Virginia attorney general investigating controversial Republican firehouse primary in Lynchburg

[00:00:00]if it's done accidentally. If you can't run your own election, then that makes me concerned that you're supposed to be running our city.

[00:00:05]>> Paul Arsland says he waited in line to vote for about 2 hours on May 30th during the Republican firehouse primary.

[00:00:12]>> And multiple people in line that were near me got in line and left because the line was so long.

[00:00:18]>> He says the experience left him with questions about the process.

[00:00:22]>> I don't know that you're getting the best voice of the people if if the people that are voting are only the people that can sacrifice two to three hours of a of a Saturday afternoon.

[00:00:31]>> But what is a firehouse primary? I asked that to the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, Jeff Ryer.

[00:00:37]>> Uh it's a primary that's run by the party, meaning that your normal polling places aren't the places where you vote.

[00:00:43]>> Arsland says he was asked to sign a pledge agreeing to support Republican candidates moving forward, something he says he wasn't comfortable doing.

[00:00:51]>> I had to pledge support for multiple years, for multiple elections, for federal elections.

[00:00:56]>> Ryer says that even in an open primary state, local committees can set participation requirements like a pledge.

[00:01:03]>> That's not something that I could in clear conscience say.

[00:01:06]>> Now, multiple challenges to the process have been filed. Ryer says the Virginia Republican Committee is facing three appeals.

[00:01:13]>> Uh appeals usually have to usually relate to voters being excluded or voters not being properly informed.

[00:01:20]>> And the Virginia Attorney General's office is also investigating the handling of absentee votes. In a letter to the Lynchburg Republican Committee, the Attorney General's office says they have concerns that the committee may have violated state law by effectively disenfranchising voters. The committee has until June 29th to provide documents related to the investigation. As for the appeals, Ryer says they'll be reviewed this week. Abby Coleman, 10 News, working for you.