Mailing Address: PO Box 2786 Charlottesville, VA 22902 Telephone: 434 227-3264 Email: [email protected] October 2019 Newsletter Website: lwv-cva.org “The Voter” LWV CVA Sunday Seminar “Election Integrity” Sunday, October 20, 2019 2 to 4 pm at CitySpace on the Downtown Mall Doors open at 2 pm for “Meet and Greet” Program begins at 2:30 pm Our democratic system depends on voters’ faith in the integrity of election processes and election outcomes. In order to ensure free and fair election results, transparency, security, and accountability are needed. From the U.S. Constitution (voting age, accessibility, individual state laws and authority over the election process) to the publishing of voting outcomes for federal, state, and local elections, citizens deserve to know that the U.S. election infrastructure reflects accuracy of the vote. The League of Women Voters of the Charlottesville Area will hold a Sunday Seminar on “Election Integrity” at CitySpace on October 20, 2019, from 2 – 4 pm. We believe that the foundation of a fair election system should strictly follow election laws and the nonpartisan administration of election rules and procedure for electing public officials for federal, state, or local governments. But in the last few years, we have become aware of attempts by outside governments, such as China, Russia, and Iran, to hack our election systems and undermine the credibility of our election processes. Although U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that actual votes were not altered by these attempts in 2016 and 2018, it was found that foreign actors continue to use social media to mislead and spread false information to attempt to influence voters. This ambiguity of information, especially in the cyber field, has complicated the decision making of the individual voter. Continued on next page Page | 1 – October 2019 LWV Sunday Seminar: October 20 Continued from previous page The League of Women Voters of the Charlottesville Area continues to place a high priority on disseminating information and providing citizen education on the issues and candidates. At the present time, the state and national LWV have studies underway that examine risks and vulnerabilities in our election system; work is being coordinated with others, especially the many people who participate in making our voting systems accurate, to mitigate or resolve what is identified as vulnerabilities. The objectives of the LWV CVA Sunday Seminar on October 20 are: To provide an overview of existing election system vulnerabilities that, if exploited, could compromise the integrity of an election. To outline key national and state initiatives underway to address these vulnerabilities. To inform individual citizens on steps they can take to help ensure their votes are counted. We are delighted to have as our main speaker, Christopher E. “Chris” Piper, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Elections. Jake Washburn, registrar for Albemarle County will be on hand to answer audience questions related to local issues. Join us on Sunday, October 20, 2019, at CitySpace, Charlottesville Downtown Mall (parking in the adjacent Market Street parking garage). Doors open at 2 pm; program begins promptly at 2:30 pm. All League seminars are open to the public. We are hoping that in addition to area registrars, faculty/students at PVCC, University of Virginia schools and centers, and other organizations will join in this information and discussion on election integrity. The seminar is being coordinated by LWV-CVA members Shirley Payne, Carol Cutler and Lisa Hilgartner. For further information about this seminar, please contact Pat Cochran, LWV CVA president: [email protected] Page | 2 – October 2019 LWV CVA 2019 Voter Service Update Election Day is November 5! Are You Registered to Vote? Or have you recently changed your address or need to update an existing registration? The deadline to register is Tuesday, October 15. Voters may check their registration status and polling locations at the Virginia Department of Elections website: elections.virginia.gov. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is Tuesday, October 29—your request must be received by your Registrar by 5 pm; the deadline to request an absentee ballot in-person is Saturday, November 2. Voting locations can be checked on the state elections website or by calling (434) 972-4173. Registrar office phone numbers are: City of Charlottesville – 434 970 3250 Albemarle County – 434 972 4173 Fluvanna County – 434 589 3593 Greene County – 434 985 5213 Louisa County – 540-967-3427 Nelson County – 434 263 4068 Forum for Albemarle County candidates for Commonwealth’s Attorney: Robert Tracci (Inc) and Jim Hingeley Hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Charlottesvile Area Date: Thursday, October 17; Time: 7 – 9 pm Lane Auditorium, Albemarle County Office Bldg., McIntire Rd Forum for Albemarle County candidates for Board of Supervisors, White Hall District Ann Mallek (D) (Inc) and Steve Harvey (R) Date: