[EDINVA]

The requirements to be on either the R or D primary ballot in VA are set by statute. That would be the state legislature, where the majority goes back and forth between the parties. The RPV’s only role is to certify the candidates who met the requirements. The Governor, Lt. Gov and AG, in their official capacities, are irrelevant to this process.

These requirements have been in effect for several presidential election cycles. In ‘08, six (6) GOP candidates managed to get on the VA GOP presidential ballot. Something went terribly wrong in the Perry/Gingrich ground game.

[FreeReign]

The requirements to be on either the R or D primary ballot in VA are set by statute. That would be the state legislature....The RPV’s only role is to certify the candidates who met the requirements. The Governor, Lt. Gov and AG, in their official capacities, are irrelevant to this process.

No. The RPV owns the 15K "safe habor" rule, not the state legislature.

"Any candidate who submits at least 15,000 signatures of registered voters on valid petitions statewide and has at least 600 signatures of registered voters on valid petitions from each of the 11 Congressional Districts shall be deemed to have met the threshold for qualification and will be certified (provided, of course, that other requirements of State law have also been met)."

It was the Safe Harbor rule that gave Mitt a free pass and disqualified Newt and Perry.

[Nextrush]

The ballot requirement bar was set too high period and the GOP political machine definitely is involved in setting it.