While the Presidential election will take top billing, in Arlington four important bond questions plus one County Board seat and two School Board seats are on the ballot. Every seat in the U.S. Congress is on the ballot, meaning the 8th district in Arlington.
Arlington voters will be asked to vote yes or no on four bond questions, details below: $58 million in transportation bonds, $19 million in park bonds, close to $100 million for county “infrastructure,” and $138 million for schools bonds. More information at https://budget.arlingtonva.us/bond-referenda/
Absentee Voting in Person in Arlington
Voting begins Sept. 23, and with record turnout possible, voting early if you qualify is a good choice.
There are 19 valid reasons to vote absentee in Virginia, including 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. http://elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/absentee-voting/index.html
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 (see locations below).
Absentee-in Person Voting
Friday, Sept. 23 through Sat. Nov. 5.
Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Lobby Level
Mon-Fri, Sept. 23-Oct. 21, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturdays, Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mon-Thu, Oct. 24-Nov. 3 8 a.m.-7 p,m,
Fri, Oct. 28: 8 a.m.-5 p,m,
Fri, Nov. 4: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 16th St. S
Madison Community Center, 3829 N Stafford St.
Saturdays, Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mondays-Thursdays, Oct. 24-Nov. 3: 1-7 p.m.
Fridays, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4: 1-5 p.m
Work as an Election Officer
If you are a registered voter in Virginia and available all day on Election Day (from 5 a.m. until approximately 9 p.m. or later), you can apply to serve Arlington County as an Officer of Election.
Election officers are paid for the day.
For more information, and to complete an application, visit the page on election officers.
Proposed Arlington County Bond Referenda Metro and Transportation
QUESTION: Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $58,785,000 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?
This proposal would fund a variety of transportation, road, pedestrian enhancement and transit projects across the county. The largest components of this proposal are $30 million for Arlington County’s share of WMATA/Metro’s capital improvement program, and $24 million to fund a portion of the costs for paving local streets and roadways. Proceeds of this proposal would also fund bridge renovation, street lights, transportation systems and traffic signals, as well as the WALKArlington, BikeArlington, Safe Routes to Schools, and Curb and Gutter Missing Links programs. The County Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.
Local Parks and Recreation
QUESTION: Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $19,310,000 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?
The proposed Local Parks and Recreation program would fund parks improvements and enhancements, as well as $3 million for the Land Acquisition and Open Space program for strategic park acquisitions and land acquisition for parks and open space. This proposal would also fund the Trail Modernization program, design and planning at Jennie Dean Park and construction at Tyrol Hills Park, and maintenance capital improvements such as playground, courts and other parks infrastructure improvements. The County Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.
Community Infrastructure
QUESTION: Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $98,850,000 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?
This proposal will fund a variety of county infrastructure projects.
The largest component of this proposal is $46.46 million for the Lubber Run Community Center project.
Also included is $12 million of funding for Neighborhood Conservation projects, as well as funding for the Nauck Town Square, planning and design of the Fire Station 8 replacement, renovations and improvements to government facilities in the Court House Complex, renovation of the Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center for additional gymnastics, and a county childcare facility.
The Neighborhood Conservation Program provides funding for a variety of neighborhood-identified capital improvement projects including street improvements (sidewalk, curb and gutter, drainage, paving), traffic management and pedestrian enhancements, park improvements, street lighting, recreational facilities, landscaping, and beautification.
It also includes funding of a joint county and schools parking deck and other improvements at the Thomas Jefferson middle school site due to the construction of a new elementary school, critical systems infrastructure upgrades to 24×7 hour facilities; and facilities maintenance capital improvements, including design and construction of projects including but not limited to roofs, electrical and heating / cooling systems and other facilities infrastructure. The County Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.
Arlington Public Schools
QUESTION: Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $138,830,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the costs of various capital projects for Arlington Public Schools?
This proposal will make funds available for the Arlington Public Schools’ capital improvement program. The proposed bonds will fund the following projects:
the new middle school at the Stratford site ($26,030,000)
the new school at the Wilson site ($78,400,000)
addition and renovation at the Career Center/Arlington Tech ($12,000,000)
planning for secondary seats at location(s) to be determined ($10,000,000), and
infrastructure capital projects such as HVAC, roofing, etc. ($12,400,000)
The School Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.
