RESTON, VA — Fairfax County supervisors will hold a public hearing Dec. 8 on a proposal to create a new voting precinct in Reston and adjust the boundaries of two existing precincts to reduce the number of voters assigned to each.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn voted to authorize the hearing, which will consider splitting the existing Cameron Glen precinct and adjusting the Reston #1 precinct to establish a new Reston #4 precinct.
The Fairfax County Office of Elections proposed the changes because Cameron Glen and Reston #1 currently have more registered voters than the 5,000-voter threshold established under Virginia law. Cameron Glen has 5,484 registered voters, while Reston #1 has 5,445.
Under the proposal, Cameron Glen would be divided roughly along New Dominion Drive and Market Street. Areas south of those roads would become part of Reston #4.
The change would reduce Cameron Glen's registered voter count to an estimated 3,463. Its polling location would remain at the North County Governmental Center.
The Reston #1 precinct would also undergo a boundary adjustment, with a small portion of its southwestern section transferred to Reston #4.
Specifically, the area bounded by American Dream Way to the north, Dulles Toll Road to the south and Reston Parkway to the east would become part of the new precinct.
That adjustment would reduce Reston #1's registered voter count by 428. Its polling location at Lake Anne Elementary School would remain unchanged.
The proposed Reston #4 precinct would have approximately 2,449 registered voters. Its polling location would be the Reston Teen Center, located at 12196 Sunset Hills Road.
According to the county, Virginia law requires precincts to have no more than 5,000 registered voters. General registrars must notify their governing bodies whenever voter totals in a precinct exceed 4,000. The law also gives local governing bodies authority to establish additional precincts when necessary.
The Board of Supervisors originally planned to consider the proposed precinct changes at a public hearing in June.
However, the hearing was deferred because of the special election to fill former U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly's seat in Virginia's 11th Congressional District.
The county said election officials needed time to prepare for that election, including ensuring that voters received accurate information about their polling locations.
The proposed changes will now be considered at the board's Dec. 8 public hearing. The hearing is advertised to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center.
If supervisors approve an ordinance establishing the new precinct and modifying the existing boundaries, the ordinance must be submitted to the Virginia attorney general for review.
Under state law, the county attorney must obtain a Certification of No Objection before the changes become official. The review process can take up to 60 days.
Until the changes are approved and certified, the existing precinct boundaries and polling locations remain in place.
Residents can review the proposed boundary changes and additional information on the Hunter Mill District supervisor's website.
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