This is the first time since 1959 that Democrats and Republicans have had the same day for their primaries. All machines will carry both ballots and the voter must declare their party so that the election officer can set the machine to send up the correct ballot. This procedure is being used because their are 204 precincts in Virginia that are so small that they only have one machine. The State Electoral Board, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that there must be uniformity across the state and all machines will carry both ballots. Both parties have protested this idiotic arrangement.
Be sure you see the Democratic ballot before you start to vote.
When you come into vote you will be asked to declare your party affiliation. If you are a Democrat you will be given a blue card, if you are a Republican a white card. (I am not making this up.) In voting areas where two precincts that vote in the same building, or split precincts, yellow and pink cards will be added to the mix. I am not making this up. Please explain this to your friends so they will be prepared when they come in to vote.
There will be two sets of books, one for Republicans, one for Democrats. You will be checked in the book of your party affiliation and crossed out in the book for the opposing party. That is to prevent you from voting in one primary, coming back later in the day and voting in the other. It always possible, in a jurisdiction where the Voter Registrar was under indictment, that election officers might look the other way.
Cross posted from GOTV