House 35 Special Election: Mail-In Ballot Application Deadline Nears

VIENNA, VA — As the special election approaches to fill former Del. Mark Keam's Virginia House of Delegates 35th District seat, Friday is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot.

The special election will be a race between Democrat Holly Seibold and Republican Monique Baroudi. Seibold is a former teacher who founded an educational firm and the nonprofit BRAWS, which provides menstrual supplies and undergarments to women and girls. Baroudi is an Oakton resident and information technology professional who had attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

The special election was scheduled after Keam (D-Fairfax) resigned in September to take a Biden administration role. The winning candidate will fill the vacant House 35 seat for the remainder of the term until January 2024.

The district includes parts of Vienna, Oakton, Fair Oaks, Dunn Loring and Tysons. Voters in 20 Fairfax County precincts are eligible to vote in the special election: 204 Madison, 213 Vienna #1, 214 Vienna #2, 216 Vienna #4, 218 Vienna #6, 701 Blake, 704 Freedom Hill, 720 Thoreau, 726 Magarity, 727 Oakton, 729 Nottoway, 731 Tysons, 732 Oak Marr, 733 Kilmer, 734 Hunters Branch, 735 Rotonda, 802 Cedar Lake, 844 Centerpointe, 856 Penderbrook, and 857 Island Pond.

Voters can confirm their precinct using the Virginia Department of Elections citizens portal.

If you plan to vote by mail, the easiest way to apply is online through the Virginia Department of Elections. Voters will need their Social Security number and a Virginia Driver's License or a Virginia DMV-issued ID number to apply.

Voters may also download and print a paper application or pick up a paper application at Fairfax County governmental centers or Fairfax County library branches. Paper applications may be returned by scanning and emailing to AbsenteeBallot@fairfaxcounty.gov; mailing to Fairfax County Office of Elections P.O. Box 10161, Fairfax, VA 22038; faxing to 703-324-3725; or delivering in person to Fairfax County Office of Elections, 12000 Government Center Pkwy., Suite 323, Fairfax, VA 22035.

Mail-in ballot applications must be returned by 5 p.m. on Dec. 30. Completed ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 in person, or postmarked on or before Jan. 10 and received by the Office of Elections by noon on Jan. 13.

Another option is in-person early voting through Jan. 7 at the Office of Elections at the Fairfax County Government Center (Suite 323, 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035). Hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A second early voting location will be offered at the Providence Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031) on Saturday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no in-person early voting on county holidays, including Monday, Jan. 2.

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

Jan. 3 will be the deadline for voter registration or updating a voter's address for the special election. Voters may register or change their address online or other ways through the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

If you're voting on Election Day, head to your assigned polling place from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote. An acceptable form of ID will be needed to vote in person at your polling place.

See a sample ballot here.

Patch will provide election results as they come in on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

What's Next After the Special Election

All Virginia House of Delegates and Senate seats will be up for election in 2023, when redrawn district maps will take effect. New districts were drawn during a mandated redistricting process after the 2020 Census.

The 35th House District will become the 12th House District with the new term beginning in early 2024. That new district will include parts of Vienna, Oakton, Tysons, Dunn Loring, Merrifield and Mantua.

If a primary election is called, it would be held on June 20, 2023. The general election will be on Nov. 7, 2023.

For more information on the upcoming special election, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections.