Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Changes to eminent domain and veto session scheduling pass by wide margins.
Virginia residents voted to pass two amendments to the Virginia Constitution when they went out to the polls Tuesday. About 75 percent of voters, more than 2.3 million people, voted "yes" to amending the state's eminent domain policies. The measure will prohibit local governments from using eminent domain for economic development and job creation. The measure was a bit less popular in localities such as Fairfax County, where 62 percent of voters decided to pass the amendment. Question 2, which will allow the General Assembly to postpone its veto session in the event of scheduling conflicts of religious holidays, was much more popular. About 82 percent of voters, or 2.6 million people, said yes to the amendment. Update (12:05 a.m. Nov. 7, …
In 2008, Barack Obama was the first Democrat to take Virginia since 1964. In 2012, the contest between the president and Republican hopeful is still too close to call.
President Barack Obama took Virginia in 2008, marking the first time the Commonwealth has gone blue since 1964. But it's too early to tell which way voters will go on Tuesday, or whether the changing demographics of Virginia and voter enthusiasm will have an effect on which candidate takes Virginia's 13 electoral votes. Virginia is one of just a few swing states in this year's presidential election. “The challenge for the Obama campaign is to try to rekindle the magic,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at Mary Washington University. “You had great excitement among African Americans, and young people especially, four years ago. The indication so far is that there’s some enthusiasm, but not comparable to four years …
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Crowds brave chilly night, long lines at Jiffy Lube Live for Obama's swing-state campaign stop just days before Tuesday's election.
A huge crowd braved long lines — some waiting as long as five hours — and a cold Saturday night to hear President Barack Obama make his case for reelection at a grassroots rally at Bristow’s Jiffy Lube Live amphitheater. The campaign stop also featured former President Bill Clinton and Virginia-native Dave Matthews. In his late-night address to the crowd, Obama cast the election as a choice between two different visions of America. “The people who need a champion are the Americans whose letters I read late at night; the men and women I meet on the campaign trail every day,” Obama said. “It’s about the kids dreaming of becoming scientists or doctors, engineers or entrepreneurs, diplomats or even a president. They need a champion because the…
The duo appeared with Dave Matthews in Bristow Saturday.
President Barack Obama, accompanied by former President Bill Clinton, campaigned three days before election day in Bristow, VA at Jiffy Lube Live. "In three days you've got a choice to make. Even if you've made the choice, you got to go talk to some folks who haven't," Obama said. "You've got to tell them it's not just a choice between two candidates or two parties, it's a choice between two different visions for America." Obama spoke on the economy, energy, jobs, reducing the deficit and maintaining homeland security, among other topics. Democrat candidate for the U.S. Senate former governor Tim Kaine was also at the event. Singer Dave Matthews also joined the campaign stop and performed an acoustic set for the crowd. Read more about …
Monday, October 29, 2012
Hurricane Sandy has delayed postal mail and closed the Office of Elections.
The Fairfax County Office of Elections will be closed Tuesday, so the mail-in deadline has been extended because of Hurricane Sandy. Any applications received Wednesday, Oct. 31 — or when the office reopens — will be considered received on time due to emergency situations based on Virginia Code when an officials office is closed, according to the Fairfax County Emergency Information Blog. No mail was delivered Monday, and mail will not be delivered Tuesday, Oct. 30. The statutory deadline for mail-in was originally Tuesday, Oct. 30; this deadline still applies for applications sent by fax to 703-324-3725 or e-mail to absenteeballot@fairfaxcounty.gov. Absentee voting has been canceled for Tuesday, Oct. 30.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Here are details on Monday night's third and final debate between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney.
The third presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney is set for 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22. The debate is at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. It will focus primarily on foreign policy and international relations. In the first debate, the candidates focused on domestic issues, including the economy and taxes, health care reform and the role of government. The second debate between the candidates was a town hall-style debate, including questions from the audience on the economy, healthcare and more. Broadcasting and Streaming Live AOL will provide a live stream of the debate. It will also air on YouTube's Election Hub. TV Channels Broadcasting Live: ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and more. All of the …
Friday, October 12, 2012
Virginia State Board of Elections says scammers call voters, solicit votes over the phone.
The Virginia State Board of Elections said Friday voters — particularly older Virginians — are receiving phone calls from unidentified individuals informing them they can vote over the phone. "This information is false," the SBE said in a release. "Virginia law does not permit voting through the telephone. Apart from voting at the polls on Election Day, eligible Virginians may vote an absentee ballot by mail or in-person at the registrar’s office or other authorized satellite location." SBE said it was not clear how widespread the scam calls had been. Voting cannot be done via the phone, email, or any other means than absentee voting by mail and in-person during the absentee voting period or on Election Day, the board said. "These calls …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Third-party candidates Gary Johnson, Virgil Goode, Jr., and Jill Stein are running for president and will appear on some ballots in November.
Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are locked in a tight race for the presidency and polls show them in a virtual tie in Virginia, but residents will see three others candidates' names on the ballot come Election Day. Obama and Romney will share the Nov. 6 ballot with: These candidates’ chances of taking the Oval Office are slim, but they could siphon votes from Romney and Obama. In a battleground state like Virginia, that could make a difference in voting totals, some pundits say. Gary Johnson Johnson, who governed New Mexico from 1995 to 2003, supports scaling back federal spending by trillions of dollars, and supports gay marriage and the legalization of marijuana. Although he entered the presidential race as a Republican, some of his more …
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Did the first presidential debate help or hurt Mitt Romney and Barack Obama? Tell us your thoughts.
President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney engaged in their first of three debates Wednesday night in Denver. While Wednesday's debate was on domestic issues, future meetings — Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in New York and Oct. 22 at Lynn University in Florida — will include both domestic and foreign policy questions. Tell us - were there any questions you would have liked asked at the Denver debate? Did the debate strengthen or hurt either candidate's campaign? Was there a clear winner? See also: A Contest of Gentlemen? Few Sparks in First Presidential Debate Live Chat Wednesday: Obama/Romney Presidential Debate Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Wife of U.S. Senate candidate George Allen says her husband has the right recipe to create a better, more robust climate for small firms.
Susan Allen brought the Virginia Voices tour to Old Town on Thursday, meeting with women small business owners and outlining how her husband, Senate candidate George Allen, would create a better small business environment. “We’re in a climate that’s not favorable to small businesses,” she told the crowd at King Street Blues, adding that during her tour throughout the state she repeatedly hears from small business owner who are frustrated that banks aren’t lending, federal policies are restrictive and that they can’t afford health insurance. King Street Blues owner Lisa Capobianco said recent harmful federal regulations made it harder for her to hire new employees “in order to help us give customers the service and hospitality they have …
Harlan Wahlert
7:44 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
The person in office has old money, and LAND so now when WE the people tell the elected officials (person in. office) (i.e.,In 1979 my 1/4 Acre 5000 but now tax bill has it at 100,000. So if the tax payer was to get my land from the courts. They pay not the 5000 but 100,000 plus what future value. and what that means is if your in the elected officials pocket or it there land tax pay buying is by… more ›