Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Aside from bringing kindness and generosity into your community on a daily basis, there are few things more important than voting, especially in Virginia. It requires dedication to sign up for a mail-in ballot or head to the polls at least once a year, and more often twice since primary elections are also critically important. And it required dedication and research to identify all the candidates and who you feel will best represent you.
This is a big year. Presidential elections historically draw the largest turnout. There are also important local issues and races on the ballot, including ballot questions. We’ll let you know here what’s on the ballot. But first …
To vote, you must be registered to vote.
Every voter should check their voter registration status at your current address. Even if you voted recently, a process of purging some voters from the rolls means that you still need to check to be certain. You can check here.
https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation
https://fairfaxvotes.org/home/
After you are certain you are registered to vote at your current address, the next most important task is to make a plan to vote.
Early voting begins Friday, Sept. 20. Virginia is one of the best states for no excuse early voting, with a long period to cast your ballot. It’s always good to vote earlier to be sure nothing gets in your way, like illness or earthquake or hurricane or snowstorm (ok that’s really unlikely). Make an event of it; plan to meet friends and family at Fairfax Government Center in the early days of early voting, then go out for coffee or lunch. Or maybe you’d rather vote quietly at home, in which case you can vote by mail. Request a mail-in ballot today and write on your calendar the day you plan to fill out and mail in your ballot.
If you have problems or concerns while voting, stay at the polling location and call the Voter Protection Hotline (844) 4VA-VOTE (844) 482-8683
Deadline To Register To Vote In This Election
Traditional method: Online or Postmarked by Mail by Oct. 15
* Online: 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 15. Register online using the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal.
* By Mail: Postmarked on or before Oct. 15. Download a voter registration application.
* In Person Through Oct. 15: Register at the Fairfax County Office of Elections.
It’s best to be registered by Oct. 15 so that you can vote a regular ballot and not a provisional ballot.
Same Day Voter Registration Deadlines, in Person
* Oct. 16-Nov. 2: Voters may complete a same day registration at any early voting location and vote a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are counted, and your vote will count if you do this.
* On Nov. 5 Election Day: Voters may only complete a same day registration and vote a provisional ballot at the precinct in which they reside. Find your precinct.
Last Day to Request a Vote by Mail Absentee Ballot: Oct. 25 by 5 p.m.
Visit Vote by Mail for more information. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/absentee-voting-mail
Absentee ballots are mailed to voters beginning Sept. 20.
Deadline for Return of Vote by Mail Absentee Ballots:
* Nov. 5 by 7 p.m.: In person at the Office of Elections or by ballot drop box.
* Nov. 8 by noon: By mail if postmarked on or before Nov. 5 Election Day.
* Visit Early Voting for more information. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/early-voting
Early Voting: What You Need to Know
• In-person early voting will be available from Sept. 20 through Nov. 2 for the Nov. 5 General Election
• Only Fairfax County registered voters may vote at any Fairfax County early voting location.
• Voters must present an acceptable ID or may sign an ID Confirmation Statement.
• Curbside voting is available for eligible voters.
• Absentee by mail voters may vote early in person if they choose. If you received a ballot in the mail, you must bring it with you and surrender it to vote in person. If you received a ballot but do not bring it with you, you may vote a provisional ballot. Mail ballot dropboxes are available during early voting location operating hours.
• Same-day registration is available between Oct. 16 and Nov. 2 at early voting locations. Voters submitting a same-day registration will vote a provisional ballot.
• Questions? Email earlyvoting@fairfaxcounty.gov or check our FAQs.
