r Voters wishing to participate in the Republican presidential primary Feb. 12 will be required to sign a "good faith" pledge before they are permitted to cast a ballot.
The pledge reads, "I, the undersigned, pledge that I intend to support the nominee of the Republican Party for President," and is meant to ensure that those voting in the primary are doing so in good faith, according to Shaun Kenney, spokesperson for the Republican Party of Virginia.
The Commonwealth does not require its voters to register by associating with a specific political party, so parties are not able to close Virginia primaries to include only party members.
Although the Virginia GOP instituted the policy in 2003, Kenney said he believes the fact that this is the first time that the pledge will be required statewide in the presidential primary has refocused debate on the policy. Kenney said the 4th District Federal Court upheld the party's "constitutional right to free association" in a trial earlier this year.
"They have the right to do this," Politics Prof. Larry Sabato said. "But it looks like they are treating their party as a small club for the purest members ... You don't win general elections that way."
Sabato said the move is indicative of the party's general mindset.
"It has long been an ideological preference of the conservatives in the Republican party," Politics Prof. Sabato said. "They want to keep not only Democrats, but also independents out of the Republican primary -- they want the nominee selected by committed Republicans."
Virginia's Democratic Party has no desire to adopt a similar strategy, according to Danae Jones, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Virginia.
"We aren't having a pledge for the Democrats," Jones said. "We trust people -- we aren't going to have them sign an affidavit in order to vote."
Jones said she "couldn't begin" to understand Republicans' motivation behind the policy.
"I really do believe that when we allow people to vote, democracy benefits," Jones said. "When you don't put any restrictions to allow people to vote, Republicans, Democrats and independents win."
Sabato echoed Jones' sentiments.
"The better thing would be to open the process up," Sabato said. "Republicans have been losing a lot of elections because they haven't been attracting many independents or any Democrats."
Kenney pointed out that while the pledge is required, it is in no way legally binding.
"The statement is between that individual and their conscience," Kenney said. "The pledge is only going to be as good as the person taking it"
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