Signed by Governor Ralph Northam

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends the nomination processes to ensure that qualified voters who are eligible but are unable to attend meetings because they are a servicemember on active duty.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a method of nomination from being selected if the method will have the practical effect of excluding participation in the nominating process by qualified voters who are otherwise eligible to participate in the nominating process under that political party’s rules but are unable to attend meetings because they are the following (Sec. § 24.2-509.A)

• A member of a uniformed service, on active duty;

• Temporarily residing outside of the United States;

• A student attending a school or institution of higher education;

• A person with a disability; or

• A person who has a communicable disease of public health threat or who may have come in contact with a person with such disease.

• Requires a party to nominate its candidates for election for a General Assembly district where there is more than one incumbent of that party for the district by a primary unless all the incumbents consent to a different method of nomination. A party, whose candidate at the immediately preceding election for a particular office other than the General Assembly must be the following (Sec. § 24.2-509.B):

• Was nominated by a primary or filed for a primary but was not opposed; and 

• Was elected at the general election, will nominate a candidate for the next election for that office by a primary unless all incumbents of that party for that office consent to a different method.

• Specifies when, under any of the foregoing provisions, no incumbents offer as candidates for reelection to the same office, the method of nomination will be determined by the political party (Sec. § 24.2-509.B).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that amends the nomination processes to ensure that qualified voters who are eligible but are unable to attend meetings because they are a servicemember on active duty.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a method of nomination from being selected if the method will have the practical effect of excluding participation in the nominating process by qualified voters who are otherwise eligible to participate in the nominating process under that political party’s rules but are unable to attend meetings because they are the following (Sec. § 24.2-509.A)

• A member of a uniformed service, on active duty;

• Temporarily residing outside of the United States;

• A student attending a school or institution of higher education;

• A person with a disability; or

• A person who has a communicable disease of public health threat or who may have come in contact with a person with such disease.

• Requires a party to nominate its candidates for election for a General Assembly district where there is more than one incumbent of that party for the district by a primary unless all the incumbents consent to a different method of nomination. A party, whose candidate at the immediately preceding election for a particular office other than the General Assembly must be the following (Sec. § 24.2-509.B):

• Was nominated by a primary or filed for a primary but was not opposed; and 

• Was elected at the general election, will nominate a candidate for the next election for that office by a primary unless all incumbents of that party for that office consent to a different method.

• Specifies when, under any of the foregoing provisions, no incumbents offer as candidates for reelection to the same office, the method of nomination will be determined by the political party (Sec. § 24.2-509.B).

Full Bill Text