City of Falls Church’s Voter Registration Office Responds to Unsure Early Voters
We’re in one of the most jam-packed presidential campaign news cycles in American history.
So, it’s no surprise that the City of Falls Church’s Voter Registration and Elections Office has been fielding all sorts of questions about early, absentee and mail-in voting for the 2024 U.S. presidential and down-ballot elections.
The Falls Church Independent interviewed Chief Deputy Registrar for the City of Falls Church, Stacy Pilson, about what sorts of questions people are asking the City’s Voter Registration and Elections Office at 300 Park Ave., City Hall, and what messages her office would like to disseminate to City residents during this heated time.
A Heated Time in Politics
After his disastrous June 27 debate performance against former president Donald J. Trump (R-Fla.) and slipping poll numbers due to voters’ concerns about his age and abilities, the nation’s sitting 46th president, Joseph R. Biden (D-Del.), 81, exited the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala D. Harris (D - Calif.). On Aug. 3, Harris then secured enough delegates to become the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential nominee – the first-ever for a woman of Jamaican and South Asian descent.
Now, momentum in the presidential contest appears to have swung to the Democrats even after the Republican Party’s successful convention July 15-18 in Milwaukee, Wisc., where sympathies were riding high for Trump – the nation’s 46th president – after he was grazed on the right ear by a bullet in an attempted assassination July 13 in Butler County, Penn., and talk was rife with the possibilities of a Republican landslide.
Negative press surrounding Trump’s selection of controversial U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio), then 39 years-old, as his running mate, combined with the excitement on the Democratic side for Vice President Harris’s historic candidacy, however, appears to have evened up the race. And the Democratic Convention is still to come, Aug. 19, in Chicago.
And, of course, after then-President Trump failed to guarantee a "peaceful transition of power" following his electoral defeat in 2021, Democrats claim he has authoritarian designs for another term, while Trump's Republican party has counter-charged that Democrats, themselves, threaten the nation's survival.
Interview with Chief Deputy Registrar for the City of Falls Church, Stacy Pilson
The following interview is edited for length and clarity.
FCI: So, we were chatting just now about some common misperceptions people seem to be having this year, and what types of questions you’ve been getting.
Stacy Pilson: Yes. So, voting doesn’t start until September. The ballot will be ready on September 20. People are asking a lot of questions like, ‘When can I vote?,’ or, ‘Why don't I have my ballot already?” But, the ballot isn’t made yet. There aren’t any official candidates yet.
FCI: And we’re talking about early voting?
SP: Yes, for absentee, early voting, and voting-by-mail. A lot of people have signed up for a mail ballot and they question why they haven’t gotten it yet. But, it’s not ready.
FCI: Is there a schedule people can go to online, if they have questions?
SP: Yes. They can go to https://www.elections.virginia.gov/. That will have all the details for Virginia. The City of Falls Church also has https://fallschurchva.gov/vote.
FCI: So, is this election year unusual because of the Biden/Harris news and all the rest, or is this sort of the normal schedule because the conventions haven’t finished yet?
SP: No, it’s always the same schedule. I believe the Republican Party Convention was a little early. Most of the time both conventions are in August. But, either way, the parties have to submit candidates to the state and the state will put all the candidates into the state-wide database, when it’s not a local election. For local elections, we certify the petitions and do that.
FCI: So, in other words, you’re just following a normal schedule?
SP: Yes, it’s completely normal. It’s just a very overwhelming year.
FCI: Why is that?
SP: I think because there’s been a lot of news. There’s been a ton of campaigning – you know, early, early, early. And we also had presidential primaries. And, there are still some primaries ongoing. Arizona just had one this week.
FCI: So, people are hearing a lot of news. Probably more than normal, you think? Do you think people are just excited to vote early?
SP: Well, I think people are just getting confused about the timeline. So, November is always when the election happens and we always start 46 days before [the election, this year on Nov. 5], on that Friday –
FCI: For early voting?
SP: Yes, and absentee as well. We will send ballots out as soon as that early period begins.
FCI: Has there been any kind of attempt – given what happened in the last election cycle and all the talk about ‘stolen elections’ – has there been any pressure on you to change your practices? Like with mailboxes or early voting? Have you felt any pressure?
SP: Well, in Virginia, we have a lot of uniform policies. Every state is different. Some states have things in different localities. In Virginia, we all have the same timeline and the same goals. We can’t necessarily do everything in the same way. But, –
FCI: You’re essentially doing what you did 4 years ago?
SP: Yes, the same way as 4 years earlier. But, I think for some of our colleagues, there have been some very awkward incidents.
FCI: In terms of pressure?
SP: Yes, pressure, and just… It’s ugly times.
FCI: Would you want people to volunteer to help with early voting or to be voting officials?
SP: It’s always good to get involved in the process, especially if you have any questions. We always accept more people. We have a pretty good roster of volunteers overall.
Some of our neighbors might need more help than we do. But, we always accept people. And if we can’t take more, then we’ll probably say, “XYZ locality needs help right now.”
FCI: What number should they call if they’re interested?
SP: They can call, (703) 248-5085.
FCI: Anything else?
SP: Just that, if you have any questions, please ask. We’re here to help. That’s what we do.
Key Calendar Items Leading to the Presidential Election
The following calendar items are posted on the City of Falls Church’s Voter Registration and Elections Office website.
November 5 Presidential General Election
- Sample Ballots won't be available until September.
- On the ballot will be the offices for US President/Vice President, US Senator, US House of Representatives 8th District.
- On the ballot will also be a Special Election to fill a vacancy in the office of Falls Church City School Board for a term expiring December 31, 2025.
- Friday, September 20: Early voting for the General Election begins, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 1: Voters who have applied for a permanent by-mail ballot or a ballot for just this election should receive that ballot no later than this date. Please contact our office if you have not received your ballot by then.
- October 14: Closed for the Holiday
- October 16: Last day to register to vote in-person by 5 p.m., online by 11:59 p.m., by-mail must be postmarked October 15.
- Friday, October 25 at 5 p.m. is the deadline to apply for an absentee by-mail ballot.
- Saturday, October 26, First Saturday, Early voting 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, October 27, Sunday Early voting 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 30, Early Voting stays open late until 7 p.m.
- Saturday, November 2, Last Day of Early Voting, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, November 3: Closed.
- Monday, November 4: Emergency Voting Only, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 5: Election Day, Polls are open at your assigned polling place 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
See you at the polls!
By Christopher Jones
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