RICHMOND, Va. (AP/WTVR) — The Republican Party of Virginia is still validating petitions submitted by GOP presidential candidates.
Party spokesman Garren Shipley says petitions were submitted to the State Board of Elections by Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Perry by Thursday's 5 p.m. deadline.
As of 6:15, officials said Romney and Paul had the needed signatures and had qualified for the March 6 Virginia primary.
However, officials said Perry failed to qualify because he submitted fewer than the 10,000 signatures required.
Officials have not yet said if Gingrich has fulfilled the required number of signatures.
In fact, the GOP said earlier that the validation process could continue past midnight.
The party said on Twitter that lots of volunteers showed up at GOP headquarters in Richmond to verify signatures.
Candidates in the March 6 presidential primary must have the signatures of 10,000 registered voters across the state, including at least 400 from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts.
