Early voting got off to a muted start today (Thursday) at the Arlington County government headquarters in Courthouse.
“We had a line of five voters when we opened at 8 a.m.,” Director of Elections Gretchen Reinemeyer told ARLnow. “We’ve had 72 voters as of 11 a.m. Flow is slow but steady. The first day of voting last year we processed around 400 voters. We might be slightly under that today.”
Through Nov. 4, registered voters in Arlington can cast their ballots at the county’s election offices for Arlington County Board, School Board and Virginia’s 8th Congressional district, as well as six local bond referenda totaling $510 million.
One seat on the Arlington County Board is up for grabs, with incumbent Matt de Ferranti (D) and independents Adam Theo and Audrey Clement vying for the spot.
One seat on the Arlington School Board is open once member Barbara Kanninen steps down. Bethany Sutton, who has the endorsement of the Arlington County Democratic Committee, and Vell Rives, her independent challenger, are competing for the position.
Arlington’s representative to U.S. Congress, Rep. Don Beyer, is running again for re-election. His challengers are Republican Karina Lipsman and independent Teddy Fikre.
The bonds, if approved, would fund some of the next 10 years’ worth of capital projects for the county and Arlington Public Schools. If needed, the Arlington County Board can reallocate approved bond funds to other projects within the same bucket, such as transportation or parks.
Though interest rates have been rising, the county says it typically gets lower rates, relatively speaking, thanks to its high credit rating.
“Arlington currently holds AAA general obligation bond ratings from the three major bond rating agencies,” the county website says. “These strong ratings allow the County to borrow at very low interest rates, resulting in lower costs to Arlington taxpayers.”
The planned bonds are as follows.
Metro & Transportation ($52.63 million)
- Paying Arlington County’s share of Metro’s capital improvement program: $42.6 million
- Paving local streets and roads, $7.2 million
- Conducting maintenance on local vehicle and pedestrian bridges, $1.5 million
- Improving street lighting, $1.1 million
- Replacing intelligent transportation system devices, $200,000
- Addressing missing links in curbs and gutters, $100,000
Parks and Recreation ($22.46 million)
- Parks maintenance capital and master planning projects, $10.8 million
- Additional funding for the completed renovations at Jennie Dean Park, $4.4 million
- Initial planning and designs for the Arlington Boathouse, $2.9 million
- Arlington’s Natural Resiliency program, which conserves natural resources makes upgrades at parks to prevent destructive flooding, $2 million
- Funding for the Emerging Uses program, which responds to “emerging recreational activities and casual use spaces,” $2 million
- Maintenance of synthetic turf fields, $300,000
Community Infrastructure ($53.3 million)
- Courthouse and Arlington County Police Department building upgrades, $13.1 million
- Facilities design and construction, $12.7 million
- Courthouse renovations and infrastructure, $12 million
- Fire station replacements and additions, $7.4 million
- Neighborhood Conservation projects, $5 million
- Facilities maintenance capital, $3.1 million
Arlington Public Schools ($165 million)
- Career Center expansion project, $135.97 million
- Improvements to kitchens and secure entrances, $12.24 million
- Major infrastructure projects, $16.8 million
Stormwater ($39.76 million)
Capacity Improvements
- Spout Run Watershed, $13.26 million
- Langston Blvd and Sycamore Street culverts, $6.75 million
- Torreyson Run Watershed, $5.95 million
- Other capacity improvement projects, $8 million
Water Quality Improvements
- Gulf Branch Stream, $2.75 million
- Sparrow Pond Watershed, $1.275 million
- Other water quality improvements, $1.75 million
Utilities ($177.36 million)
- Meeting more stringent environmental regulations at the Water Pollution Control Plant, and increasing capacity there to meet Arlington’s growing population and development, $159.5 million
- Improving the Washington Aqueduct system, $15 million
- Improving gravity transmission mains, $2.9 million
The deadline to register to vote this year is Oct. 18. Voters can check their registration status online through the State Dept. of Elections.
Those planning to vote on Election Day may have a change in their polling location. Arlington County is sending out mailers with their district and polling place information for the General Election.
With polls open 45 days before Election Day (Nov. 8), Virginia has one of the earliest starts for early in-person voting. People looking to cast their ballots early need to bring a valid form of ID.
Times and locations for early voting are below.
Courthouse Plaza (2100 Clarendon Blvd, Ste 320)
Sept. 23-Nov. 4
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Oct. 25-27 & Nov. 1-3
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 29 & Saturday, Nov. 5
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sunday, Oct. 30
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Madison Community Center (3829 N. Stafford Street)
Oct. 25-27 & Nov. 1-3
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 2-7 p.m.Sunday, Oct. 30
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 29 & Saturday, Nov. 5
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th Street S.)
Oct. 25-27 & Nov. 1-3
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 2-7 p.m.Sunday, Oct. 30
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 29 & Saturday, Nov. 5
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.