Alexandria School Board Special Election: Candidates, How To Vote

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The special election to fill an Alexandria School Board seat vacated by Willie Bailey is coming up on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Bailey resigned in November, prompting the Alexandria Circuit Court to order a special election for one School Board District A seat on Jan. 9, 2024. School Board District A has three representatives, one of which will be on the ballot in the special election.

Only certain City of Alexandria voters will be able to cast a ballot in the special election. School Board District A includes the following precincts: 101 Old Town North (formerly Ladrey), 102 City Hall, 103 Lyles Crouch School, 104 Durant Center, 105 Lee Center, 106 Cora Kelly - "Chick" Armstrong Center, 107 Mount Vernon Center, 108 George Washington School, 109 Fire Dept. Headquarters, 110 Charles Houston Center and 111 Potomac Yard.

You can check your precinct on the Virginia Department of Elections citizen portal.

Candidates for the School Board A District special election are Gina Baum, a parent who has served on Alexandria’s Parks and Rec Commission and Waterfront Commission, and Tim Beaty, a parent, substitute teacher and retired global strategies director for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Alexandria City High School's student newspaper Theogony has a Q&A with candidates to inform voters about the special election.

MORE: School Board Special Election: A Candidate Guide

The deadline for in-person early voting will be 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6. Early voting is offered at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (132 N. Royal St., Suite 100) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as extended hours on Tuesday, Jan. 2 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. An acceptable form of ID is required to vote in person.

Another option is voting by mail, but the deadline to request a mail-in ballot was 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 29. Completed mail-in ballots must be returned to the Office of Voter Registration & Elections by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, or postmarked by Jan. 9 and received in the office by noon on Friday, Jan. 12. Another way to return mail-in ballots is ballot drop boxes at all School Board District A polling places from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Jan. 9. A secure drop box is also available 24/7 outside the Office of Voter Registration & Elections, 24 hours a day, through Jan. 9 at 7 p.m.

Voters who want to cast a ballot on Election Day should visit their assigned polling place from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Confirm your voter registration status and polling place through the Virginia Department of Elections citizens portal or call the Office of Voter Registration & Elections at 703-746-4050. An acceptable form of ID is required to vote in person.

The voter registration deadline was Dec. 27, but same-day registration is still available. Voters who complete same-day registration can cast a provisional ballot. Questions about the same-day registration process can be directed to voters@alexandriaVA.gov or 703-746-4050.

This will be Alexandria's first election of 2024. Next up is the presidential primary election on March 5, 2024. A primary race for mayor, City Council and more will be held on June 18, 2024, and the general election will happen on Nov. 5, 2024.

For more information on voting, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Elections.