All candidates for Salem’s city council would have to meet the same ballot access requirements and parties no longer would hold nominating primaries for those seats under legislation that was unanimously passed in the Virginia Senate today.

Senate Bill 939 would change Salem’s city charter to require all candidates to adhere to the same petition requirements and deadlines that now apply only independent candidates. Under current law party nominees aren’t required to submit petitions.

Michael Sluss of The Roanoke Times has more on this story.