Election ballots will have four bond issues, lots of candidates
With the election season dominated by the presidential race—and
to a lesser extent, the Senate and U.S. House races—voters might not realize
there will be other items on the Nov. 6 ballot, including four bond issues and
two constitutional amendments. You also need to know about approaching deadlines for voting.
to a lesser extent, the Senate and U.S. House races—voters might not realize
there will be other items on the Nov. 6 ballot, including four bond issues and
two constitutional amendments. You also need to know about approaching deadlines for voting.
Voting
If you haven’t registered to vote yet, or need to change
your registration to reflect your current address, the deadline is Oct. 15.
your registration to reflect your current address, the deadline is Oct. 15.
A new voter ID law requires voters to bring certain kinds of
identification to the polls. You can vote absentee in person at the Mason
District Government Center Oct. 17-Nov. 3 on weekdays 2-8 p.m. and Saturdays 9
a.m.-5 p.m.
identification to the polls. You can vote absentee in person at the Mason
District Government Center Oct. 17-Nov. 3 on weekdays 2-8 p.m. and Saturdays 9
a.m.-5 p.m.
On Election Day, Nov. 6, the polls will be open 6 a.m.-7
p.m. There is at least one polling place change in Mason District since
last year: Residents of the Masonville precinct will vote in the new Mason Crest Elementary School,
3705 Crest Drive, Annandale, rather than Westminster School on Gallows Road.
If you didn’t vote last year, you might be surprised to find
your polling place might have changed due to redistricting in 2011. The polling
place is listed on your voter registration card or you can look it up online.
your polling place might have changed due to redistricting in 2011. The polling
place is listed on your voter registration card or you can look it up online.
To vote absentee by mail, you’ll need to apply for a ballot
by Oct. 30 and must return it to the registrar’s office by 7 p.m. on Election
Day. You can pick up an absentee ballot at county government centers and
libraries or download it from the county website.
by Oct. 30 and must return it to the registrar’s office by 7 p.m. on Election
Day. You can pick up an absentee ballot at county government centers and
libraries or download it from the county website.
Here’s what’s on the ballot:
Presidential candidates
In addition to choosing among President Barack Obama and
Republican challenger Mitt Romney, the Virginia ballot will also list Constitution
Party candidate Virgil Goode, a former member of Congress; Libertarian Party
candidate Gary Johnson, a former
governor of New Mexico; and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, an environmental
health expert.
Republican challenger Mitt Romney, the Virginia ballot will also list Constitution
Party candidate Virgil Goode, a former member of Congress; Libertarian Party
candidate Gary Johnson, a former
governor of New Mexico; and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, an environmental
health expert.
U.S. Senate candidates
- George F. Allen (R) served as governor of Virginia in
1994-98, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, and was defeated in his
re-election bid in 2006 by Jim Webb. - Tim Kaine (D) was governor of Virginia in 2006-10, after
serving as mayor of Richmond and lieutenant governor under Mark Warner 2002-06.
Congressional candidates
Ballots in the 11th congressional district, which includes
most of Annandale, list these candidates for the U.S. House of
Representatives: The incumbent, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), Chris Perkins (R), Joe Galdo (Green Party), Peter Marchetti (Independent Green Party), Christopher De Carlo (Independent), and Mark Gibson (Independent).
most of Annandale, list these candidates for the U.S. House of
Representatives: The incumbent, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), Chris Perkins (R), Joe Galdo (Green Party), Peter Marchetti (Independent Green Party), Christopher De Carlo (Independent), and Mark Gibson (Independent).
Voters in the 8th district, will have an opportunity to vote
for the incumbent, Rep. James Moran, or challengers J. Patrick Murray (R),
Janet Murphy (Green Party), or Jason Howell (Independent).
for the incumbent, Rep. James Moran, or challengers J. Patrick Murray (R),
Janet Murphy (Green Party), or Jason Howell (Independent).
Most of those candidates appeared at a forum Saturday evening
at a local middle school.
at a local middle school.
Fairfax County bonds
A $55 million public safety bond referendum would provide $35 million to rebuild and expand three
outdated fire stations—two of them in Mason—and $20 million to renovate
courtrooms in the Fairfax County Courthouse.
outdated fire stations—two of them in Mason—and $20 million to renovate
courtrooms in the Fairfax County Courthouse.
