by Robert Mason Jr. and Don Richeson –
Although the statewide General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2, in-person early voting will begin at local voter registration offices this Friday, Sept. 17. Statewide, elections will be conducted for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates.
- Candidates on the ballot for governor include Democrat Terry R. McAuliffe of Alexandria, Republican Glenn A. Youngkin of Merrifield, and Liberation candidate Princess L. Blanding of Shacklefords.
- Candidates for lieutenant governor include Democrat Hala S. Ayala of Woodbridge and Republican Winsome E. Sears of Winchester.
- Candidates for attorney general include incumbent Democrat Mark R. Herring of Alexandria and Republican Jason S. Miyares of Virginia Beach.
- Candidates for House of Delegates in District 98 include Democrat E. B. “Ella” Webster of Gloucester and incumbent Republican M. Keith Hodges of Urbanna.
The Middlesex County Department of Registration and Elections office in Saluda, will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays for early in-person voting.
Voters should bring identification and masks are encouraged and appreciated. Social distancing will be practiced.
Voters also may now vote by mail, with no excuse required. To request a ballot by mail, Middlesex voters may visit www.elections.virginia.gov or mail ballots can be picked up at the elections office or a voter can call 804-758-4420 to have an application mailed or emailed. The deadline to request a ballot to be mailed is Friday, Oct. 22.
Local seats
In Middlesex County, supervisor and school board seats in the Saluda and Hartfield districts are up for election. Candidates on the ballot for board of supervisors include Don R. Harris and Greg R. Chambers in the Saluda District; and incumbent John B. Koontz Jr. in the Hartfield District. A write-in candidate, Katherine “Katie” Carnes, has notified the Middlesex County Electoral Board that she will be running against Koontz and has filed all proper paperwork.
Candidates on the ballot for school board include Dana D. Burnett, who is running unopposed in the Saluda District; and Jenny I. McMurtie and Pamela L. Burrell Pierce, who are facing off against each other in the Hartfield District.
Monument referendum
There is also what is labeled as an “advisory referendum” on the ballot. It asks voters to answer yes or no to the question: “Should the Middlesex County Board of Supervisors remove the Civil War Monument from the Historic Courthouse grounds located at 865 General Puller Highway, Saluda Virginia 23149?”
Other important dates related to the 2021 election season are:
- Oct. 12 — Final day to register to vote or change voter registration information. Voter registration applications must be postmarked on or before the deadline. You can register to vote online at elections.virginia.gov or fill out a paper application found at the elections office, post offices, social services offices, the Town of Urbanna office, armed forces recruitment offices, public libraries, Virginia Department of Elections offices and Department of Motor Vehicles offices.
- Oct. 22 — Last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail. Applications must be received in the elections office by 4:30 p.m.
- Nov. 2 — Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2, 2021. Ballots returned in person must be received in the elections office by 7 p.m.
Middlesex County does not have a 24-hour-a-day accessible drop box, but does have a drop box accessible during business hours at the elections office.
For information, call 804-758-4420.
