Many voting precincts will change
Due to the Virginia redistricting plan approved by the state Supreme Court, Fairfax County needs to change nearly 50 election precincts.
The redistricting plan affects congressional, House of Delegates, and state Senate districts.
The Board of Supervisors authorized a public hearing, to take place March 8, to consider a proposal to adjust certain election precinct boundaries, create new precincts, and establish polling places for the new precincts.
The changes are needed to comply with new laws that limit precinct size to under 5,000 people and prohibit “split precincts.” In a split precinct, not all voters would get the same ballot with the same set of candidates.
Related story: Annandale/Mason residents affected by redistricting
The proposed changes, drafted by the Fairfax County Office of Elections, affect these precincts in Mason District:
(1) Precinct 501 Bailey’s #1 and 531 Bailey’s #2, previously divided by a political boundary, now share common attributes.
The proposed ordinance calls for precincts 501 (2,311 voters) and 531 (1,467 voters) to merge and be renamed Precinct 501 Bailey’s. The polling place will remain at the Bailey’s Community Center.
(2) 508 Masonville and 511 Ravenwood were split due to redistricting. The southern part of 508 (2,269 voters) would remain and continue to vote at Mason Crest Elementary School.
The eastern part of 511 Ravenwood (1,854 voters) would continue to vote at Justice High School.
The western part of 511 Ravenwood (930 voters) and the northern part of 508 Masonville (876 voters) would be absorbed into 512 Sleepy Hollow (1,591 voters). The new Sleepy Hollow Precinct would have 3,397 voters. The polling place would be Beech Tree Elementary School.
(3) 516 Weyanoke #1 and 532 Weyanoke #2, previously divided by a political boundary, now share common attributes. 516 (1,508 voters) and 532 (2,152 voters) would be merged and renamed 516 Weyanoke (3,660 voters). The polling place would be Holmes Middle School.
(4) 517 Willston was split due to redistricting. 703 Fort Buffalo was reassigned to the Mason District when Fairfax County approved its redistricting plan.
The proposal calls for the main part of 517 Willston (2,178 voters) to be maintained and to continue to vote at the Willston Instructional Center.
A small part of the northwestern section of 517 Willston with no registered voters would be absorbed into 535 Fort Buffalo (2,369 voters). Fort Buffalo would vote at the James Lee Community Center.
(5) 528 Ridgelea was split due to redistricting. 522 Camelot #1 and 534 Camelot #2, previously divided by a political boundary, now share common attributes.
The western part of 528 Ridgelea (632 voters) would be maintained as a precinct that will continue to vote at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
The eastern part of 528 Ridgelea (758 voters), 522 Camelot #1 (357 voters), and 534 Camelot #2 (1,158 voters) would be merged and renamed precinct 522 Camelot (2,273 voters). The polling place would be Camelot Elementary School.
(6) 530 Holmes #2 was split due to redistricting. A small portion of 511 Ravenwood will be moved to 512 Sleepy Hollow.
The eastern part of 530 Holmes #2 (110 voters) and 506 Holmes #1 (748 voters) would be renamed 506 Holmes (858 voters). The polling place would be Woodrow Wilson Library.
(7) 717 Woodburn was split during county-level redistricting, leaving the section to the east of the Capital Beltway in Mason District.
The eastern part of 717 Woodburn (1,429 voters) located in Mason District would be renamed 536 Woodburn (1,429 voters) and would continue to vote at Woodburn Elementary School.
Proposed changes affecting Annandale residents in the Braddock District include the following:
(1) 113 Canterbury was split due to redistricting. The western part of Canterbury 113 (348 voters) would be absorbed into 109 Little Run (1,340 voters) and be maintained as 109 Little Run (1,688 voters). The polling place would be Little Run Elementary School.
(2) 117 Woodson was split due to redistricting. 117 Woodson #1 (2,159 voters) and 136 Woodson #2 (1,071 voters) would be co-located and would vote at Woodson High School.
State law requires all split precincts to be eliminated before the June 21 primary election.
The Virginia Department of Elections notified all jurisdictions on Feb. 1 that split precincts must be eliminated with the changes entered into the state’s computerized voter registration and election information system by March 21.
I hope that Fairfax County goes the extra mile and then some to inform voters of precinct and polling place changes so that there is no confusion at voting time.
Usually new voting cards are sent out.
In 2020, it was mail-in voting (“caused by the pandemic” which is a euphemism for “we’re forcing you to do this and blaming the pandemic”). In 2021, voters were turned away for not wearing masks, which was illegal and unconstitutional and I heard little discussion about about, though it was widely reported at the time, and it happened to my husband. Now we’re told about this redistricting. I wonder what other surprises await us.