Be prepared! Watch for your voter ID cards!

September 19, 2012 12:10 am

In cooperation with the State Board of Elections, the Stafford County Electoral Board and I would like to encourage everyone to ensure they are "election ready." The election, Nov. 6, is likely to be the largest public event in the region's history and the time you spend at the polls will be directly proportional to two things: our preparations for your arrival and the accuracy of your voter registration record.

The governor has directed that voter registration cards be sent to every active voter in the commonwealth. Area voters will receive this new card in the next month. That card (or the new version of the Virginia driver's license) is the quickest way to navigate the precinct on Election Day.

Please keep in mind that there are three basic requirements to vote in Virginia. A voter must be registered and arrive in the proper precinct with an approved ID. Your voter registration card satisfies all three requirements! The last day to register to vote in November's election is Oct. 15.

Our preparations are under way and continue right up until the big day. We've recruited and trained more than 300 of your fellow citizens in the electoral process and we'll deploy leading-edge equipment--including electronic poll books with scanners that read your voter card and driver's license (that's why we want you to bring them with you).

The schools and libraries have agreed to cancel all activities that will tie up their parking lots, specifically to ease voter congestion.

Voters should keep an eye out for their new voter card and bring it with them to the polls. If you've changed your name or address and haven't notified the registrar, you should do so immediately.

You can also visit state or county election websites to check your record's accuracy, to see where you vote, view the entire list of acceptable IDs, or to get additional Election Day information: sbe.vir ginia.gov or stafford countyva.gov/registrar.

Finally, many voters may be eligible to vote before Nov. 6. Virginia allows nearly 20 reasons to vote during the absentee period that begins Sept. 21 and runs through Nov. 3. Absentee eligibility includes commuters, vacationers, military members, students, and their spouses, caregivers, and first responders--to name but a few. The absentee precinct is just inside the main entrance of Stafford County's George L. Gordon Jr. Government Center at 1300 Courthouse Rd. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on the last two Saturdays before the election.

Greg S. Riddlemoser

Stafford

Greg S. Riddlemoser is general registrar of Stafford County.