Bill delaying Va. congressional primaries advances

Posted to: News Politics State Government Virginia
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The Associated Press
© February 3, 2012

By Bob Lewis

RICHMOND

Virginia's June congressional primaries, imperiled because of the General Assembly's failure to meet its redistricting deadlines, are on their way to being postponed from June until August.

The House Privileges and Elections Committee voted 19-1 Friday for legislation delaying U.S. House and Senate primaries to buy time for a redistricting bill enacted last month to undergo Justice Department and court scrutiny. House approval is expected next week.

The bill faces federal vetting under the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

It's also the subject of a lawsuit in Richmond Circuit Court alleging that the new redistricting plan is void because Virginia's Constitution required its passage in 2011.

It's the second year in a row Virginia's primaries would be delayed by decennial redistricting. Last year's state legislative primaries were also delayed until August.

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Priorities!

Submitted by truthseeker on Sat, 02/04/2012 at 12:11 pm.

Give 'em time. After all, they're extremely busy right now, what with abortion rights, gay adoptions, private toll roads, and other such vital matter to occupy their time. Nothing as minor as a primary election should be allowed to distract them. After all, the GOP primary is nothing but entertainment featuring a multiple clown act.

Ineffective legislators

Submitted by zappafan on Sat, 02/04/2012 at 10:36 am.

If our elected officials can't get their jobs done on time, get rid of them after 1 term. This is the system they want for Virginia's teachers so it should be good enough for them. Their decisions affect everyone in the state including children so their jobs must be more important than a low paid teachers'. For that matter, if they can't get the piece of legislation they sponsor passed they must be ineffective. Get them out of office. One year is enough. Why let them serve out the whole term? They will just continue their ineffectiveness and hurt us all in the process.