The bond
includes $9 million for the Bailey’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Station (#10) at
3601 Firehouse Lane, which was badly damaged
during the 2010 blizzard, $14 million for the Jefferson Fire Station (#18), at 3101
Hodge Place, Falls Church, which is 48 years old and lacks sufficient space for
the Technical Rescue Operations Team and adequate accommodation for female
personnel, and $12 million for the Herndon Fire Station.
includes $9 million for the Bailey’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Station (#10) at
3601 Firehouse Lane, which was badly damaged
during the 2010 blizzard, $14 million for the Jefferson Fire Station (#18), at 3101
Hodge Place, Falls Church, which is 48 years old and lacks sufficient space for
the Technical Rescue Operations Team and adequate accommodation for female
personnel, and $12 million for the Herndon Fire Station.
The courthouse renovations would
improve security; accommodate people with disabilities, as required by federal
law; and install technology to allow for digital evidence presentation, video
arraignments, and remote witness testimony.
improve security; accommodate people with disabilities, as required by federal
law; and install technology to allow for digital evidence presentation, video
arraignments, and remote witness testimony.
A $75 million parks and park facilities bond, includes $63
million for the Fairfax County
Park Authority and $12 million for the Northern
Virginia Regional Park Authority.
million for the Fairfax County
Park Authority and $12 million for the Northern
Virginia Regional Park Authority.
The bond would fund several projects in the Annandale/Mason
area, including improvements to the John
C. and Margaret K. White Gardens ($500,000), a synthetic turf field at Pine
Ridge Park ($810,000), paving portions of the Cross County Trail in Wakefield
Park ($400,000), improvements at Pinecrest Golf Course, and land acquisition at
Green Spring Gardens.
area, including improvements to the John
C. and Margaret K. White Gardens ($500,000), a synthetic turf field at Pine
Ridge Park ($810,000), paving portions of the Cross County Trail in Wakefield
Park ($400,000), improvements at Pinecrest Golf Course, and land acquisition at
Green Spring Gardens.
A $30 million stormwater improvement bond would be used to
build a levee and pumping station to protect the Huntington community in
Alexandria from flooding.
build a levee and pumping station to protect the Huntington community in
Alexandria from flooding.
A $25 million public library bond includes funds to build a new regional library in Reston and renovate libraries in Burke,
Alexandria, and Tysons Corner.
Alexandria, and Tysons Corner.
There is more information on the bond referenda online.
Constitutional amendments
Ballot Question #1 would make it more difficult for the
state to take private property through eminent domain. Critics of the measure
say it would drive up the cost of redevelopment by requiring compensation to
business owners for potential lost profits and is unnecessary because current
law on eminent domain already adequately protects property owners.
state to take private property through eminent domain. Critics of the measure
say it would drive up the cost of redevelopment by requiring compensation to
business owners for potential lost profits and is unnecessary because current
law on eminent domain already adequately protects property owners.
Here is the exact wording of Ballot Question #1: It asks
whether Section 11 of the Bill of Rights of the Virginia Constitution should be
“amended (i) to require that eminent domain only be exercised where the
property taken or damaged is for public use and, except for utilities or the
elimination of a public nuisance, not where the primary use is for private
gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax
revenue, or economic development; (ii) to define what is included in just
compensation for such taking or damaging of property; and (iii) to prohibit the
taking or damaging of more private property than is necessary for the public
use.”
whether Section 11 of the Bill of Rights of the Virginia Constitution should be
“amended (i) to require that eminent domain only be exercised where the
property taken or damaged is for public use and, except for utilities or the
elimination of a public nuisance, not where the primary use is for private
gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax
revenue, or economic development; (ii) to define what is included in just
compensation for such taking or damaging of property; and (iii) to prohibit the
taking or damaging of more private property than is necessary for the public
use.”
Ballot Question #2 addresses legislative sessions. It asks
whether Section 6 of Article IV of the Constitution should be “amended to allow
the General Assembly to delay by no more than one week the fixed starting date
for the reconvened or ‘veto’ session when the General Assembly meets after a
session to consider the bills returned to it by the governors with vetoes or
amendments.”
whether Section 6 of Article IV of the Constitution should be “amended to allow
the General Assembly to delay by no more than one week the fixed starting date
for the reconvened or ‘veto’ session when the General Assembly meets after a
session to consider the bills returned to it by the governors with vetoes or
amendments.”
