voting | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published September 9, 2020 at 9:00AM

Beyer: We Must Protect the U.S. Postal Service — “I have been in touch with local postal officials, who express their commitment to ensuring the timely delivery and return of all ballots. This could be an issue in many parts of the country, however, and I will be working with my colleagues to exercise constant vigilance and ensure that elections are fair and safe. My Northern Virginia colleague, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, serves as the chair of the Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations, and with his tireless leadership the House will do all it can to fix these problems and restore operations and service at USPS.” [Gazette]

Three City Parks Scheduled for Improvements — “Projects at or near Powhatan, Hooffs Run, and Brenman Parks to occur over next two months.” [Zebra]

News

ALXnow’s Top Stories This Week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 21, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 5:27PM

Alexandria has put another summer work week to rest.

As the City Council enjoys a legislative break, the School Board conducted a virtual meeting to discuss the renaming process for T.C. Williams High School. Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr., and the board advocate a public engagement process that could result in the board voting to change the name this December, followed by a vote on a specific name next spring. A group of community activists, however, believe that the name should be taken off immediately, since ACPS acknowledged Williams was an avowed racist and segregationist.

News

Alexandria Needs Help Running the November Election

By Vernon Miles

Published August 21, 2020 at 3:30PM

The City of Alexandria is looking locals to help run the upcoming election in November.

“There are 30 precincts in the City of Alexandria, each requiring a minimum of 5 election officers,” the city said on its website. “These officers are needed to maintain a high level of service throughout Election Day… More than 200 election officers are needed to conduct each election (and as many as 500 for the Presidential Election). Alexandria enjoys an excellent reputation for conducting honest and efficient elections. The City needs your help to maintain this tradition.”

News

Alexandria Sees Record High Absentee Ballot Requests

By Vernon Miles

Published August 18, 2020 at 3:30PM | Updated August 18, 2020 at 4:04PM

A voter leaves City Hall after casting a callot (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

In 2016, Alexandria’s Office of Voter Registrations and Elections sent out 1,668 absentee ballots by mail in September. This year, there are 18,498 applicants already signed up.

“We have definitely seen a large increase in absentee by mail ballot requests,” said Angie Maniglia Turner, Alexandria’s new General Registrar. “[As of] this morning we’ve had 18,498 applications processed and they’re coming in every moment. This year is going to be very unique.”

News

How to Celebrate the Women’s Vote Centennial in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 14, 2020 at 3:15PM | Updated August 14, 2020 at 3:31PM

The list of pivotal Alexandria women is long, and starting this weekend a new local nonprofit will lead the city in honoring the 100 year anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Living Legend Pat Miller recently founded Alexandria Celebrates Women with the goal of honoring Alexandria’s women of the past, present and future.

News

Alexandria Mayor Encourages Mail-In Voting Before November Election

By Vernon Miles

Published August 7, 2020 at 2:15PM

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson warned that this November’s election could look very different from elections in the past, and encouraged residents to request mail-in ballots if possible.

“We absolutely encourage residents to vote by mail if they can or take advantage of some of the in-person absentee voting that will become available,” Wilson said in a town hall meeting last night. “This is the first election in Virginia history where no excuse is required for absentee balloting. You can say you would like a mail ballot and you can get one.”

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 7, 2020 at 9:00AM

Alexandrian Killed in D.C. Shooting — “Metropolitan Police identified Montrell Lucas, 18, of Alexandria, as one of two victims who were killed Tuesday night. Police responded to the 1600 block of Maryland Avenue Northeast around 8:46 p.m. for a report of a shooting and found three victims.” [Patch]

D.C. Company Sends Out Incomplete Ballot Applications — “Judith, a city of Alexandria resident, received the letter, which includes a partially completed application for a mail-in voting ballot and a pre-addressed and prepaid envelope to send the application to her registrar’s office. But her ballot application would have gone to the wrong address.” [NBC4]

News

Beyer Says Office Phone Besieged by Angry Constituents

By James Cullum

Published July 16, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated July 16, 2020 at 4:37PM

Alexandria’s Congressman Don Beyer is still working from home, and he’s not happy. He says is office is constantly inundated with calls from constituents angry about a host of issues.

“Did you watch that farce of a speech in the Rose Garden?” Beyer asked ALXnow over the phone. “It was pretty outrageous. You know, it depends on the day, but generally the phone rings off the hook from constituents. Ninety percent of our calls are from people upset with what’s happening with the White House, and since there is a new outrage every day – it’s literally day by day.”

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2020 at 9:00AM

GoFundMe for Abysinnia Raises Money After Face Mask Incident— “From the two waves of giving, the campaign has raised more than $15,500 of a $20,000 goal.” [Alexandria Living]

Fitness Centers Reopen Cautiously — “Now that the state is in phase three of reopening, fitness studios are allowed to open at 75% capacity, although there must still be 10 feet of distance between each client, which limits smaller studios.” [Alex Times]

News

Alexandria Backs Biden, But Remains Divided Over Second Choice

By Vernon Miles

Published March 4, 2020 at 3:20PM

Former Vice President Joe Biden had a strong showing on Super Tuesday in Virginia and in Alexandria — where he won every precinct and 54% of the vote — but Alexandria’s second choice was not as clear cut and broke down along geographic lines.

Both senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders were neck-and-neck with 18% of the vote, with Bloomberg trailing in fourth with 10% of the city’s vote, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

News

Joe Biden Soundly Wins Alexandria, Takes Virginia in Super Tuesday Presidential Primary

By James Cullum

Published March 4, 2020 at 9:45AM | Updated March 4, 2020 at 12:07PM

Alexandria Democrats celebrate former Vice President Joe Biden winning Virginia in the Super Tuesday primary at Java Grill in Old Town, Alexandria. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria voters resoundingly chose former Vice President Joe Biden as their Democratic nominee for president on Super Tuesday.

Biden took Virginia with 54.22% of the 1.3 million votes cast across the state, and also won half of the city’s votes, which nearly doubled in participation since the last presidential primary in 2016. Virginia is one of 14 states that participated in Tuesday’s primary contest.