As many of you are now aware, the Washington Post ran an article calling out the State GOP for being anti Jewish because we did not have a “religious exemption” for Orthodox Jews. After speaking with several of the candidates and talking with many of my fellow colleagues on State Central, we passed a Rules change last night which will allow for Friday afternoon/evening voting for anyone claiming a religious exemption (aka 7th Day Adventists/Muslims/Orthodox Jews) which will allow for Friday voting from 3 to 6 PM.
If you want to use this religious exemption or know someone who wants to use this exemption, please contact me and I will be glad to assist. There will be a form which needs to be filed, which will be available in a day or two. The form will need to be filled out and sent back to me no later than May 4 at 5 PM.
In addition, responding to a joint public letter from the Glenn Youngkin/Amanda Chase/Kirk Cox campaigns (and after consulting with other campaigns as well) State Central has changed the way that the votes will be counted. They will not be using the previously approved Burkhart method, but will be transported via RPV Couriers to be hand counted at a central location in Richmond. While this will likely slow down the counting, it will relieve the concerns that the above mentioned campaigns had about the counting algorithms in the software. Given the lateness in the process, there was no other way to ensure a fair outcome.
While the Thursday night meeting was rather contentious – the fact is that at the end of the day, RPV has united around a process that will ensure a fair convention for all the statewide candidates. I read each of your emails and texts, and thanks to each of you for letting me know how you feel on each issue. It helps me to know how to vote on each issue. Please remember that I work for each of you, and on behalf of each Republican in the 6th Congressional District. I am and will be a tireless advocate for your interests on State Central and the cause of conservatism as a whole.
Onto Victory in November!
I remain
your servant
JM
S John Massoud
6th District Republican Party Chairman