Falls Church Polling Place, Boundary Changes Proposed Before Primary Election

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Falls Church City Council will consider changing boundaries of two of the city's three voting wards and changing one polling place in time for the primary election.

Ward boundary and polling place changes were requested by the Electoral Board and Registrar David Bjerke and discussed at Monday's City Council meeting. Under the proposal, the boundary of Ward 3 would get smaller as a fraction would be moved to Ward 2. A separate proposal calls for removing Falls Green Apartments as the polling place for Ward 2 and moving the Ward 2 polling place to the Falls Church Community Center. The community center would remain the polling place for Ward 3 as well.

A public hearing on April 24 was scheduled for the boundary and polling place change proposals. If approved, the changes would be in place in time for the June 20 primary election. The election office must mail notices of ward boundary and polling place changes to impacted voters at least 30 days before the June 20 election. Bjerke is also seeking to mail notices before early voting begins on May 5.

"Prompt passage of both would give voters time to adjust prior to this year's general election, and we are always thinking about a presidential [election]," said Bjerke.

Boundary changes were sought to balance the number of voters between the city's three wards. According to Bjerke, Ward 1 has 3,615 voters, Ward 2 has 3,232 voters and Ward 3 has 4,211 voters.

Per Virginia code, wards cannot have more than 5,000 voters, but best practices in Virginia call for wards under 4,000 voters.

"At 5,000, we have to split. We would rather rebalance the ward. Ward 2 has the population to rebalance into," said Bjerke.

Under the changes, Ward 1 boundaries would not be impacted but have an estimated 3,722 voters. Ward 2 would have 3,771 voters, and Ward 3 would have 3,556 voters.

The current ward map and proposed ward map can be viewed here.

The other aspect of the changes is changing the polling place for Ward 2 from Falls Green Apartments to Falls Church Community Center. Bjerke noted the Falls Green Apartments polling place is already small and would be even smaller as boundary changes would increase voters. A city report also noted concerns with Falls Green, such as "poor lighting, untimely unlocking of doors, and inadequate space for a large turnout election."

Bjerke and the Electoral Board believe the Falls Church Community Center is the best polling place for Ward 2 as well as a continued polling place for Ward 3. Under Virginia law, one building can contain more than one polling place if boundaries are within one mile of the polling place and each ward has a separate space in the building.

Bjerke explained to City Council that there would be a divider in the community center gym to separate the two voting wards.

"The community center is an ideal location. It's centrally located and can easily put in two polling places," said Bjerke.

Members of the public may sign up to speak at the April 24 public hearing or email comments to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov.

On Monday, City Council also approved compensation increases for election officers. The rates increase from $250 to $350 for election chiefs, $200 to $300 for assistant chiefs, and $180 to $250 for election officers.

Bjerke noted 2014 was the last time compensation increases were sought for election officers, and neighboring Arlington and Fairfax counties increased their rates to Falls Church's proposed rates.