Dear Friend,

In this week’s newsletter, I discuss the Governor’s decision to withdraw Virginia from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), share information on primary election voting, provide an update on recent commission meetings, and reflect on community meetings and engagements from this past week. Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter and for staying informed.

Withdrawal from ERIC

Last Thursday, the Governor’s administration withdrew Virginia from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Virginia is the latest Republican-led state to abruptly depart from ERIC. This sudden departure from ERIC, without any consultation with the legislative branch, is disturbing to say the least. During the recent session, neither the Governor nor members of his administration raised any concerns about Virginia’s participation in ERIC. In fact, Virginia’s unexpected exit is ironic since the Commonwealth was one of the founding members of ERIC, joined in collaboration with other states under the leadership of a Republican Governor, and has repeatedly affirmed the value of ERIC in maintaining the integrity of voter rolls.

In a statement Susan Beals, the Virginia Department of Elections Commissioner, echoed false conspiracy theory talking points about ERIC’s effectiveness, legitimacy, and privacy. Beals’ change of position on ERIC appears to coincide with her recent attendance at a right-wing gathering sponsored by the American Heritage Foundation. This Virginia tax-payer supported trip itself drew public scrutiny because of its distinctly partisan nature.

Shane Hamlin, ERIC’s Executive Director, has responded effectively to the conspiracy-driven concerns promoted by Beals by stating ERIC has never connected to any state’s voter registration system and that members retain complete control over their voter data.

ERIC is a non-profit membership organization solely dedicated to helping improve accuracy of voter data—updating voter rolls, removing ineligible voters, investigating potential voter fraud, and helping provide voter registration information to eligible voters. Virginia's withdrawal from ERIC is a backward step in our efforts to make elections accurate by tracking voters who may have moved within the state, between states, died, or potentially voted in two different states.

Both the Senate and the House Democratic Caucuses are united in our calls for Virginia to remain within ERIC and for greater transparency in the administration’s efforts to disrupt election integrity processes during a very critical election year in Virginia, when all 140 seats of the General Assembly are up for election.

On Monday, members of the Senate and House Democratic Caucuses held a press conference in Richmond to address the withdrawal from ERIC. We are united against the Governor and his administration’s relentless attacks on our democracy and will continue to protect the fundamental right to vote within the Commonwealth.

Early Voting for June Primaries

The June primaries are just one month away now, but voters have already begun early voting. Early voting gives everyone a chance to cast their ballot at a day and time that is convenient for their schedule.

Early, In-Person Voting

Early, in-person voting in the current 10th Senatorial District is available only at the Registrar's Office for the June Primary Election. No other polling locations are open for early voting.
Chesterfield County voters are able to vote early in-person from 8:30am until 5:00pm daily (Monday – Friday) through Friday, June 16, at the Chesterfield County Registrar’s Office (9848 Lori Road). Saturday voting will be available on June 10 and June 17.
Richmond City voters are able to vote early in-person from 9:00am until 4:00pm daily (Monday – Friday) through Friday, June 16, at the Richmond City Registrar’s Office (2134 West Laburnum Avenue). Saturday voting will be available on June 10 and June 17 from 9:00am until 5:00pm .
Powhatan County is not holding any primary elections this cycle. The only race that had more than one candidate competing to be the party’s nominee was the race for the newly-drawn 10th Senatorial District. In that race, the Republican party selected its nominee this past weekend through a party convention rather than through a primary election.

Absentee Voting

Voters can request an absentee ballot for the June 2023 primary by 5:00 pm, Friday, June 9, 2023. All ballots must be postmarked by June 20 (Primary Election Day), or dropped off at the corresponding drop off location. Using a delivery service that allows tracking is recommended.

Register to Vote

The last day to register to vote or to update existing voter information for the June Primary is May 30. Voters can register to vote or check voter registration status at the Virginia Department of Elections.

Commission Meetings

This past week, I attended several Commission and Workgroup meetings at the Capitol, as part of my appointed legislative responsibilities.

I am honored to have been recently appointed to the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Commission. This Commission focused on several key items, including the following:

Paying tribute to late Senator Yvonne Miller, the first African-American woman to serve in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly
Agreeing to the Rev. Dr. Curtis West Harris Monument Project, honoring the life and work of Dr. Harris who was notable for numerous accomplishments, including his work as a civil rights champion and as the first African-American mayor of Hopewell, Virginia

The Commission will also focus on its ongoing projects, including an examination of the history of lynching in Virginia.

The Virginia Housing Commission also convened four workgroups this past week to consider issues raised within recent legislative proposals. These workgroups are 1) Land Use and Community Living, Landlord Tenant, 2) Real Estate Law, and Affordable Housing Solutions, 3) Real Property, Community Development, and Best Land-Use Practice, and 4) Short-Term Rentals. I am serving on the latter two workgroups. In the Short Term Rental workgroup, we discussed the issue of short-term rentals and their various implications for neighborhoods, home insurance, taxing structures, and much more.

The Joint Commission on Health Care met Wednesday morning as well, and focused on defining the research agenda for the Commission for this upcoming year. We also received an update on Medicaid Unwinding and its impacts on Virginians.

Highlights from Community Events & Meetings

Last Friday, members of my staff traveled along the James River with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as a part of the Foundation’s efforts to educate public servants from across the state about the Chesapeake Watershed. Elected officials and staff from the City of Richmond, Chesterfield County, the City of Petersburg, and Henrico County participated in the excursion. This year, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s education program will celebrate its 50th anniversary, and we are grateful for their vital work educating generations of students, policy leaders, and the public.

On Monday evening, I joined the Private Colleges Advisory Board and the State Council on Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV) for their annual reception. Our private colleges and universities are an important part of our higher education community in Virginia, giving families and their students additional options for the pursuit of academic and career goals. Pictured here is a new graduate from Bluefield College, General Smith. General grew up in Midlothian and is a constituent of the senatorial district. General leaves Bluefield with a degree in Theater Studies and plans to pursue a career in the arts.

On Tuesday, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to serve as a special guest and speaker for the annual EMILY’s List We Are EMILY National Gala, an event that brought together elected officials from across the United States who are champions for reproductive health care access. We were honored to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and so many others. President Joe Biden also made a surprise appearance to honor Speaker Emerita Pelosi for her historic work within the House of Representatives. States across the country have their eyes on Virginia, with all 140 seats on the ballot this November and the Senate’s pro-choice majority on the ballot this June.

Last evening, I had the pleasure of hosting an event in support of Lashrecse Aird, who is running in the Democratic primary in Senate District 13. As an elected official within the House of Delegates, Lashrecse championed legislation on criminal justice reform, expanding economic opportunities for Virginia’s families, and fought to protect reproductive rights for Virginians. With the start of early voting, volunteers have been working hard to knock doors, phone bank, and educate voters about this critical primary battle and the need to elect Lashrecse.

Connecting With My Office

Please email us at [email protected] or call our office at 804-698-7510. If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here.

— Ghazala

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