The General Assembly (by a unanimous vote) has finalized the 2011 candidate nomination process calendar for General Assembly (both House of Delegates and State Senate), Constitutional Officer and County Board elections. HB 1507. The new calendar, applicable only this year (instead of the second Tuesday in June date) is intended to allow the General Assembly to implement redistricting, but allow sufficient time for voters. The November 8, 2011 general election date does NOT change. Here are the dates:
- The primary date will be Tuesday, August 23, 2011.
- “The State Board of Elections shall make inquiry of each party chairman by Friday, June 24, 2011, as to whether a direct primary has been adopted, and the Board must receive notification as provided in § 24.2-516 not later than Friday, July 1, 2011.” In other words, if the party is going to choose a candidate by primary, it must inform the SBE by July 1, 2011.
- Party Chairs must declare all qualified primary candidates under Code § 24.2-527 by Tuesday, July 19, 2011.
- The declaration of candidacy, petitions, and receipts indicating the payment of filing fees for a primary election required by Code § 24.2-522 must be filed between noon on Tuesday, July 5, 2011, and 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2011. The statements required to be filed by primary candidates under Code § 24.2-503 also must be filed by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2011.”
- If a party does not have a primary, caucuses or any other methods of nomination must take place between July 22 and August 23, 2011
- Filing deadlines for caucuses cannot be before June 24, 2011.
- “Ballots for the November 2011 election shall be printed on or before Friday, September 23, 2011, or as soon thereafter as practicable.”
DPVA has or will get out information to city and county chairs, who must convene General Assembly District nominating committees to determine nomination methods. See Party Plan Article 7. The State Board of Elections also should have more details, sometime soon.