ArlingtonGOP.org :: Arlington County Republican Committee

NOTE: The Arlington filing period is closed. The filing deadline was Thursday, March 5.

Interest is building in the 2009 GOP State Convention and the important races for statewide office. Arlington Republicans will be able to serve as delegates to the convention and help to select our nominees.

Following are answers to frequently asked questions about the State Convention and our sign-up procedure in Arlington.

What's the purpose of the State Convention?

To nominate candidates. The 2009 Republican State Convention will nominate candidates for the three statewide offices: Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General. (The Republican Party of Virginia decided to use a convention this year as the method of nomination, rather than a primary. See the official call for the State Convention.)

Are the nominations contested?

Yes, two nominations are contested. There are two candidates for Lt. Governor (Bill Bolling and Patrick Muldoon), and three candidates for Attorney General (John Brownlee, Ken Cuccinelli and Dave Foster). Bob McDonnell is unopposed for Governor.

See more on the GOP candidates for statewide office.

When and where will the voting take place?

May 30 in Richmond. The State Convention will be held at the Richmond Coliseum in downtown Richmond. The Convention officially begins on Friday, May 29, and the nominating votes will be on Saturday, May 30.

NOTE: The location has been changed from the Convention Center to the Coliseum.

Who votes at the Convention?

Locally elected delegates. Every city and county in Virginia will select delegates to the State Convention. Each local Republican committee sets its own timetable and selection procedure. Once officially selected, those delegates will be eligible to attend and vote at the Convention.

NOTE: The State Convention will be very large, with thousands of delegates from across Virginia.

Can anyone sign up to be a delegate?

Yes, any Republican voter is eligible. Any voter who is registered in Virginia, and who believes in the principles of the Republican Party, may apply to become a delegate to the State Convention. Interested persons must sign up through the local GOP Committee in the city or county where they are registered, and do so by the filing deadline for that locality.

What's the procedure in Arlington?

Sign up by March 5. Our County Committee adopted the Arlington delegate selection procedure at its meeting on Jan. 28 (see official call). Filing forms are now available online (see download) and also from ACRC headquarters (see contact information). The Arlington filing deadline is Thursday, March 5.

How many Arlington delegate positions will be available?

Hundreds! Arlington will be authorized to send up to 870 delegates to the 2009 State Convention. In all likelihood, everyone who signs up as an Arlington delegate will be automatically selected.

NOTE: In the unlikely event that more than the authorized maximum number from Arlington should sign up, there will be a local Republican canvass election to select the delegates. That canvass would be held in late March, and open to any Republican voter in Arlington.

How do I file?

Complete the form and submit by the deadline. The Arlington filing form is now available (see download). Just fill out the form (name, contact information, and affirm that you are a registered voter and Republican), and be sure to sign it! Then submit the completed form to ACRC by mail or by hand-delivery -- and do so by the filing deadline (Thu., March 5).

NOTE: Each voter must complete a separate form (no joint submissions allowed). Also, each form MUST include a handwritten signature. We cannot accept unsigned forms or online submissions.

Do I have to pay a fee?

No fee required. The state party requests a voluntary fee of $35 (to help cover convention costs), and ACRC requests a small voluntary fee of $25 (to help cover administrative costs), but those are entirely voluntary. You can still be a voting delegate at the State Convention, as long as you submit the Arlington filing form to ACRC by the Arlington deadline (Thu., March 5).

If I sign up to be a delegate, do I have to join the County Committee as well?

No, that's separate. Any Republican voter in Arlington may sign up to become a delegate to the State Convention, and there is no requirement to join the County Committee. Of course, we also welcome anyone who would like to become more involved with the party in Arlington - as Committee members, or contributors, or other volunteer supporters.

Since this is a state convention, can I sign up through the state party?

No, you must file locally. Any voter who wishes to be a delegate to the State Convention must sign up by submitting the local filing form to the local GOP committee by the local filing deadline. Arlington voters must submit the Arlington form to ACRC, by the Arlington deadline (Thu., March 5).

I've already told one of the statewide campaigns that I want to be a delegate. Is that enough?

No, you must still file locally. Of course, you may also sign up as a volunteer or supporter with any of the statewide campaigns, if you like. However, in order to become a voting delegate at the State Convention, you must follow the regular Arlington sign-up procedure, by completing the Arlington filing form and submitting it to ACRC by the Arlington deadline (Thu., March 5).

NOTE: Campaigns may assist in delivering completed filing forms to ACRC on behalf of their supporters. But regardless of who delivers the forms, all forms must be submitted to ACRC by the Arlington deadline (Thu., March 5).

I haven't decided yet which statewide candidates I'm supporting. Should I still sign up by March 5?

Yes! The filing form is simply a statement that you want to be a delegate to the State Convention. You don't indicate any candidate preference on that form. But if you want to vote at the Convention in May, you must sign up by the Arlington filing deadline (Thu., March 5).

It's early in the year, and I'm not sure whether I can attend in May. Should I still sign up by March 5?

Yes! If you want to preserve the option of attending as an Arlington voting delegate to the State Convention in May, you must sign up by the local filing deadline (Thu., March 5).

I'm registered to vote somewhere other than Arlington. Can I submit my filing to ACRC?

No, file where you vote. You must sign up through the Republican committee in the city or county where you are registered to vote (even if you are temporarily living in Arlington). Check to see if your local committee has adopted a timetable yet. Then obtain the local filing form, sign and complete the form, and submit it directly to that committee, by the local filing deadline.

Oops, I missed the Arlington filing deadline. Is there still some way to sign up?

No, absolutely not. The filing deadline (Thu., March 5) is an absolute deadline. Late filings will not be accepted for any reason whatsoever. If you have any interest in voting at the State Convention in May, you must sign up by the Arlington filing deadline (Thu., March 5). If you miss that deadline, you can not become a delegate to the Convention, and you will not be allowed to vote. (You would still be able to attend the Convention as an observer, but you could not cast any votes.)

I've still got questions about the process. What should I do?

Contact us. We'll be happy to respond. Just send us an email or call (see contact information).

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