Direct Election of U.S. Senators

On 19 February 1914 legislation was introduced in the House of Delegates calling for the direct election of United States senators by the voters of Virginia. Though the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution had been ratified by thirty-six of the forty-eight states by 9 April 1913, Virginia had not yet voted for or against this amendment.

Before the passage of this legislation, U.S. senators were chosen jointly by both houses of a state legislature. Direct election of senators was intensely discussed during the writing of the U.S. Constitution, as proponents of both sides voiced their convictions. Though some called for direct election by the people, the majority of convention delegates concluded that having one house chosen by the people and one by the legislature would provide an effective balance of power. However, by the mid-nineteenth century, many Americans began to call for reform. Growing ever fearful of corporate and monied interests, many believed the system of selecting U.S. senators was in need of change. These reformers argued that elections in the legislature were often burdened by lengthy delays, corruption, and a lack of consensus.

In Virginia, the changes in state government and elections brought about by the Constitution of 1902 led to the creation of a primary system that allowed voters to submit nominations for the legislature to consider for appointment. This progressive reform was a tremendous stepping-stone, as the Seventeenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution served to bring equal rights and protections to voters throughout the Union.