Arlington 2022 General Election: Guide To Candidates, How To Vote

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 8 to decide the 8th congressional district race, a county board seat, a school board seat and six bond questions. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The deadline for voter registration in Virginia is Monday, Oct. 17.

For the 8th congressional district election, Rep. Don Beyer (D) is facing Republican Karina Lipsman and independent Teddy Fikre. The 8th congressional district is considered solid Democrat in the 2022 Cook Political Report's House race ratings.

Beyer is serving his fourth term as the representative for the 8th congressional district and previously served as ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein under President Obama's administration and lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1990 to 1998. He is the chair of the Congress Joint Economic Committee and a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means and House Committee on Science Space and Technology. In June, Beyer defeated Democratic primary opponent Victoria Virasingh with 77 percent of the vote.

Lipsman, the Republican challenger, came to the U.S. as a Ukrainian refugee during her childhood. Now a U.S. citizen, Lipsman has worked for 14 years in national defense and intelligence. She was chosen as a candidate during a May Republican convention.

Fikre, born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, earned a bachelor's degree from George Mason University in 1998 and a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2008. His career experience includes working as an IT project manager.

For the only county board election, incumbent Matthew D. "Matt" de Ferranti (D) is facing Audrey R. Clement (I) and Adam Theo (I).

For the Arlington School Board position currently held by Barbara Kanninen, who is not seeking reelection, James Vell Rives IV and Bethany Z. Sutton are running for the seat.

The six bond questions on the ballot cover: Metro and transportation, local parks and recreation, community infrastructure, Arlington Public Schools, stormwater, and utilities.

Any registered voter can vote in the November 2022 election. In-person early voting in Arlington County will begin Friday and continue through Saturday, Nov. 5. Election Day voting will happen from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

How to Vote on Election Day

Arlington County residents registered to vote in Virginia can vote in the election by visiting their polling place between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Voters who are in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. To check your polling place, visit vote.elections.virginia.gov.

An acceptable form of identification is required for in-person voting in Virginia.

A sample ballot for Arlington County voters is available here.

How to Vote Early

Early voting is another option, and Virginia voters no longer not need an excuse to vote early.

In-person early voting does not require an application in advance. Voters need an acceptable form of identification to vote in person.

Here are the early voting locations and times in Arlington County:

Courthouse Plaza

• Sept. 23 to Nov. 4, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Oct. 30, Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Extra Hours: Oct. 25-27 and Nov. 1-3, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Madison Community Center

• Oct. 25-27 and Nov. 1-3, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Oct. 30, Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Walter Reed Community Center

• Oct. 25-27 and Nov. 1-3, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Oct. 30, Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Virginia voters do not need an excuse to request a mail-in ballot. Mail-in ballots may be requested by visiting vote.elections.virginia.gov.

Applications to request a mail-in ballot are due by Oct. 28. Completed ballots must be returned to the Arlington County Voter Registration and Elections office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 or postmarked by Nov. 8 and received by noon on Nov. 14.

Ballots can be returned by mail or ballot drop boxes. Regular mail can take up to 10 days within Arlington. The county does not recommend mailing a ballot less than 10 days before the Nov. 8 election. Completed mail ballots can be dropped off at the drop boxes located across the county.

How to Register to Vote or Update Voter Registration

Oct. 17 is the deadline for voter registration or updating an existing voter registration (such as an address change). The easiest way to register or check your registration is online at vote.elections.virginia.gov by Oct. 17.

Voters who do not update their registration before the Oct. 17 deadline can cast a provisional ballot on Election Day through the same day registration process.

Where To Find Election Results

Unofficial election results will start to come in after polls close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 on the Virginia Department of Elections website. Follow Patch on Election Day for live coverage of congressional election and Arlington County results.

For more information about the upcoming election or voting in Arlington County, visit https://vote.arlingtonva.gov/Elections.