Early Voting Locations, Dates and Times
ON THE BALLOT:
US President/Vice President (4-year term)
US Senate (6-year term)
US Representative (2-year term, 1 each in Districts 8, 10, 11)
Local Races
• Herndon Town Council (Herndon town residents only)
• Herndon Town Mayor (Herndon town residents only)
• City of Fairfax City Council
• City of Fairfax Mayor
• City of Fairfax School Board
One Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Two Proposed Fairfax County Bond issues (transportation bonds, public safety bonds)
President and Vice President
Vote for only one
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
• Kamala D. Harris, President and
Tim Walz, Vice President
REPUBLICAN PARTY
• Donald J. Trump, President and
JD Vance, Vice President
GREEN PARTY
• Jill E. Stein, President and
Rudolph T. Ware III, Vice President
LIBERTARIAN PARTY
• Chase R. Oliver, President and
Mike ter Maat, Vice President
INDEPENDENT
• Claudia De la Cruz, President and
Karina Garcia, Vice President
INDEPENDENT
• Cornel R. West, President and
Melina Abdullah, Vice President
Member United States Senate
Vote for only one
• Timothy M. Kaine- D
• Hung Cao - R
Member House of Representatives 8th District
Vote for only one
• Donald S. Beyer, Jr. - D
• Jerry W. Torres - R
• David R. Kennedy - I
• Bentley F. Hensel - I
Member House of Representatives 10th District
Vote for only one
• Suhas Subramanyam - D
• Mike W. Clancy - R
Member House of Representatives 11th District
Vote for only one
• Gerald E. "Gerry" Connolly - D
• Mike L. Van Meter - R
Proposed Constitutional Amendment
To Be Voted On at the Nov. 5, 2024, Election
ONE QUESTION
Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended so that the tax exemption that is currently available to the surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action is also available to the surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty?
EXPLANATION FOR VOTERS
Present Law
Generally, the Virginia Constitution requires that all property be taxed. It also sets out specific types of property that may be exempted from taxation. Currently, the Virginia Constitution allows the General Assembly to exempt from taxation the principal place of residence of the surviving spouse of any soldier who is determined by the U.S. Department of Defense to have been killed in action.
Proposed Amendment
The proposed amendment would expand this current tax exemption so that it is available to all surviving spouses of soldiers who are determined by the U.S. Department of Defense to have died in the line of duty, including those who have been killed in action.
A "yes" vote would allow the surviving spouse of a soldier who died in the line of duty to claim the same real property tax exemption on their principal place of residence that is currently only available to the surviving spouses of soldiers who are killed in action.
A "no" vote will not allow such additional surviving spouses to claim the real property tax exemption.
Two Fairfax County Bond Issues
TRANSPORTATION BONDS
Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds, in addition to the transportation improvements and facilities bonds previously authorized, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $180,000,000 for the purpose of financing Fairfax County’s share, under the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact, of the cost of constructing, reconstructing, improving, and acquiring transportation improvements and facilities, including capital costs of land, transit facilities, rolling stock, and equipment in the Washington metropolitan area?
VOTE YES OR NO
PUBLIC SAFETY BONDS
Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $126,000,000 to provide funds, in addition to funds from public safety facilities bonds previously authorized, to finance, including reimbursement to the County for temporary financing for, the costs of public safety facilities, including the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, renovation and equipment of civil and criminal justice facilities, police training and operational facilities and stations, fire and rescue training facilities and stations, including fire and rescue stations owned by volunteer organizations, and the acquisition of necessary land?
VOTE YES OR NO
TOWN OF HERNDON
Candidates for the office of Mayor and Town Council for the 2025-2026 term are:
HERNDON MAYOR
Vote for one
• Pradip Dhakal
• Keven LeBlanc
(Both currently serve as councilmembers. The town’s current Mayor, Sheila Olem, is not seeking reelection)
HERNDON TOWN COUNCIL
Vote for six
Candidates for the six Town Council seats for the 2025-2026 term:
Naila Alam,
• Tamim Chowdhury,
• Cesar A. del Aguila,
• Kelvin Garcia,
• Clark A. Hedrick,
• Michael T. Lloyd,
• Stevan M. Porter,
• Soma Ramesh,
• Alexis “Alex” Reyes.
(Alam, del Aguila and Hedrick serve on the current Town Council. Current Councilmember Donielle Scherff is not seeking reelection.)
See sample ballot for City of Fairfax candidates for Mayor, City Council and School Board