Virginia GOP reconsiders voter pledge

NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Virginia Republican Chairman Pat Mullins announced Wednesday on Facebook there would be a meeting Jan. 21 to reconsider a voter loyalty pledge, officials say.

The plan to make voters pledge loyalty to the party's eventual presidential nominee has been met with mixed response from party officials, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported. State Delegate Bob Marshall is among those against the idea, while Mullins insists, "we need party registration in Virginia."

Without a pledge at the polls, Mullins believes there will be no other way to prevent Democratic voters from interfering in Republican nominations.

Late last month, the State Board of Elections approved the request to require voters to sign a loyalty oath at the polls. Since then, party officials say they've heard significant feedback from voters.