • Student;
  • Business;
  • Personal business or vacation;
  • Working and commuting to and from home for 11 or more hours between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM;
  • Disability or illness; caregiver; confinement;
  • Election official;
  • Religious obligation;
  • U.S. uniformed services;
  • Temporarily residing outside U.S.

The voting age of 18 set by Article II, Section 1 of Constitution of Virginia.

Initiative and referendum

Referendums can be submitted to the people only when authorized by statute or charter.[21] The code specifies numerous types of referendums 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 referendums. 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.

Redistricting

Redistricting is overseen by the Joint Reapportionment Committee consisting of House and Senate Privileges and Elections Committee members appointed by those committees' chairs. Democrats controlled the Virginia General Assembly for decades, but Republicans gained control at the close of the 20th century

gerrymander districts in their favor, just as the Democrats did. Proposals to establish a redistricting commission or put redistricting in the hands of retired judges have failed. 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] On November 3, 2020, Virginians overwhelmingly approved a ballot referendum, 2020 Virginia Question 1
, establishing a bipartisan redistricting commission.

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] Lacey Putney, chair of the House committee, has been reluctant to embrace major changes to the system. Important players in the electoral reform movement include Virginia resident and former Libertarian Party national chair Bill Redpath and others associated with FairVote.

See also

References

  1. ^ Legislative Moments in Virginia History Archived 2007-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, Virginia Historical Society.
  2. ^ SB 316 Petition requirements in presidential elections.
  3. ^ § 24.2-506. Petition of qualified voters required; number of signatures required; certain towns excepted., Code of Virginia.
  4. ^ Fair Elections and the Law for the Commonwealth of Virginia Archived 2007-10-09 at the Wayback Machine, Elizabeth Reed, FairVote, 2003.
  5. ^ § 24.2-673. Candidates having highest number of votes to receive certificate of election, Code of Virginia.
  6. ^ HB 2739 Instant runoff voting to elect candidates to office.
  7. ^ HB 956 Instant runoff voting; used to elect candidates to local governing bodies and school boards.
  8. ^ Legislator's proposal: Vote for a first choice - and a second Archived 2006-12-03 at the Wayback Machine, Ron Capshaw, Scott County Virginia Star, January 20, 2003.
  9. ^ Virginians for Instant Runoff Voting Archived 2007-10-25 at archive.today
  10. ^ Spring 2007 University Board of Elections Rules and Regulations[permanent dead link], University of Virginia.
  11. ^ HB 2742 Presidential elections; agreement among states to elect by National Popular Vote.
  12. ^ SB 864 Presidential elections; agreement among states to elect by National Popular Vote.
  13. ^ SJ 325 Electoral College votes; joint subcommittee to study method of allocating.
  14. ^ § 24.2-802. Procedure for recount, Code of Virginia.
  15. ^ HB 1243 Electronic voting equipment; State Board of Elections to design pilot program.
  16. ^ HB 2707 Electronic voting equipment; requirements and recount procedures.
  17. ^ HB 11 Absentee voting and ballot applications; no qualification for voters to use.
  18. ^ HB 2574 Absentee voting; qualified voters may vote absentee for any reason.
  19. ^ HB 2072 Absentee voting; requirements for pregnant women to vote absentee.
  20. ^ Virginia Absentee Ballot Application Archived 2007-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ § 24.2-684. How referendum elections called and held, and the results ascertained and certified, Code of Virginia.
  22. ^ § 15.2-1703. Referendum to abolish county police force, Code of Virginia.
  23. Initiative and Referendum Institute
    .
  24. ^ Virginia General Assembly: Winners Exercise Raw Power Archived 2007-08-10 at archive.today, Dec. 2006.
  25. ^ HB 1629 Redistricting advisory commission; establishment thereof, report.
  26. ^ 2007 House of Delegates Committee Assignment
  27. ^ Senate of Virginia 2007 Standing Committees Archived 2007-10-14 at the Wayback Machine

External links

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