Early voting begins in Virginia, but not yet in Rappahannock due to lack of ballots
By James P. Gannon
Voters in Virginia and some other states began casting ballots for president in the 2008 election this week, but the process has not yet started in Rappahannock County because printed ballots aren’t yet available.
Monday marked the official start of early absentee voting in Virginia but Nancy Newlin, Rappahannock County’s Registrar of Voters, said she is still awaiting the arrival of printed ballots, so actual voting is not yet possible here. Newlin said she expects to receive the ballots by early next week.
Asked what caused the delay, Newlin said the Richmond printing company producing the ballots is overwhelmed. “I ordered them in July, but the printer is overloaded,” she said. “I am sure he is working around the clock, but you can only produce so many at a time.”
Newlin said her office is taking applications for absentee ballots used in early voting, and she already has received more than 100 such applications, far more than usual. “That’s really high for Rappahannock,” Newlin said. “We have lots of applications from students–much more than we usually get from college kids.” Many voters in the military services also are applying now, she said.
Any registered voter may apply for an absentee ballot by mail or e-mail or by appearing in person at the Registrar’s office next door to the county court house. After verification of the voter’s eligibility, the ballot will be mailed out or given to the applicant in person.
When ballots become available some time next week, a registered Rappahannock voter may go to the Registrar’s office, fill out an application, receive a ballot and immediately vote, rather than waiting till Election Day, Nov. 4. Such ballots will be sealed and counted on Election Day, Newlin said.
The campaigns of both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are encouraging supporters to vote early. Some national election experts are predicting as many as one-third of U.S. voters will cast their ballots before Election Day, up from about 20% in 2004. Thirty-four states including Virginia allow residents to vote in person before Election day, and 31 of those do not require a specific reason for voting early.
In Virginia, voters must state a reason for needing to vote early, but the state has broadened the reasons considered acceptable. Those applying for an absentee ballot are asked to check one of numerous options for justifying early voting. These include being away at college, vacation or business travel, military service, disability or illness, pregnancy, religious obligations, and working and commuting long days during normal polling-place hours on Election Day.
Newlin said her office is very “flexible” in interpreting reasons for absentee voting and does not believe she has ever turned down an application of anyone asking to vote early.
Those not registered who wish to vote on Election Day must register by October 6.
Applications for early voting are available in the Registrar’s office or on-line at www.sbe.virginia.gov, where they can be downloaded, filled out and mailed to the Registrar at PO Box 236, Washington, VA 22747.
-- James P. Gannon
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