Virginia Primary (For Northern Va DUers)

[WoodrowFan]

I am cross-posting this here as a lot of Northen Va DUers read the DC forum as well..


FYI for Tuesday's Virginia primary. Polls are open 6 am to 7 pm. There are two primaries being held, ours and the Republican. You can only vote in one, you can NOT mix n match, i.e. you can NOT vote Democratic for one race, and repub in another.

When you get to your polling place, you'll need to show an ID (driver's liscense will do) and declare WHICH primary you are voting. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THAT PARTY! Ds CAN vote in the R primary and visa versa. The election officer will state your name and which primary you chose in a loud voice. This is required by state law. I suspect this is because the party pollwatchers will want to keep track. WHO you vote for is secret, but the fact that you voted in a speciific election is public record.

There will be two poll books, one D and one R. You will be checked off in the poll book for the primary you chose (D or R). BOTH books will be checked whenever someone comes in to vote, so nobody can vote in both primaries. Each party organization is allowed to check their own pollbook to see who voted, but they may not check the other party's book. So the Reps can check the R pollbook and the Democrats can check the D pollbook after the election.

Once you pick a primary you'll be directed to the machine to vote and either the D or the R ballot will be displayed. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT WHICH PRIMARY YOU ARE VOTING. Keeping two poll books will be hassle enough, having to move someone from one poll book to another is a nightmare.


Be nice to your pollworkers please. We start our day at 5 am setting up and go until 8 or 9 talling the votes, or even later if we have problems with the machines...

thanks,