The primary marks Virginia s return to a position of influence in the national process to select a Republican candidate for president. We hope hundreds of thousand of Virginians will vote in the Republican primary, said Tim Murtaugh, spokesman for the Republican Party of Virginia. When you contrast that to the Democratic state convention, where two thousand of the most rabid liberals in the state will pick the Democratic nominee, I think the Republican nominee will be more representative of the people of Virginia. George W. Bush, Gary Bauer, John McCain, Alan Keyes and Steve Forbes. The Republican Presidential Primary is an open primary , since voters do not currently register by party in Virginia.
Any registered voter is eligible to participate in the primary.
In the absence of party registration, the pledge seeks to maintain the integrity of the primary results and guarantees the seating of the Virginia Delegation at the national convention in Philadelphia from July 31 st to August 3 rd . Contrary to many reports, the pledge is not a loyalty oath. At the national convention, Virginia s delegates will be bound to vote for the winner of the Virginia primary on the first ballot only. Virginia delegates are free spirits on subsequent ballots. Absentee voting is permitted in the primary.