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From the RPV website: The Republican Party of Virginia State Central Committee yesterday evening passed a motion requesting the Virginia State Board of Elections withdraw the “statement of intent” requirement before participating in the 2008 Republican presidential primary contest. While the committee did request the Virginia State Board of Elections to withdraw the requirement to sign a statement of intent for the 2008 primary, State Central re-emphasized their commitment to closed primaries by passing a resolution supporting party registration in Virginia. “The State Central Committee was very clear about including all Virginia registered voters that share our values and believe...

When voters cast their ballots during Virginia's Feb. 12 Republican presidential primary, they'll be required to sign a document stating they intend to support the party's nominee for president in a strategy one conservative leader called a "bullying tactic" but a nonpartisan election official dismissed as just "a piece of paper." On Monday, the State Board of Elections approved text to be included with the ballot that states: "You can vote in this presidential primary only if you sign and print your name to the voter pledge below. You will not be permitted to vote if you refuse to do...

When voters cast their ballots during Virginia's Feb. 12 Republican presidential primary, they'll be required to sign a document stating they intend to support the party's nominee for president in a strategy one conservative leader called a "bullying tactic" but a nonpartisan election official dismissed as just "a piece of paper."

Yesterday morning I spilled coffee all over my suit when I spied the following tidbit in the paper (Washington Post, 11/28/07, page B2): "Loyalty Oath Will Be Required." It seems that the Republican Party of Virginia, home to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, has prevailed on the State Board of Elections (SBE) to mandate that GOP primary voters must "sign an oath swearing loyalty to the eventual GOP ticket." All who apply for a GOP primary ballot must "vow in writing to vote for the Republican presidential nominee next fall." Given the state party's legitimate concern with an open primary...

Voters in Virginia's Feb. 12 Republican presidential primary will have to sign an oath swearing loyalty to the eventual GOP ticket. The State Board of Elections on Monday approved a state Republican Party request that all who apply for a GOP primary ballot first vow in writing to vote for the Republican presidential nominee next fall. [snip] There is no practical way to enforce the GOP covenant in the constitutionally guaranteed secrecy of the voting booth. Yet the oath is a concept Virginia's GOP has considered for years. Voters in Virginia do not register by party. Since the mid-90s, the...

Over the weekend, Kansas Republican leaders formed what they’re calling a “loyalty committee,” a move that’s ticking off moderates and conservatives alike. It is never a sign of strength when your group, country or otherwise starts imposing loyalty oaths, or so I told Kansas Republican Party Chairman Kris Kobach over the phone on Tuesday. “That’s probably a fair criticism,” he said. Yet, beginning next January, the state GOP will begin purging its leadership — all the way down to the precinct level — of any party official who actively supports non-Republicans for office. “One weakness we’ve had is that on...

The William J. Clinton presidential foundation has decided to scrap a form requiring volunteers at the former chief executive's library in Little Rock, Ark. to sign a restrictive gag order that was good for life. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that the library barred volunteers from ever speaking on the record once they signed a two-page non-disclosure form required before they were permitted to work there. The paper also reported that the form, which "threatened legal action against volunteers who spoke out of turn," also required the volunteers to alert the foundation if they were ever subpoenaed, and forbade them from...

Lost oaths, lost jobs? By JOSEPH THOMAS and MATT WILLIAMS Colorado Daily Staff Midterms are in full swing at CU, but at least one CU professor said Wednesday there was a time this week when he wasn't sure he would be back for the second half of the semester. English professor Paul Levitt told his class Wednesday that there was a 50-50 chance he would be fired by the University before he had a chance to grade his students' term papers. The reason? Levitt said he didn't want to re-sign a faculty loyalty oath that CU administrators are trying to...

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004Humiliated Democrats Dump Loyalty Oath Democrats have caved to widespread outrage and dumped what South Carolina's largest newspaper calls a "loyalty oath." The party had planned to force voters in today's primary to swear, "I consider myself a Democrat." Voters in South Carolina do not register by party, but those who refused to sign would have been ejected. Then the uproar started. The media tattled, and hundreds of voters jammed the state party’s phone lines Sunday and Monday to complain. "Some callers were confused, some were concerned, and some, said S.C. Democratic Party chairman Joe Erwin,...

Voters rip Democrats’ oath plan S.C. party faces criticism for making people sign loyalty pledge before voting in primary Tuesday Dumb. That’s how people all over South Carolina characterized the state Democratic Party’s decision to require voters to declare they are Democrats if they want to participate in Tuesday’s presidential primary. Consider Herb Hoefer, a 52-year-old state social services worker. He plans to show poll workers his registration card, but he will not sign the oath. And if they try to stop him from voting? “I’ll tell them to stick it in their ear; I’m voting,” Hoefer vowed. Mike...

Dumb. That’s how people all over South Carolina characterized the state Democratic Party’s decision to require voters to declare they are Democrats if they want to participate in Tuesday’s presidential primary. Consider Herb Hoefer, a 52-year-old state social services worker. He plans to show poll workers his registration card, but he will not sign the oath. And if they try to stop him from voting? “I’ll tell them to stick it in their ear; I’m voting,” Hoefer vowed. Mike Grogan, a 45-year-old produce manager for Publix, called himself an independent but said he will not sign any pledge. “I’ll just...

Peter Jennings takes up U.S. citizenship After pondering the idea seriously for a decade -- and weathering a recent controversy in which his Canadian roots were an issue -- ABC News anchor Peter Jennings has become an American citizen. The Toronto-born journalist, who was raised in Ottawa and still retreats from fame every summer to a farm in the nearby Gatineau Hills, said yesterday the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. and his recent travels throughout the country have made him feel "much more connected to the Founding Fathers' dreams and ideas for the future." Mr. Jennings, who...

America's most famous Canadian, Peter Jennings has announced that he will be seeking American citizenship.