Lynchburg Republican Firehouse Primary - City Council Nominations

I didn’t adopt these rules or realities, nor would I have if it was my choice to make. They are what the Lynchburg GOP Party Insiders & Chair adopted.

I am offering this to you as a resource for simplifying the nomination contest and truths of the situation.

As you read this, make every effort to go VOTE May 30!

Info:
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Location: Brookville Ruritan Club, 311 Beverly Hills Cir., Lynchburg, VA 24502
How to Vote: Walk in, vote, and leave. Photo Identification Required.
 

Who Can Vote?
Any registered voter in the City of Lynchburg. At the time of the Firehouse Primary, voters may be requested to express their intent to support all Republican nominees for public office in the November Election, either orally or in writing.
 

What Does The Ballot Look Like/How Does It Work?
As of May 19, the Lynchburg GOP Insiders & Chair voted to change from Ranked Choice Voting to a "plurality" system. 

Here's all you need to know with these changes:

 

A. A plurality system is "whichever three candidates gets the most votes, wins"... Even though your ballot will have instructions for Ranked Choice.
 

B. Voters will select their top three candidates. Ballots should clearly & distinctly mark up to three seperate names.

 

C. If you already sent in an Absentee Ballot and followed the instructions for Ranked Choice, your top three votes will be counted under the new plurality system.

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Why The Change From "Ranked Choice" To A "Plurality"?
Lynchburg GOP Insiders reversed course after ongoing disputes about how the originally announced Ranked-Choice voting system should be implemented. Now in my opinion... Whether you supported ranked choice or opposed it, changing the rules 11 days before an election after absentee ballots are already in voters’ hands is unacceptable. The issue is whether voters can trust a process where the rules change after voting has already begun. If party insiders can rewrite the process whenever it becomes politically inconvenient, voters have every right to question the legitimacy of the outcome.

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It's clear the best course of action is to make the May 30 Firehouse Primary simply "too big to rig" for the preferred candidates of the Party Insiders. 
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Other Key Points To Know:
- Voting is only physically held at the address above, within the hours listed above.

- You must bring a Photo-ID, government or employer issued.

- If you are unable to attend, you will not be able to vote.

- (Critical to Know) Regardless of what you are told, the Lynchburg GOP cannot legally turn anyone away (if you agree to make a statement of intent). Again, you may be requested to provide a statement of intent; if you refuse, you may not be able to vote. However, if you go to vote, the request is made, and you oblige, you must be permitted to vote. 

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I cannot attend. Now what?
As stated above, the Lynchburg GOP leadership adopted a process that is rather limiting and won’t permit an absentee ballot for you to cast. If this is you (you cannot vote in-person on May 30), it may seem like you’re stuck. Therefore, it is my recommendation to solicit at least two-to-three like-minded friends (who are registered to vote in the city and comfortable providing a statement of intent) to go cast a ballot on May 30.  
 

Go Vote!
This nomination has profound implications for our city elections later this year, as well as the rest of the Commonwealth. The best way to ensure Lynchburg GOP party-insiders can't succeed in rigging this process is to make it "too big to rig."

Please make every effort to attend & vote.

 

For any further questions, email me at hello@chrisfaraldi.com.
 

Regards,

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Chris Faraldi (R)
Lynchburg City Council, Ward IV

 

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Sources:
Official Call (Rules) Fire House Primary/Party Canvass - May 30, 2026