Early Voting For Democratic Primary Starts In Arlington

ARLINGTON, VA — Early in-person voting in Arlington County for the June 8 Democratic Primary gets underway on Friday, April 23 and runs though Saturday, June 5. Absentee ballots will also be sent out on April 23 to everyone whose applications have been received by then.

Voters will be choosing which Democratic Party candidates who will be on the ballot for the Nov. 2 election in several statewide races, including attorney general, lieutenant governor, and governor. Arlington voters will also vote to fill an empty seat on the Arlington County Board.

The Republican Party in Virginia will be choosing its candidates during a May 8 convention.

The Arlington County Democratic Committee will be conducting a virtual School Board Caucus to choose whether Mary Kadera or Miranda Turner will be the party's candidate on the Nov. 2 ballot. Voters may visit the committee's website between 12 a.m. on May 17 and 11:59 p.m. on May 23 to cast their vote.

The Arlington Dems will also be providing in-person support and wi-fi access for those who wish to participate in the caucus on Wednesday, May 19, from 5-8 p.m., and Saturday, May 22, 1-5 p.m. at the following locations:

• 6216 23rd St. N (near Tuckahoe Elementary School)
• 1412 N. Highland St. (Metro accessible via Clarendon Station)
• 2811 S. 13th Road (near Walter Reed Community Center)

Any registered Arlington County voter can vote early at any of the following in-person voting centers:

• Courthouse Plaza (2100 Clarendon Blvd.) - Monday-Friday, April 23-June 4, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, May 29 and June 5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday, June 1 and Thursday, June 3, 2-7 p.m.
• Madison Community Center (3829 N Stafford St.) - Saturday, May 29 and June 5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday, June 1 and Thursday, June 3, 2-7 p.m.
• Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th St. S) - Saturday, May 29 and June 5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday, June 1 and Thursday, June 3, 2-7 p.m.

Arlington voters have until Friday, May 28 to request a mail-in ballot for the June primary. Applications received after April 23 and before the deadline will be sent out as they are received.

Voters will need to return their mail-in ballots in-person by 7 p.m., on June 8. In order to be counted, ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by June 8 and received by 12 p.m., on June 11.

All in-person voters and those dropping off ballots are required to follow CDC COVID-19 guidance by wearing a mask or face covering and practicing safe social distancing.

For the 2020 election, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam authorized the use of 24-hour drop boxes where voters could return their completed ballots. In February, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation to make 24-hour drop boxes permanent for voters in Virginia. The new law will go into effect on July 1.

As of April 15, Northam has not authorized drop boxes for the June 8 primary. If the governor decides to do so for the primary, Arlington County plans to open drop boxes at nine locations for voters to return their completed ballots.

Incumbent Del. R.C. Sullivan Jr. (D-48th), who represents the northeastern part of Arlington along the Potomac River, does not have a Democratic challenger and will not be on the primary ballot.

Incumbent Del. Patrick Hope (D-47th), who represents the central and northeastern part of the county, is currently the only Democratic candidate running in the 47th District, according to Arlington Elections.

On March 31, the State Board of Elections denied a filing extension for Hope's Democratic challenger, Matt Rogers, to get on the primary ballot, according Blue Virginia.

Rogers told ARLNow that he was contesting the board's decision, claiming that he had mailed in all of necessary paperwork in June 2020.

As of April 15, Hope does not have an official challenger, and so the primary ballot in the 47th District does not currently include that race.

Here are all the candidates who will be on the Democratic Party ballot for the June 8 primary in Arlington County:

Governor

• Lee Carter
• Justin Fairfax
• Jennifer Carroll Foy
• Terry McAuliffe
• Jenn McClellan

Lieutenant Governor

• Hala Ayala
• Elizabeth Guzman
• Mark Levine
• Andria McClellan
• Sean Perryman
• S. Rasoul
• Xavier Warren

Attorney General

• Mark Herring (Incumbent)
• Jerrauld Jones

House of Delegates - 45th District

• Mark Levine (Incumbent)
• Elizabeth Bennett-Parker

House of Delegates -49th District

• Alfonzo Lopez
• Karishma Mehta

Arlington County Board

• Chanda Choun
• Takis Karantonis