City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: DECEMBER 4, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: ANGELA MANIGLIA TURNER, GENERAL REGISTRAR AND DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS
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Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Establish an Additional Satellite Early Voting Location For Primary Elections.
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ISSUE: Currently for primary elections, early voting is only available at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 132 North Royal Street. Early voting begins 45 days prior to every general and primary election and is available at the office during regular business hours and a minimum of two Saturdays.
RECOMMENDATION: The Alexandria Electoral Board (the "Electoral Board") recommends the addition of Beatley Library as a satellite early voting location for future primary elections. Additionally, the Electoral Board recommends the proposed ordinance mirror the current ordinance in directing the Electoral Board to determine the number of days the location is open based upon anticipated need and voter turnout for each primary election.
BACKGROUND: The Electoral Board a three-member bipartisan board appointed by the Alexandria Circuit Court for staggered three-year terms, is responsible for making recommendations to City Council concerning changes in election district boundaries, the establishment of new polling places and satellite voting locations. The Code of Virginia gives City Council the statutory authority to make these changes.
For the 2012 Presidential Election, Beatley Library was opened for the last 7 days of in-person absentee voting and over 30% of the total in person absentee voting occurred at Beatley during that time frame. In 2013, City Council voted to make permanent absentee voting at Beatley library prior to all Novembe...
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