Woodbridge, Va. — The Virginia GOP’s plan to make Primary voters sign a party loyalty oath has drawn the ire of not only the governor, but a local politician.
Del. Richard Anderson denounced the loyalty oath plan approved in December by the Virginia Republican Party that would require voters to sign a form in order to vote in the March 6 GOP Primary Election stating they would remain loyal to the party.
Gov. Robert F. McDonnell today said the loyalty oath would cause some voters not to participate in the Primary, in which Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are the only two presidential candidates on the ballot.
“Over the past week, numerous citizens in Prince William County and across Virginia have contacted me to express their concerns over the recently-approved requirement that voters sign a loyalty oath as a prerequisite for voting in the March 6th GOP Presidential Primary,” stated Del. Richard Anderson (R-Prince William County) in an email. “I share their concerns and urge the Republican Party of Virginia to reverse its decision and eliminate this new requirement. While I fully respect that the Republican Party of Virginia and the Democratic Party of Virginia are empowered to proscribe loyalty oaths, I believe that this provision cannot be enforced and that it has the unintended potential for chilling Republican participation in the March presidential primary.”
The Virginia GOP has called a special meeting Jan. 21 to reconsider the loyalty oath requirement.
