Absentee Voting Encouraged For Vienna Town Election In May

VIENNA, VA — The Virginia Department of Elections is encouraging residents vote absentee in the May elections for local offices in light of concerns about the new coronavirus, or COVID-19. The Town of Vienna election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5. Voters will choose the mayor and three councilmembers.

Residents in the Town of Vienna may vote in the May 5 election. Vienna Mayor Laurie DiRocco is not running for reelection. The candidates for mayor are Councilmembers Howard J. Springsteen, Pasha M. Majdi and Linda Jane Colbert. Candidates for council seats are Charles L. "Chuck" Anderson, Ray S. Brill, Jr., Roy J. Baldwin, David N. Patariu, Chris P. Wright, Andrea Kristin Dahl and Ed A. Somers.

The Virginia Department of Elections website advises voters who wish to vote absentee due to the COVID-19 outbreak to apply for a ballot. Because of the outbreak, voters are permitted to select "2A My disability or illness" as a reason to vote absentee in the May election.

According to the Fairfax County Office of Elections, absentee voting must begin on Friday, March 20, per state law. The deadline to request an absentee ballot for May elections is 5 p.m. on April 28. Absentee ballots must be returned to the Fairfax County Office of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 5.

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Voters can apply to receive an absentee ballot by mail or vote absentee in person. The easiest way to apply for a ballot is online at vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation. For information on other ways to send an application, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/absentee.

The sole location for in-person absentee voting in the May election is the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035 Suite 323). From March 20 to May 1, hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday. Voting hours on Saturday, May 2 are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A valid photo ID is required for in-person absentee voting.

The voter registration deadline for the May election is April 13 at 5 p.m. in person and 11:59 p.m. online. Voters can check their registration status or register at vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation. For other ways to register, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/voter-registration.

SEE ALSO: Virginia Coronavirus Updates: What To Know For Week Of March 15

Voting is scheduled to take place at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street SE, on Tuesday, May 5 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A valid photo ID is required to vote in person.