Posted on 12/27/2015 3:22:47 PM PST by VinL
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump went on a Twitter tirade Sunday after learning that voters wishing to cast a ballot in the Virginia Republican presidential primary will have to sign an oath affirming they are a member of the party.
It begins, Republican Party of Virginia, controlled by the RNC, is working hard to disallow independent, unaffiliated and new voters. BAD! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2015
R.P.Virginia has lost statewide 7 times in a row. Will now not allow desperately needed new voters. Suicidal mistake. RNC MUST ACT NOW! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2015
The voters the Republican Party of Virginia are excluding will doom any chance of victory. The Dems LOVE IT! Be smart and win for a change! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2015
Trump's frustration likely stems from the fact that he performs especially well among voters who have not declared a party affiliation. In a recent survey by American Research Group, for example, he got the support of 15 percent of registered Republicans in New Hampshire, but 29 percent of those who were not registered with either political party.
Virginia voters are not required to register with a particular party, but with the approval of the State Board of Elections, the Republican Party will be able to ask primary voters to sign a party oath.
The state GOP considered a loyalty oath for the 2011 presidential primary. That pledge would have required voters to promise they intended to support the party's nominee during the general election. State Republicans ultimately scrapped the plan after it came under heavy criticism.
Trump has publicly flirted with the idea of mounting a third-party bid if he feels the Republican Party is treating him unfairly. At the last GOP debate earlier this month, however...
Closed primary systems usually make anyone who changes party to sit out one primary cycle.
I had only known open primaries in Texas until I moved to Buffalo, NY for a few years. Had no idea I had to declare a party to register to vote if I wanted to vote in a primary. Then, if changing parties would have to wait 12 months before voting in the other primary. Did NOT like it.
The vote is still private - no loyalty oath! Oh - and those single party buttons - I firmly believe you must read the names of folks for whom you are voting for each and every race.
VA has an open primary. No registration by party. If a Dem or independent really wants to vote for a Rep, they will just lie.
Sometimes this dude shows too much of his true self.
If he can not win the Nom with GOP votes, he doesn’t deserve the GOP nomination. Period!
right on ! democrats would vote for Jeb!
Why a separate pledge when they simply only allow registered republican to vote in primary? Sound like an attempt to create an extra layer and complicate the voting process
In Texas if you did not vote in the other party’s Primary, you can vote in Primary runoff. That is the only test.
If Trump should drop out before the primary this rule would deter conservative independents and cross-over conservative Dems from voting for Cruz.
...It is my assumption that anyone who did not want more of the same from Washington would then want to support Cruz.
But if you want to put barriers in Cruz’s way while claiming to support him- go ahead.
Am I to understand you were repulsed by the Cochran dirty tricks in MS for primary ‘14 then?
The Virginia GOP can go to hell. If it wasn’t for them, Ken Cuccinelli would be governor right now.
Va. GOP to require loyalty oath in presidential primary[2011]
DOCUMENT LEAK: VA GOP Establishment’s "Loyalty Oath" Scheme to Suppress Insurgents Trump & Cruz This is chess. He doesn’t care about the primary. He is pointing out to all that he can win a general.
The only reason the Virginia GOP is doing is is to try to suppress votes. They loved crossovers in Mississippi when it favored them. But now with Trump, crossovers are hurting them, so like spoiled children, they want to play dirty.
Yes. Trump is wrong on this one. Every state should be required to do this. Shame on the states that let Democrats and Independents vote in the Republican primary. It is just wrong and unfair to the rest of the GOP nationwide.
So you want Democrat liberals choosing the GOP candidate?
You can vote in any primary you want just so long as you belong to that party. You do not deserve to make trouble for the other party.
Virginia needs to change that. They are robbing the rest of the country of their right to influence the nominee.
It’s one thing to register as a Republican, and another to sign a loyalty pledge. I wouldn’t sign a loyalty pledge to this traitorous party.
Just realized something, don’t know why. But there are over 20 states with open primaries. This is scary since Hillary will have no competition in her primary after the first one or two states.
Democrats could easily select our nominee.
What state or commonwealth are your from? Does your state have party registration? In Georgia you can ask for either ballot at the door.
Wow! I just realized the only time I voted in Virginia, the election was for President Nixon!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.