Virginia early voting starts Sept. 18: What's on the ballot
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Early voting starts Friday in Virginia for an election that could reshape the state constitution on abortion, marriage equality and voting rights — and help determine control of the House.
The big picture: On Nov. 3, voters will decide three constitutional amendments and pick members of Congress while Richmond and Chesterfield voters weigh new taxes for school construction.
- In one part of the city, Richmonders will also be choose a School Board member.
- Residents in Chesterfield's Dale district also have a Board of Supervisors election, but LeQuan Hylton is running unopposed after winning the Democratic primary last month.
Key dates: Early voting runs through Oct. 31 and the voter registration deadline is Oct. 23.
Here's what to know before you vote:
📜 The constitutional amendments
Reproductive rights: Would protect abortion and reproductive health care decisions, including birth control and miscarriage management.
Marriage equality: Would constitutionally protect gay and interracial marriage.
Voting rights: Would automatically restore voting rights after someone convicted of a felony completes their prison sentence.
🗳️ Who's on the ballot?
Every Richmond-area voter will see races for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.
U.S. Senate: Democratic Sen. Mark Warner is seeking his fourth and final term against Republican Bert Mizusawa.
U.S. House: Most Richmond-area voters are in the 1st and 4th Congressional Districts, with Goochland and parts of Hanover in the 5th.
- 1st District: Incumbent Republican Rep. Rob Wittman faces Democrat and Henrico's Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor.
- 4th District: Democratic incumbent Rep. Jennifer McClellan faces Republican Robert Murray Jr. and independent Joan Bell.
- 5th District: Republican incumbent John McGuire is up against attorney and former congressman Tom Perriello and independent Cooke Harvey.
💰 1% sales hike for school construction
Richmond and Chesterfield voters — along those with 45 other localities — will decide whether to give their governments the authority to add up to a 1% sales tax dedicated to public school construction and major renovations.
Between the lines: Groceries and essential personal hygiene items wouldn't be subject to the additional tax.
In Richmond, officials say it could generate about $47 million a year.
- Mayor Avula has pledged to seek a 1% cut in the meals tax and proposed lowering the real estate tax rate by 1 cent if voters approve the referendum.
In Chesterfield, the tax is projected to generate up to $70 million annually for school reconstruction.
- If approved, supervisors have signaled plans to cut the real estate tax rate by 2 cents and the personal property tax rate by 10 cents.
🏫 Richmond's School Board race
Richmond's 6th District, which runs from downtown Richmond and Jackson Ward to Northside and Manchester, has a special election for the School Board seat vacated by Shonda Harris-Muhammed last year.
- Anne Holton, the former Virginia education secretary who was appointed to temporarily fill the seat in February, is running to keep it.
- She's facing Jackie McDonnough, a longtime Richmond educator and former VCU professor.
What we're watching: The race comes as RPS faces major questions over aging and mold-plagued school buildings, budget cuts and how to pay for hundreds of millions of dollars in construction needs.