George,

I think people ought to know the following information. In a federal election, also, a candidate does not have to register if he does not plan on raising and/or spending $5,000. [See note, below]

With the exploding population, I think Virginia legislators should tighten the election laws.

I have talked with officials at both the Virginia State Board of Elections and the Federal Election Commission. The state official says we are not the most lenient nor the most stringent. He cites Texas as requiring 30,000 registered voter signatures to run in a federal election. The FEC official said she thought Virginia's was at the low end. A number of states require 10,000 registered voter signatures to run in a federal election.

The information I have learned is as follows: There is NO filing fee for a general election in Virginia other than a political party primary. In that case the candidates in the political party primary have to pay 2% of the salary of the office they are seeking. So Oddo or any one else can enter the general election and not pay a filing fee, while Al Weed and Bern Ewert had to pay the fee to participate in the Democratic primary. No primary, no fee.

A candidate for the House of Delegates only has to get the signatures of 125 registered voters. A candidate for the Virginia Senate only has to get 250 registered voter signatures.

A candidate for the US House of Representatives only has to obtain the signatures of 1000 registered voters.

A candidate for the three statewide Virginia offices--governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general--has to find 10,000 registered voter signatures with 400 registered voter signatures coming from each of the 11 Congressional districts.

A candidate for U.S. Senate--also a statewide race--also has to find 10,000 registered voter signatures with 400 registered voter signatures coming from each of the 11 Congressional districts. No wonder there are perennial also-rans!

A disgusted
Gene Smith (electronic mail, August 8, 2006)

Editor's Note: Following is an email from Marvin Hilton of the Senior Statesmen regarding the appearance by Libertarian/Green candidate Joe Oddo at the Congressional Candidates forum Wednesday, August 9

All:

Joe Oddo will not be on the program but he will be introduced, have a table for campaign materials, and be available for those who want to talk to him after the regular program is finished. This is in accordance with the motion approved at the Board meeting.

He took the news reasonably graciously although he was defensive about not being registered with the FEC, his argument being that he was under the $5000 threshhold and his approval by the state board of elections and being on the ballet is all that should count.  However, he did not press the issue and plans to be there on Wed.

Marvin Hilton (August 7, 2006)