I wanted to give you a quick update on our initiative to inform our deployed military personnel about the upcoming elections because there has been a lot of activity since my email on June 30th.

Governor McDonnell responded positively to the letter that Speaker Howell and I sent to him recommending several initiatives to ensure our deployed servicemen and women have the opportunity to vote by absentee ballot this year. Please click here to see the Governor’s letter. The Governor not only implemented most of our recommendations, he also penned a letter to each of the Commonwealth’s general registrars and electoral board members reminding them of the importance of meeting the deadlines and requested them to develop backup plans to meet the 45-day absentee ballot deadline.

I have served in the General Assembly for over 20 years, and this is the most concentrated effort I have seen focused on ensuring our deployed servicemen and women are able to participate in the election process. Several agencies and systems of the Government, to include the State Board of Elections, the National Guard, the Department of Veterans Services, and the General Assembly’s Legislative Information System have come together to spread the word. The State Board of Elections updated their website, and the Legislative Information System is being updated to reflect the new redistricting boundaries for the House and Senate districts. The press has also been very cooperative with widespread publicity in area newspapers. The positive feedback we received indicates many of you forwarded our last email to your families and friends who have or know deployed military personnel. In fact, American Legion Post 284, Colonial Heights, forwarded our email to all their members. The State Board of Elections issued a press release on June 30th that provides the latest information, links to all the applicable web sites, and a list of districts where primary elections will be held. To view the press release, please click here.

I want to thank you for helping us get this information out. Our deployed men and women will benefit from your actions and help us make Virginia the most veteran and service-member friendly state in the nation. The action taken for the primary election will help ensure a better absentee ballot system for this November’s general election. Once again you have helped take care of our own.

Share/Bookmark