McLean Voter Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote

MCLEAN, VA — The Nov. 3 election is quickly approaching in McLean, and voters have already begun submitting absentee ballots through early voting locations, mail and drop boxes. This year, McLean voters will decide on races for president, U.S. House and U.S. Senate as well as state constitutional amendments and Fairfax County bond questions.

The voter registration deadline is coming up on Tuesday, Oct. 13. That deadline also applies to voters to update their address. Fairfax County voters may register at vote.elections.virginia.gov/Registration/Eligibility or in person weekdays at the Fairfax County Office of Elections (12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax, VA) during open hours. More information about registering is provided at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/voter-registration.

Early/Absentee Voting

Absentee voting by mail and in person began on Sept. 18. Due to a new state law that took effect on July 1, all registered Virginia voters can have no-excuse absentee voting.

Friday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. is the deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail. Voters can submit an application online through the Virginia Department of Elections or download a paper copy of the absentee ballot application. Completed paper applications can be scanned and emailed to absenteeballot@fairfaxcounty.gov, mailed to the Office of Elections at Box 10161, Fairfax, VA 22038, or faxed to the Office of Elections at 703-324-3725. Applications must be received by the Office of Elections at 5 p.m. on Oct. 23.

For absentee ballots returned by mail, they must be postmarked by Nov. 3 or delivered in person by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Alternatives to returning an absentee ballot by mail are taking it to any in-person voting site during voting hours, the 24/7 secure drop box outside the County Government Center, or any polling place on Nov. 3 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drop boxes will be available at other in-person early voting locations during voting hours and all polling places on Nov. 3 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For early voting in person, voters only need to show up at an early voting location with an acceptable form of ID. From Sept. 18 through Oct. 31, in-person early voting is available at the Fairfax County Government Center (Conference Rooms 2/3), and satellite locations will begin opening on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Early voting hours at the Fairfax County Government Center are:

• Sept. 18 to Oct. 13
  • Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed on Oct. 12 for Columbus Day)
  • Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Oct. 14 to 31
  • Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here are the McLean area early voting locations and hours:

McLean Governmental Center: 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA

• Oct. 14 to 31
  • Monday to Friday: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tysons-Pimmit Library: 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA

• Oct. 14 to 31
  • Monday to Friday: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Great Falls Library: 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA

• Oct. 17, 24, 31
  • Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To see all early voting locations and hours, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/early-voting.

Preparing for Election Day

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. For those voting in person on Nov. 3, you can check your polling place at vote.elections.virginia.gov. Fairfax County also provides maps of precincts by supervisor district.

An acceptable form of identification is required to vote in person, but it no longer has to be a photo ID. Examples of accepted IDs include a Virginia driver's license or DMV-issued photo ID, U.S. passport, and copy of a utility bill, paycheck or other government document showing the voter's address.

What's on the Ballot

Sample ballots are now available for Fairfax County voters. Depending on what part of McLean you live in, you may be in the 10th or 8th congressional district. Below are the candidates on the ballot and proposed Virginia constitutional amendments.

President and Vice President

• Joseph R. Biden, President and Kamala D. Harris, Vice President - Democrat
• Donald J. Trump, President and Michael R. Pence, Vice President - Republican
• Jo Jorgensen, President and Jeremy F. "Spike" Cohen, Vice President - Libertarian

Member, United States Senate

• Mark R. Warner - Democrat
• Daniel M. Gade - Republican

Member House of Representatives, 8th District

• Donald S. Beyer Jr. - Democrat
• Jeff A. Jordan - Republican

Member House of Representatives, 10th District

• Jennifer T. Wexton - Democrat
• Aliscia N. Andrews - Republican

Constitutional Amendment #1

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to establish a redistricting commission, consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth, that is responsible for drawing the congressional and state legislative districts that will be subsequently voted on, but not changed by, the General Assembly and enacted without the Governor's involvement and to give the responsibility of drawing districts to the Supreme Court of Virginia if the redistricting commission fails to draw districts or the General Assembly fails to enact districts by certain deadlines?

Constitutional Amendment #2

Should an automobile or pickup truck that is owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent service connected, permanent, and total disability be free from state and local taxation?

Public library bonds

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds in addition to the public library facilities bonds previously authorized, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $90,000,000 for the purpose of providing funds, with any other available funds, to finance the cost to provide public library facilities, including the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, and equipment of existing and additional library facilities and the acquisition of necessary land?

Transportation bonds

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds, in addition to the transportation improvements and facilities bonds previously authorized, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $160,000,000 for the purpose of financing Fairfax County's share, under the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact, of the cost of constructing, reconstructing, improving, and acquiring transportation improvements and facilities, including capital costs of land, transit facilities, rolling stock, and equipment in the Washington metropolitan area?

Community health and human services bonds

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds, in addition to the human services facilities bonds previously authorized, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $79,000,000 for the purpose of providing funds, with any other available funds, to finance the cost to provide community health and human services facilities, including the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, and equipment of existing and additional community health and human services facilities and the acquisition of necessary land?

Parks and parks facilities bonds

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue bonds, in addition to the parks and park facilities bonds previously authorized, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $112,000,000 for the following purposes: (i) $100,000,000 principal amount to finance the Fairfax County Park Authority's cost to acquire, construct, reconstruct, develop, and equip additional parks and park facilities, to preserve open-space land, and to develop and improve existing parks and park facilities; and (ii) $12,000,000 principal amount to finance Fairfax County's contribution to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority to acquire, construct, reconstruct, develop, and equip parks and park facilities?

Important dates for the Nov. 3 general election

• Friday, Sept. 18 — Early voting begins. In-person early voting is available at the Office of Elections, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA.
• Tuesday, Oct. 13 — Last day to register to vote or update registration for the Nov. 3 election. The deadline is 5 p.m. in person and 11:59 p.m. online.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Satellite early voting locations open across Fairfax County.
• Friday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. — Application deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed.
• Saturday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. — Deadline to vote early in person.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. — Deadline to return completed ballot to registrar. If returning your ballot by-mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the registrar by noon on the third day after the election (Nov. 6).
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 — Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

For more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections.