Virginia voters’ partisan preferences will remain unknown -- if they so choose -- after a bill that would have required registration by political party narrowly dies after Senate debate. The bill was sponsored by a Republican - and effectively killed by another Republican.
Unlike most other states, Virginia currently allows any registered voter to cast a ballot in any party’s primary. The bill, sponsored by Senator Mark Obenshain, would have given parties a choice of opening specific primary elections to all voters-or not. GOP Senator John Watkins voted against the measure and explained why.
“I’m very concerned of this direction, because I think that it does breed control by parties rather than by people. And I don’t really think that the forefathers had that in mind.”
The bill failed on a 19-21 vote. The measure had gained support after many Democrats voted in the GOP primary that ousted former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and helped pave the way for Congressman David Brat.
