Voter registration deadline is Oct. 15

Early voting begins Thursday at the Mason Government Center.

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 15, if you want to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Register to vote online here.  For more information, visit the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

Absentee in-person voting begins Oct. 17 at Fairfax County satellite locations, including the Mason District Government Center. You can vote absentee in-person 3-7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays through Nov. 2.

For Annandale area residents, the race to watch is Mason District supervisor, where Republican Gary Aiken is going up against long-time incumbent Penny Gross.

There will be two opportunities to hear from them and other candidates this week:

• The League of Women Voters is hosting a Mason District Candidate Forum Thursday, Oct. 17, 7-9 p.m., at the Woodrow Wilson Library in Bailey’s Crossroads. 
• There will also be a Mason District Candidate Forum Oct. 19, 8-10 p.m., at the Dar Al-Hijah Islamic Center, 3159 Row St., Falls Church. 

You can also learn about Gross and Aiken’s views in the Greater Greater Washington blog, which published their responses to a questionnaire that focuses on transportation and affordable housing.

In addition to Mason supervisor, ballots for Annandale/Mason District residents will include these candidates (*incumbent):

• Chair of the Board of Supervisors – Jeff McKay (D) vs. Joseph Galdo (R)
• Mason District representative on the school board – Ricardy Anderson (endorsed by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee) vs. Tom Pafford.
• At large member of the school board – Vote for three: Karen Keys-Gamarra*, Abrar Omeish, and Rachna Heizer-Sizemore are endorsed by the Democrats. Cheryl Buford, Priscilla DeStefano, and Vinson X. Palathingal are endorsed by the Republicans.

[Note: School board elections are non-partisan so the ballot won’t indicate a party affiliation for school board candidates.]

• Commonwealth’s Attorney – Steve Descano (D) vs. Jonathan Fahey (running as an independent, endorsed by the Republicans)
• Sheriff – Stacey Kincaid* (D) vs. Christopher DeCarlo (R)
• Soil and Water Conservation District Director – Vote for three: Christopher E. Koerner, Monica A. Billger, and Gerald O. Peters* are endorsed by the Democrats. C.J. Dudik, Christopher A. Bowen, and Edward F. McGovern are endorsed by the Republicans. Jonah E. Thomas is also on the ballot.

Depending where you live, you might see some of these candidates on the ballot:

• Senate District 35 – Sen. Dick Saslaw* (D) is unopposed.
• Senate District 37 – Sen. Dave Marsden* (D) is unopposed. 
• House District 38 – Del. Kaye Kory* (D) is unopposed. 
• House District 39 – Vivian Watts* (D) vs. Nick Bell (R)
• House District 49 – Del. Alfonso Lopez* (D) vs. Terry Modglin (I)