by the state party, qualified for matching federal funds

by the state party, qualified for matching federal funds or filed a petition with the required number of signatures.

:,Mr. LaRouch’ewas the only candidate who* didn’t qualify for matching funds. Ms. Fitz-hugq," predicted a low turnout for the primary because,( ‘ such contests traditionally attract relatively., little voter attention and because Virginia ha$y never had a presidential primary.

Though the state will be equipped to handle'* an 83-percent turnout, the secretary said she ex^' pects about 20 percent of the registered voters r to go to the polls. Ms. Fitz-hugh estimated thath 2.6 million Virginians are registered to vote. .*w

Virginians have until Feb. 6 to register to01 vote in the primary. Ms. Fitz-hugh also said turnout could be off because some fear they win1 be required to declare party affiliation and wilL stay away for that reason. 4‘t>

Virginians don’t declare party affiliation when registering to vote. But to make their prw mary selection, they will have to indicate whidy ballot — Republican or Democratic — they will be voting. .

The March 8 vote won’t be binding; that is,® no delegates’ names to the respective party con ventions will appear on the ballot.

The state Democratic Party will send 85 del-id egates to the national convention in Atlanta thijrii summer. Of that total, 75 must support candwj dates in proportion to the vote each candidate gets in the primary, but only if a candidate marnn ages at least 15 percent of the total votes cast. 1 n

Typically, the GOP’s delegates will be cho-*; sen in mass meetings. Even though the primary--' doesn’t directly commit delegates to candidates, Ms. Fitz-hugh believes Virginia has much t<yf* gain. “They’ll have to pay more attention to us,*’Jh she said of the candidates. “We’ll certainly seej>‘ more of them.” oh

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