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FCDC will be considering the below resolution at its next general meeting Nov. 25th 7:30pm at West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152 for map click here.

FCDC RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee believes democracy works best when its citizens participate in elections by voting;

WHEREAS, many citizens are prevented from voting on Election Day by unforeseen events such as traffic, family illness, unanticipated work, inclement weather, and other unexpected reasons;

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia allows absentee voting in person or by mail only if one of several allowable excuses can be asserted and certified truthfully by the voter;

WHEREAS, notwithstanding the above, many Virginia voters (about 20 percent, or over 100,000 of Fairfax County voters) in the 2008 General Election chose to vote absentee;

WHEREAS, despite record turnout of active registered Virginia voters for the 2008 General Election, a sizeable portion of voters did not vote (21.3 percent in Fairfax County);

WHEREAS, no-excuse in-person early voting and no-excuse absentee voting by mail would allow more voters to avoid losing their opportunity to vote due to unforeseen events on Election Day;

WHEREAS, no-excuse in-person early voting and no-excuse absentee voting by mail can help prevent long lines of voters on Election Day;

WHEREAS, no-excuse in-person early voting and no-excuse absentee voting by mail would allow more time to clear up voter registration issues, help avoid provisional ballots, and save taxpayer resources required to resolve provisional ballot issues;

WHEREAS, 32 states allow no-excuse pre-Election Day in-person voting; and

WHEREAS, 28 states allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail;

We, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, hereby resolve that the Virginia General Assembly should adopt voting reforms that will allow no-excuse in-person early voting and no-excuse absentee voting by mail.