Virginians go to the polls Tuesday to elect a host of state and local officials and determine whether Republicans will gain full control of the General Assembly.
Polls are open statewide from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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In Fairfax alone, nearly 100 candidates are vying for 53 state and local positions, from school board member to state senator. Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William counties also have a number of state and local offices on the ballot. Alexandria will elect a clerk of court in addition to voting in state races. Falls Church will vote on whether to change its municipal election date from May to November.
| Election Coverage: |
| For live election results Tuesday night, visit washingtonexaminer.com/VaElections. |
| Maryland elections |
| Several Maryland communities are holding council and mayoral elections Tuesday. |
| Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Rockville, Gaithersburg and Takoma Park. |
Control of the state Senate is at stake in the elections. Republicans, who already control all three top statewide offices and the House of Delegates, need to pick up just two seats to take control of the Senate.
In Fairfax’s local races, the school board is set to see major turnover, with just six members of the 12-person board running for re-election. In elections for the Fairfax Board of Supervisors, incumbent Sharon Bulova faces three challengers for her position as chairman of the board. For positions on the board itself, just three candidates are running unopposed.
County voters will also choose a sheriff and Northern Virginia’s new soil and water directors and vote on a referendum seeking $252 million bond issue for schools.
Fairfax elections officials say they’ve seen their share of challenges preparing for this year’s elections. Thanks to the 2010 Census, several county precincts have been redrawn and about a third of county residents will have to vote in a new location. Information on precinct changes and a list of polling places can be found at Virginia’s State Board of Elections website.
The county will also be understaffed at the polls, having hired just 1,800 of the 2,100 poll workers it needs. Officials hope the expected low voter turnout will prevent poll workers from being overwhelmed.
“Even if everything were perfect, there would be tremendous voter confusion [Tuesday],” said Registrar Cameron Quinn. “People don’t like to change, even when you jump up and down and scream and tell them to change it. A number of voters will show up at the wrong precinct.”
Quinn advised voters to double-check their polling place before getting in line and to speak to a precinct captain if they suspect they’ve arrived at the wrong polling place. Voters with questions can also call the Fairfax elections office at 703-222-0776 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb/.
