Opinion: Editorial: Check Voter Registration in Arlington

Confirm your voter registration before Oct. 15; vote early if you qualify.

If you plan to vote in Virginia, you should hop online now to check that you are still registered to vote at your current address. Never mind that the last time you went to the polls, you were able to vote. You should check again. Monday, Oct. 15 is the deadline. Go to elections.virginia.gov or call your local Elections Office. The Arlington Elections office is 703-228-3456, TTY: 703-228-4611

If for any reason you didn’t vote on the last Election Day or the one before that, and you might have missed a possible postcard asking you to confirm your residence, it’s important to check that you are registered to vote. A Supreme Court decision specifically allows states to move forward with purging voters under some relatively common circumstances. Whenever names are purged from a list, the likelihood of mistakes is present. Voting is so important, no matter what your inclinations, this year. Check your registration now.

To determine whether eligible and registered to vote in this election, visit the Virginia Department of Elections website at elections.virginia.gov/ or call the Arlington Elections office is 703-228-3456, TTY: 703-228-4611

To vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, 6 a.m.-7 p.m. (General Election)

  • Register/update address by: Monday, Oct. 15. Or ...

  • Request absentee ballot by mail by: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30. Or ...

  • Vote early, in-person absentee, by appearing in person by 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3

Really, if you qualify for any of about 20 reasons to vote absentee, there is no reason to wait until Election Day Nov. 6 to vote.

Early voting is already well underway.

One of the 20 reasons is if you might be working and commuting to and from home for 11 or more hours between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day. Check the Virginia Department of Elections list to see if you are eligible: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/absentee-voting/index.htmll

There are two ways to vote absentee, in-person and by mail. To do either, you should first check your voter registration status to make sure it is up-to-date. If you vote absentee in-person you will fill out the application when you arrive at the in-person absentee location.

Courthouse Plaza, Absentee Voting in Person

2100 Clarendon Blvd.

Sept. 21-Oct. 25: Suite 320, third floor

Oct. 26-Nov. 2: Cherry/Dogwood Conference Rooms, Lobby Level

Hours: through-Nov. 2

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., except:

Tuesday-Thursday, Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturdays, Oct 20 and 27 and Nov. 3

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ends Saturday at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3

Virginia Voter ID

You must show identification to vote. Acceptable forms of valid identification: Virginia driver’s license, Virginia DMV-issued photo ID, United States passport, Employer-issued photo ID, Student photo ID issued by a school, college, or university located in Virginia, Other U.S. or Virginia government-issued photo ID, Tribal enrollment or other tribal photo ID, or Virginia Voter Photo ID card

Need a Photo ID?

If you don’t have an ID, go to your voter registration office to get a free Voter Photo ID, even on Election Day. You will be required to complete an photo ID application, have your photo taken and to sign a digital signature pad.

Forgot your photo ID on Election Day?

If you get to your polling place without acceptable photo ID, you can vote a provisional ballot. You will be given instructions on what to do so your vote can count. A voter will have until noon on the Friday following the election to deliver a copy of the identification to the local electoral board or to appear in person to apply for a Virginia Voter Photo ID Card.

Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018

All polls are open 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Election Day.

To vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, 6 a.m.-7 p.m. (General Election)

  • Register/update address by: Monday, Oct. 15.

  • Request absentee ballot by mail by: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30.

  • Or Vote early, in-person absentee, by appearing in person by 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3

For more information on voting in Arlington:

Arlington Voter Registration and Elections

2100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 320

Arlington, VA 22201

Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays

Phone: 703-228-3456

TTY: 703-228-4611

FAX (main): 703-228-3659

Fax (absentee applications): 703-228-3705

Vote.arlingtonva.us

On the Ballot

Arlington County, Nov. 6, 2018

UNITED STATES SENATE

Corey A. Stewart (R)

Timothy M. Kaine (D)

Matt J. Waters (L)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

District 8

Thomas S. Oh (R)

Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D)

Member, County Board, vote for one

Matthew D. “Matt” de Ferranti (D)

John E. Vihstadt (I), incumbent

Member, School Board, vote for one

Barbara J. Kanninen (I), incumbent

Audrey R. Clement (I)

Four Arlington County Bond Referendum Questions:

  • Metro and Transportation: Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $74,570,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and other transit, pedestrian, road or transportation projects?

  • Local Parks and Recreation: Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $29,330,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for local parks & recreation, and land acquisition for parks and open space?

  • Community Infrastructure: Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $37,015,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for County facilities, joint County – Schools projects, information technology, and other County infrastructure?

  • Arlington County Public Schools: Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $103,000,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the costs of various capital projects for Arlington Public Schools?

Two Virginia Constitutional Amendment Ballot Questions

State Ballot Question One

Question: Should a county, city, or town be authorized to provide a partial tax exemption for real property that is subject to recurrent flooding, if flooding resiliency improvements have been made on the property?

State Ballot Question Two

Question: Shall the real property tax exemption for a primary residence that is currently provided to the surviving spouses of veterans who had a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability be amended to allow the surviving spouse to move to a different primary residence and still claim the exemption?