Dear Friend,

In this week’s newsletter, I highlight Virginia’s critical role as a provider of safe and legal abortion, share information on primary election voting, and provide updates on recent community meetings and engagements from this past week. Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter and for staying informed.

Abortion Restrictions across Southern States put Spotlight on Virginia

When the US Supreme Court issued its disastrous decision last June to overturn Roe v Wade and thereby contradict its own 1973 decision that the right to privacy implied in the 14th Amendment protected abortion as a fundamental right, it spawned a series of additional disasters across the country. The ensuing muddle has resulted in a hodgepodge of various state laws that have triggered the criminalization of medical providers, OB-GYNs leaving states in which they can no longer safely care for their patients, a 10 year-old child and victim of rape forced to travel to another state to seek medical care, women nearly bleeding to death in miscarriage as doctors consult teams of lawyers, agonizing experiences such as the recently highlighted case of one family, and much more. Abortion restrictions do not stop abortions. They impose the will of politicians on private medical decisions; they cause harm; and they result in suffering and even death.

Virginia is now the last Southern state to protect the right to abortion and reproductive health care. This week, South Carolina lawmakers passed a draconian 6-week abortion ban. Many of those who celebrated this legislation do not even understand that, medically, a pregnancy is measured as beginning on the first day of a woman’s last period. That is, the count of weeks actually begins several weeks before a woman is even pregnant. By the time the average woman suspects that she may be pregnant, she may already be–in medical terms–beyond seven to eight weeks. South Carolina’s new law is, in essence, a total abortion ban.

In North Carolina, an abortion ban after 12 weeks of pregnancy goes into effect on July 1. NC Governor Roy Cooper had vetoed this legislation, but the state's Republican-led Assembly voted to override that veto. As the last state in the South to provide safe and legal access to abortion, Virginia’s clinics are already beginning to see larger numbers of patients arriving for medical care, and these numbers will only continue to increase.

Of course, these bans will most harm low-income women and their families who do not have the financial means to travel, to miss employment for several days, to pay for childcare, and to cover all of the numerous costs associated with out-of-state travel. These new laws do nothing to increase contraceptive coverage and access (some states are inexplicably targeting contraception as well), nothing to ensure that comprehensive sex education is provided to young people, nothing to expand childcare services, nothing to provide parental leave. In short, these laws are invasive and harmful on multiple levels.

Early Voting for June Primaries

Primary Day is Tuesday, June 20. However, early voting began a few weeks ago and is still ongoing. 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 recently selected its nominee through a party convention rather than through a primary election.

Absentee Voting

Voters can request an absentee ballot for the June 2023 primary by 5:00pm, 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.

Final Day to Register to Vote for June Primaries

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

Memorial Day

Each year on Memorial Day, we honor and remember all those who did not come home to their loved ones and their communities. With solemnity and respect, we must remind ourselves of their sacrifices and recommit ourselves to the protection of democracy and freedom.

Highlights from Community Events & Meetings

Last Friday morning, I joined the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce for the Legislative Breakfast. Former House of Delegates member Chip "John G" Dicks presented an overview of the upcoming 2023 elections and offered compelling arguments for the need for more thoughtful and less polarized approaches to policy making.

On Saturday, I attended Virginia Commonwealth University’s Shining Knights Gala: Honoring Those Who Protect and Save Lives in Central Virginia. That evening, late Congressman Donald McEachin was also honored posthumously for his unwavering efforts to prevent and heal trauma created by gun violence. Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin accepted the recognition.

I was truly honored to be recognized by the Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia (DAAV) on Sunday evening in Vienna, VA, at the Gala celebrating the 10th anniversary of DAAV. DAAV has been a leading caucus of the Democratic Party of Virginia and has helped to organize and mobilize voters; supported numerous candidates; and has been a strong voice for the fastest-growing minority population in the Commonwealth.

On Tuesday afternoon, I joined several other guests at a special presentation offered by Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia. Executive Director Tom Okuda Fitzpatrick
shared HOME’s new exhibit entitled, “Credit Inequity and Housing Access” at the Richmond Main Library (RML). The exhibit highlights the history of redlining, the systemic and discriminatory policies that impact homeownership, and more. This exhibit continues to be on display at RML, and the public is encouraged to learn more about the history of disenfranchisement in housing and finance.

Also on Tuesday afternoon, my staff attended a webinar hosted by the Giffords Law Center marking the one year anniversary of the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The Giffords Law Center presented The Uvalde Report which highlights the continued impacts of the tragedy on the community, as well as solutions to mitigate this nation’s gun violence. Panelists included survivors: Kimberly Mata-Rubio, Gloria Cazares, and Berlinda Irene Arreola. We are long past the time for necessary action. As Mike McLively from the Giffords Law Center said, “Let's protect lives, not just second amendment rights.”

On Tuesday evening, I also traveled to Arlington to attend the annual REPRO Rising Gala. The evening was incredibly moving. This large gathering of individuals committed to protecting safe and legal abortion access in Virginia heard from several speakers about the Commonwealth’s necessary role and responsibility in protecting reproductive rights. I was honored to be a co-recipient, along with Delegate Candi Mundon King, of the Aggie Wolf Defender of Reproductive Freedom Award. I greatly appreciate the Wolf/Kelly family for their full commitment and support of reproductive justice.

At the Spring Conference of the Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education (VCASE), I had the opportunity to meet many of the professionals involved in special education in Virginia. On Wednesday, I was honored to be recognized as a Friend of VCASE, and I heard a comprehensive presentation from the Virginia Department of Education on a full range of issues and programs within special education.

This past Session, I introduced Senate Joint Resolution (SJ300) honoring the 100th Anniversary and the work of the Virginia Academy of Science (VAS). Among its many accomplishments, VAS helped to establish the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond–an institution that has educated thousands of visitors and excited understanding and awareness of the sciences. VAS held its first meeting at The College of William and Mary in 1923, and so it was fitting for it to hold its annual conference and celebrate its centennial at William and Mary. I was able to present SJ300 to VAS members at Thursday’s luncheon in Williamsburg.

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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