On Friday, March 25, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell signed identical bills HB 1843 and SB 1246 into law, moving Virginia’spresidential primary from the second Tuesday in February to the first Tuesday in March – March 6, 2012. As reported at Frontloading HQ, to put it in context: “Virginia now joins Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont on March 6, the first date on which the national parties are allowing non-exempt states to hold their delegate selection events. The Old Dominion becomes the first state to move its primary back during the 2011 state legislative session. Arkansas and Illinois had moved back previously, but both had done so before the DNC and RNC had settled in on their respective delegate selection rules; requiring all states with primaries scheduled prior to the first Tuesday in March to alter the dates on which their primaries or caucuses are to be held.” Check out the Frontloading site for primary calendar updates.
Look for Virginia’s draft delegate selection plan to be posted for public comment shortly.