Both Gov. Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling are urging the Republican Party of Virginia to rethink its plans to require voters in the party’s March presidential primary to sign a loyalty oath.
The party wanted the loyalty oath — in which primary voters would promise to support the Republican nominee for president in the November election — to help weed out Democratic voters. Virginia has open primaries, which means voters of any party can vote in any primary. But the idea of a loyalty oath has been getting resistance from Republicans, and now McDonnell and Bolling both say they think it’s a bad idea.
“While I fully understand the reasoning that led to the establishment of this requirement, such an oath is unenforceable and I do not believe it is in the best interests of our Party, or the Commonwealth,” McDonnell said in a written statement this morning. “The effect of the oath could be one of diminishing participation in the primary, at a time when our Party must be expanding its base and membership as we head into the pivotal 2012 general elections this fall.”
McDonnell said he would support legislation to establish a voluntary party registration system in Virginia — currently Virginia does not have voter registration by political party.
“Such a reform to our electoral system would eliminate the need for any oaths or pledges and greatly simplify the nomination process in the Commonwealth,” McDonnell wrote.
Full Article: McDonnell, Bolling say no to GOP loyalty oath – On Politics.