Absentee Voting on the Rise in Contested Fairfax Elections

Early voting, which started on Oct. 13, has increased this year across Virginia and particularly in one Fairfax County race.

In every one of the Tysons area congressional districts, the Virginia Public Access Project reports that absentee ballots cast have increased significantly compared to ballots cast in 2017. Most of that increase is marginal in the 8th and 11th Districts, but in the 10th District absentee ballots from Fairfax County have increased 125 percent.

In just under two weeks, on Election Day, all voters locally and across the state will have a say in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race between incumbent Tim Kaine (D), Corey Stewart (R) and Matt Waters (L).

In Tysons Reporter’s coverage area, northern parts of McLean will get to participate in the hotly contested 10th Congressional District race between incumbent Barbara Comstock (R) and Jennifer Wexton (D).

In Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, which includes parts of McLean and Falls Church, incumbent Don Beyer (D) is running against Thomas Oh (R).

For voters in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, which covers Vienna and Tysons, incumbent Gerald Connolly (D) is running against Jeff Dove Jr. (R) and Stevan Porter (L).

Also on the ballot are two proposed constitutional amendments regarding tax exemptions. The first asks whether a county, city or town should be allowed to offer partial tax exemption or properties that are subject to recurring flooding, provided resiliency improvements have been made on the property.

The second asks whether the spouses of a veteran with a complete disability should be eligible to maintain their property tax exemption if they move to another state.

Finally, a bond referendum asks if Fairfax County should be authorized to raise $182,000,000 to renovate or build new public safety buildings.

The polling locations in Fairfax are grouped by their Supervisor District, as outlined below.

• Dranesville District: McLean
• Providence District: Tysons, Merrifield, parts of Falls Church
• Hunter Mill District: Vienna, Wolf Trap

(10/26) Absentee Voting Update: This morning we'll surpass 40,000 absentee ballots cast. Still have 20,000+ mail-in ballots that need to be returned (hurry!) Two more Saturdays for in-person voting 10/27 and 11/3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all 10 locations. https://t.co/T95E9h5Bf6 pic.twitter.com/k3KOZiMi6V

— Fairfax County Votes (@fairfaxvotes) October 26, 2018

👉🗳 About 20,000 mail-in absentee ballots haven't been returned yet, so get yours in the mail ASAP – mail delivery can take several days. If ballots arrive AFTER 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 they won't be counted. https://t.co/SRRmMqbZHj

— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) October 26, 2018

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