Tonight, my husband and I went to vote in the [Virginia] primary and were SHOCKED by the fact we were only allowed, ALLOWED, geesh, unfathomable, allowed, to vote in either the a) federal primary or b) city primary due to Party (24.2-530 – going on memory here).

We were told, as well as other voters disgusted at the process at the same time we were at the precinct, we could not vote in BOTH, which, quite frankly, infringes upon our constitutional right to cast a vote for the candidates who we believe will best represent us on BOTH the federal and city level, AND the respective candidates right to muster votes to secure their Fall election ballot. We were FORCED to cast our vote in either NOT or. Thus, our primary concern is to kick the bum out of congress who represents AIPAC and Israel rather than the constituents in the 7th Congressional District.

But I digress. We are furious with said choices. My right as a Virginian is and should always, and I mean ALWAYS, be to vote for any candidate no matter the Party affiliation and office i.e., federal, state or city should be ours to make NOT the Virginia General Assembly.

Tonight, the candidate for the city primary got totally screwed by 24.2-530 (note: if I’m citing the correct code it says “party” not office or federal vs state primary). We had every intention of voting in both the federal and city primaries, but, like I said above, we were totally robbed of that opportunity. We, along with others, immediately filed official complaints which were either left with the SBE volunteers at our precinct or, those who trust the political system even less than we do, chose to send there’s in. I spoke with many of the volunteers about this ABSURDITY and they freely informed me that they had received such complaints ALL DAY. They too felt helpless. Why on earth would the state put these volunteers in such a position?

Please know, if the Virginia GA passed a law that infringes on Virginian’s voting rights then trust I, along with a plethora of others, are utterly unaware.

Exactly when did the Virginia General Assembly pass such an authoritarian law? We want to know. We do not believe they did, but rather the Sec’y of the SBE has been terribly counseled. However, if they did, pass such a stupid ass statute, you damned well better know we will use every tool available to ensure said archaic election laws are rescinded in their entirety. Dumb. Dumb. Dumber.

Candidates who worked their tail ends off to convince us to vote for them, challenger or sitting, were absolutely, one-hundred percent robbed of our votes today. This is wrong, wrong, wrong and must be in violation of federal election laws, if not, state election laws or just plain old common sense.

We want answers and we want them now. Yes, we’re furious. ALL VIRGINIAN’S DESERVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR WHOMEVER THEY WISH. ALL!

Helen

UPDATE x1 –  We just learned Cantor’s challenger won tonight’s primary. NEWS FLASH, Cantor got screwed by the Va SBE just like the city treasurer position did. We have no love for Cantor, trust us, but when someone gets royally screwed like Cantor just did then hell YES we’re going to speak up. Wrong is Wrong no matter the party or stupid ass policies they put forward!

UPDATE x2 – The two votes were for either congress OR City clerk not Treasurer.