Virginia Voter ID
Virginia has a stringent voter identification requirement, plan to bring photo identification with you to vote, whether that is absentee or on Election Day.
Among accepted ID: valid Virginia Driver’s License or Identification Card; valid Virginia DMV issued Veteran’s ID card; valid U.S. Passport; other government-issued photo identification cards issued by the U.S. Government, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth; valid college or university student photo identification card from an institution of higher education located in Virginia; valid student ID issued by a public school or private school in Virginia displaying a photo; employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the ordinary course of the employer’s business.
Any registered voter who does not have one of the required forms of identification can apply for a free Virginia Voter Photo Identification from any general registrar’s office in the Commonwealth. Voters applying for the Virginia Voter Photo ID complete the Virginia Voter Photo Identification Card Application, have their picture taken, and sign the digital signature pad. Once the application is processed, the card will be mailed directly to the voter.
A voter who does not bring an acceptable photo ID to the polls will be offered a provisional ballot.
Provisional Ballot Process for Voters Who Arrive Without Identification
If you arrive at your polling place on Election Day without an acceptable form of photo identification, don’t panic or give up. You will be given the opportunity to vote a provisional ballot. After completing the provisional ballot, the individual voting will be given written instructions from the election officials on how to submit a copy of his/her identification so that his/her vote can be counted.
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. Voters may submit a copy of their ID via fax, email, in-person submission, or through USPS or commercial delivery service. Note that the copy of the ID must be delivered to the electoral board by noon on Friday, or the provisional ballot cannot be counted.
Also by noon on Friday following the election, the voter may appear in-person in the office of the general registrar, in the locality in which the provisional ballot was cast, and apply for a Virginia Voter Photo ID Card. At the completion of the application process, the voter may request a Temporary Identification Document. This document may be provided to the electoral board to suffice the identification requirement.
Constitutional Amendments
Two proposed Virginia Constitutional Amendments will also be on the ballot:
Ballot Question 1: Should Article I of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to prohibit any agreement or combination between an employer and a labor union or labor organization whereby (i) nonmembers of the union or organization are denied the right to work for the employer, (ii) membership to the union or organization is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer, or (iii) the union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any such enterprise?
The proposed amendment places the provisions of Virginia’s right to work law into the Constitution of Virginia. While Virginia law may be amended by any future General Assembly, a constitutional prohibition can only be changed by a future constitutional amendment approved by the voters.
Ballot Question 2: Shall the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to provide an option to the localities to exempt from taxation the real property of the surviving spouse of any law-enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel who was killed in the line of duty, where the surviving spouse occupies the real property as his or her principal place of residence and has not remarried?
Upcoming Deadlines
On Election Day Polls are open from 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.
To determine whether you are eligible and registered to vote in this election, visit the Virginia Department of Elections website at http://elections.virginia.gov/ or call Fairfax Elections office at 703-222-0776.
Sept. 23: In-Person Absentee Voting Begins http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/absentee.htm
Oct. 17: Voter Registration Deadline - In-Person: 5 p.m., Online www.vote.virginia.gov 11:59 p.m.
Nov. 1: Last Day to Apply for an Absentee Ballot by Mail, Fax, Email or Online: 5 p.m.
Nov. 5: Final Day for In-Person Absentee Voting
Nov. 8: Absentee Ballot Return Deadline: 7 p.m.
CONTACT:
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
On The Ballot in Arlington:
Nov. 8, 2016 General and Special Elections - on the ballot are:
President and Vice President
U.S. House of Representatives, 8th District
Arlington County Board
Arlington School Board (two seats)
Two Proposed State Constitutional Amendments
Four Proposed County Bond Questions
President and Vice President of the United States
Donald Trump/Mike Pence, R
Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine, D
Independent and third party candidates have until Aug. 26 to qualify to be on the ballot for President.
U. S. House of Representatives, 8th District
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D) (incumbent)
Charles A. Hernick (R)
Julio Gracia (I)
County Board
Libby T. Garvey (D) (incumbent)
Audrey R. Clement (I)
School Board (two seats)
Nancy Van Doren (incumbent)
Tannia Talento