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Priming voters for Va.primary

February 9, 2008 12:15 am

By RUSTY DENNEN

For weeks now, caucuses and primary elections for the 2008 presidential race in November have been a staple for political junkies.

On Tuesday, it's Virginia's turn in the spotlight as voters go to the polls for the first same-day Democratic and Republican presidential primary in the state since 1988.

While that sounds complicated, it's not, local election officials say.

Spotsylvania Voter Registrar Shirley Boggs says people have to remember one thing.

"When they come in and check in at the poll books, the next question they'll be asked is which ballot they want to vote," she said. Each voter will get either a Republican or Democratic ballot.

Forget about asking for both; that's not allowed.

Still, voter registrars have been answering a lot of questions.

"I think there's some confusion in the primary process in Virginia, because of all the primaries that preceded ours," said Fredericksburg Registrar Juanita Pitchford.

For example, some voters mistakenly thought that Super Tuesday--the primary and caucus elections in 24 states held earlier this week--was their time to head to the polls.

Voter officials reassured them that this coming Tuesday, Feb. 12, is the day.

And some people thought, erroneously, that they had to re-register to vote in the primary, as is the case in some other states.

"We are still being inundated with phone calls from people who are confused" about that, said Susan Pollard, spokeswoman for the state Board of Elections. Since Tuesday, the agency in Richmond received 6,600 calls. It typically gets about 150 calls a day.

No oaths required

Primary voters will not have to swear a loyalty oath to support the eventual nominee of either party.

The Board of Elections in November approved that provision after Republicans requested the loyalty oath to keep Democrats out of their election process. But the state GOP decided not to require it this time around.

Registrars have been busy for weeks helping voters navigate the primary process.

When people call, "We are just affirming that they were registered to vote in Virginia and going over the procedure," Pitchford said.

Another challenge for her office is that many people who live in Spotsylvania and Stafford have Fredericksburg addresses, and some assume they also vote in Fredericksburg.

"So we have to refer them," to the proper registrar's offices in the counties, she said.

WHO'S RUNNING?

Some voters will be puzzled that candidates who have dropped out of the races are still on the ballot.

Democrats on the ballot include: Barack Obama, Dennis Kucinich, Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden and John Edwards.

Republicans can choose from: Ron Paul, John McCain, Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney.

Virginia Democrat and Republican party officials are enjoying the primary spotlight.

"This is interesting and fun to watch because people are excited about both our candidates," said Danae Jones, spokeswoman for the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Virginia Democrats will send 103 delegates to the national convention in Denver in August. They are chosen proportionally, meaning that district delegates are apportioned among top vote-getters in each district, while at-large delegates are apportioned among top vote-getters statewide.

Josh Noland, spokesman for the Republican Party of Virginia, said they've been busy.

"We are spreading the word to encourage people to get out to vote making sure people know the date and times. People seem to be much more engaged this year."

The Republican primary is winner take all. Sixty-three Virginia delegates will go to the party's national convention in Minnesota in September.

Besides Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland are holding primaries Tuesday, which has been dubbed the Chesapeake primary.

The last time there was a dual-party presidential primary in Virginia was 1988. George H.W. Bush won with 53 percent of the Republican vote; Jesse Jackson won 45 percent of votes cast by Democrats.

There are currently about 4.5 million registered voters in Virginia.

Just as in any general election, voters here should go to their regular polling place, which is open usual hours, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

absentee voting steady

The deadline for mail-in absentee ballots has passed, but voters can still vote absentee today, in person, at the registrar's office. Registrars statewide will be open in many cases from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but hours vary, so call ahead first. Also, 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the November presidential election and have already registered to vote, may vote in the primaries.

Sharon Persinger, Stafford's registrar, said her office has been busy lining up the election officials who will be needed, and answering the phones.

"We've been paddling as fast as we can," she said.

Persinger said there's been a steady flow of people asking for absentee ballots--an indication of voter turnout next week--"but not as big as I thought it would be."

Virginia State Board of Elections: sbe.virginia.gov

Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
Email: rdennen@freelancestar.com