Monday, October 21; Time: 7 – 8:15 pm Crozet Library, 2020 Library Avenue, Crozet See the following pages for “What’s On Your Ballot?” And click on the links that take you to your city or county registrar’s website with sample ballot information. Page | 3 – October 2019 What’s On Your Ballot? General and Special Elections – Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Polls open 6 am to 7 pm What’s On Your Ballot this election? All voters registered in Virginia will be electing state Senators and Delegates to the Virginia General Assembly with terms beginning January, 2020. The League of Women Voters of the Charlottesville Area lists voting information below for City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Fluvanna County, Greene County, Nelson County, and Louisa County. Go to Virginia Department of Elections website elections.virginia.gov to find your Virginia Senate and House of Delegates districts. [Note: D = Democrat; R = Republican; Ind = Independent; Inc = Incumbent] Virginia Senate 17th Senate District: Amy Laufer (D); Bryce Reeves (R)(Inc) 22nd Senate District: Dakota S. Claytor (D); Mark J. Peake (R) (Inc) 24th Senate District: Emmett Hanger (R) (Inc); Annette Hyde (D) 25th Senate District: Creigh Deeds (D) (Inc); Elliott M. Harding (Ind) Virginia House of Delegates 20th House District: John Avoli (R); Jennifer Lewis (D) 25th House District: Janice Allen (Ind); Jennifer Kitchen (D); Christopher A. Runion (R) 56th House District: John J. McGuire III (R)(Inc); Juanita Jo Matkins (D) 57th House District: Sally Hudson (D) 58th House District: Elizabeth A. Alcorn (D); Robert B. Bell (R) (Inc) 59th House District: Matt Fariss (R)(Inc); Tim Hickey (D) 65th House District: Michael P. “Mike” Asip (D); R. Lee Ware, Jr. (R) (Inc) What’s On Your Ballot? City of Charlottesville – 57th House District; 25th Senate District : For a sample ballot go to: https://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/voter-registration-and- elections City Council – Three Seats Open (vote for not more than three) - Sena A. Magill (D), Michael K. Payne (D), J. Lloyd Snook, III (D), John Edward Hall (Ind), Paul Edward Long (Ind), Bellamy W. Brown (Ind) Clerk of the Court – Llezelle A. Dugger School Board Members (vote for not more than four) – James Edward Bryant, Sherry P. Kraft, Lashundra L. Bryson Morsberger, Chris W. Meyer, Jennifer L. McKeever Soil and Water Conservation Director, Thomas Jefferson District – Joseph W. Thompson Page | 4 – October 2019 What’s On Your Ballot? Albemarle County : You must know the precinct where you are registered to determine what House and Senate districts you are in. Look yourself up on elections.virginia.gov. And then go to: https://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=registrar&relpage=2937 to view your sample ballot. On all Albemarle County ballots: Commonwealth’s Attorney (vote for one) – Robert N. Tracci (Inc); Jim M. Hingeley Sheriff (vote for one) – Chan R. Bryant; Ronnie R. Roberts At-Large School Board Member (vote for one) – J. S. “Jonno” Alcaro (Inc); Anne Elizabeth Oliver Soil and Water Conservation Director (vote for two) – Thomas Jefferson District – Lonnie M. Murray, (Inc), Steven G. Meeks (Inc) Albemarle County Board of Supervisors: Scottsville, Rivanna, and White Hall Districts White Hall: (vote for one) – Steve Harvey II (R); Ann Huckle Mallek (D) (Inc) Rivanna: (vote for one) - Bea LaPisto Kirtley Scottsville: (vote for one) – Michael J. Hallahan II (R); Donna Paula Price (D) Albemarle County School Board: Scottsville, Rivanna, and White Hall Districts White Hall: (vote for one) – David Dean Oberg (Inc) Rivanna: (vote for one) - Judy N. Le; Juliana Ko Arsali Scottsville: (vote for one) – Ellen Moore Osbourne Forum for Albemarle County candidates for Commonwealth’s Attorney: Robert Tracci (Inc) and Jim Hingeley Hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Charlottesvile Area Date: Thursday, October 17; Time: 7 – 9 pm Lane Auditorium, Albemarle County Office Bldg., McIntire Rd Forum for Albemarle County candidates for Board of Supervisors, White Hall District Ann Mallek (D) (Inc) and Steve Harvey (R) Date: Monday, October 21; Time: 7 – 8:15 pm Crozet Library, 2020 Library Avenue, Crozet Page | 5 – October 2019 What’s On Your Ballot? Fluvanna County: You must know the precinct where you are registered to determine what House and Senate districts you are in. There are 6 sample ballots depending on the precinct. Go to: https://www.fluvannacounty.org/registrar/page/sample-ballot 22nd Senate District: Dakota S. Claytor (D); Mark J. Peake (R)(Inc) 25th Senate District: R. Creigh Deeds (D) (Inc); Elliott M. Harding (Ind) 58th House of Delegates: Robert B. Bell (R) (Inc); Elizabeth A. Alcorn (D) 65th House of Delegates: R. Lee Ware, Jr. (R) – Michael P. “Mike” Asip (D) On All Fluvanna ballots: Sheriff: (vote for one) Eric B. Hess Commonwealth’s Attorney: (vote for one) – Jeffrey W. Haislip Commissioner of Revenue: (vote for one) – A. M. “Mel” Sheridan, Jr. Treasurer: (vote for one) - Ben L.