Voters will pick their congressman today
Special election scheduled for today for 1st District congressional seat
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Date published: 12/11/2007
FROM STAFF REPORTS
There is a slight chance of showers today as voters in the 1st District decide on a new member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The voters will elect a replacement for Rep. Jo Ann Davis, who died in October from breast cancer.
The polls open at 6 a.m., and close at 7 p.m.
The weather forecast is for a slight chance of showers before noon with a high near 63 during the day.
There are three candidates on the ballot: Democrat Phil Forgit of Williamsburg, an Iraq War veteran and Navy reservist; Republican Del. Rob Wittman of Westmoreland County, who just won a second term to the Virginia House of Delegates; and independent Lucky Narain of Yorktown, who lists his occupation as Army reservist and grant writer.
In most localities, voters will use paper ballots because many localities' machines are still on lockdown after the Nov. 6 general election. The law requires them to remain locked for a certain period after an election.
Each locality will have at least one voting machine on hand for disabled voters, under the federal Help America Vote Act.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia said it is reminding registrars in the district to make sure that poll workers let voters know they can vote even if they aren't carrying identification.
In these instances, voters merely sign an Affirmation of Identify form. The voter still must be legally registered to vote.
ACLU Executive Director Kent Willis said that Virginia law "requires an ID if you have one, but it does not penalize if you don't."
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THE 1ST DISTRICT
The 1st District includes all or parts of the following localities: Caroline, Essex, Fauquier, Gloucester, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Prince William, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Westmoreland and York counties, and the cities of Fredericksburg, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg.
ON THE WEB
If you're not sure which congressional district you're in, go to this state Board of Elections Web site and click on your locality; the PDF document will list your congressional district by precinct:
sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Voter_Information/Where_Do_I_Vote/Index.html
YOUR REGISTRAR
Fredericksburg area registrars offices can be reached at:
Caroline: 540/633-9083
Fredericksburg: 540/372-1030
King George: 540/775-9186
Fauquier: 540/347-6972
Spotsylvania: 540/507-7380
Stafford, 540/658-4000
Westmoreland: 804/493-8898
WHEN TO VOTE
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Many localities will use paper ballots for this election.
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Date published: 12/11/2007
Most recent reader comments:
dmine45
(posted by
GaryShorts
, Dec. 11, 2007 8:32 am)  
The ACLU is correct, if you forget your ID you can still vote by signing an Affirmation of Identity (Title 24.2). You also aren't required to be a white male with land whose grandfather also voted.
Legal ID should be required
(posted by
dmine45
, Dec. 11, 2007 5:09 am)  
The ACLU has it wrong (again)! Legal ID should be required for you to vote. Helps prevent voter fraud. This is a no brainer. Oh, that's right, the ACLU doesn't have that - never mind!
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