|
|
RICHMOND, VA – As Election Day
nears, General Registrars and Electoral Boards around the Commonwealth are
making final preparations. The State Board of Elections and General
Registrars have worked closely to address training, security and the overall
needs for Election Day. In July, the Virginia State Board of Elections
held its annual training with representatives from all 134 localities.
Educational program topics ranged from absentee voting to compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act. However, preparations did not begin or end
there.
Since 2004, nearly 300
additional polling places have been created to help alleviate potentially
long lines that could occur in large voting precincts. In an
effort to be certain each polling place had enough Officers of Election to
assist voters, the ‘Ensure the Vote’ campaign was launched. With the help of
local communities and partnering with Virginia businesses, the goal of
10,000 new Officers of Election was achieved. In total, nearly 30,000
individuals are assigned to precincts statewide as officers or
alternates. Leading up to Election Day more than 550 volunteers will
have assisted answering questions in the call center at the State Board of
Elections in Richmond. In the week leading up to October 6, the
last day to register to vote, the State Board of Elections responded to
over 44,000 phone calls and sbe.virginia.gov received over 2 million hits.
The State Board of Elections is
working closely with other state agencies to ensure a smooth election.
Working with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the
Department of Education, the State Board of Elections and General Registrars
are addressing ways to ease traffic congestion and prepare the schools that
will be serving as polling places. Voter fraud and security
issues at the polls on Election Day are continually being addressed with the
Virginia State Police, local law enforcement, registrars and electoral boards.
Plans to restore power in case
of potential power outages have been created and a list of power providers
has been compiled to ensure polling places are given top priority. Other
agencies working to help the election community prepare
include: Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Virginia Enterprise
Application Program (VEAP), Department of General Services
(DGS), Virginia State Police (VSP), Virginia Information Technologies
Agency (VITA), Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), Department
of Human Resource Management (DHRM), Commonwealth Preparedness, Office
of the Governor, Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Secretary of
the Commonwealth, Office of the Secretary of Administration and local law
enforcement.
“We want everything to run as
smoothly as possible for Virginians on Election Day,” said Nancy Rodrigues,
Secretary of the State Board of Elections. “We have taken some
innovative steps in order to prepare, such as launching the ‘Ensure the Vote’
campaign to recruit Officers of Election. But, we expect a record
turnout which is why we strongly recommend voters go to the polls during the
non-peak hours or consider voting by absentee ballot, if they qualify.”
Voters should keep in mind that on
Election Day polls are traditionally busier from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.,
during the lunch time hours of 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and after work from
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Voters who qualify may want
to consider applying for an absentee ballot. Applications are available
online at the State Board of Elections web site. To vote by mail the
application is due by 5:00 p.m. on October 28. The last day to vote absentee
in person at your local registrar is November 1. All absentee ballots
must be submitted to the local registrar’s office or assigned precinct by the
time the polls close at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 4. All absentee
ballots properly cast will be counted.
For more information go to
the State Board of Elections web site at www.sbe.virginia.gov.
# # #
|
