Elections can be Won by Who Counts the Votes Elections can be Won by Who Counts the Votes   Greetings, There is no better example of this than the recent election in Venezuela. The incumbent President followed election law as scheduled. However, all evidence pointed to his losing by a landslide, yet he had those counting the votes to declare him the winner. When the results were challenged, he had the Supreme Court reaffirm his victory—a Supreme Court that he had appointed. This is a perfect example of why honest, open elections are the cornerstone of a democracy. Likewise, nothing could be a better example than the recent primary in the Fifth Congressional District. When one candidate questioned the election results, he exercised his right to ask for a recount. With every vote carefully observed, each vote was re-counted to the satisfaction of all involved. We can only hope that no questions surround our presidential election this fall. So much has changed since our founding, once a requirement that a voter showed up in person on Election Day. Upon receiving a paper ballot, they marked their ballot in privacy and then placed it in the ballot box. The votes were counted under observation. The winner was announced that night.   National Elections All that changed prompted by Covid. Fear of waiting in lines resulted in changes that have raised concerns about how secure our elections are. Expanded mail-in ballots What had once been infrequent voting by mail for those with special needs has now become commonplace. Now, one simply requests a mail-in ballot. At one time, a witness was required to certify that the person was who they said they were. Under Governor Northam, Virginia took it one step further by removing any identification of that witness. Drop-boxes A new process for casting one’s vote was instituted, ‘drop-boxes.’ Communities were required to have these boxes in various locations so voters would not encounter others who might have been exposed to Covid. The problem is that some communities were less cautious about observing their boxes by camera or in person. Some observers taped individuals placing multiple ballots in the boxes. This raised the question of why those voters were not afraid to be in contact with ‘bundlers’ while being afraid to drop it in a mail slot. In most rural counties, we did it right! We put the required drop-boxes inside open buildings with folks nearby, such as in registrars’ offices. Early voting Again, in response to Covid, it became fashionable to institute early voting with no real explanation as to why. Virginia, under the Democrats, chose to set six weeks for early voting. It was as if the month or two weeks were not a reasonable timeframe. Some states even allowed votes to be postmarked on Election Day as if people couldn’t go to the trouble of voting only for a day or two. Virginia’s Elections Again, Democrats began same-day registration. This allowed out-of-state college students to skip the careful review process if they were registered in two states. They removed the requirement that voters have positive proof of registration prior to voting, with stipulations. Likewise, they broke an agreement with other states requiring them to match for duplicate registrations. Governor Youngkin has required the Department of Elections to reverse this double registration issue by matching death records and felon in-state and out-of-state registrations. We today have a safer election system than last year, but it remains up to each of us to be observant when things don’t look right and report any problems. My staff and I are always here to assist you with any issues or concerns. Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can be of service. You can reach us at 434.374.5129 or by email at [email protected]   Governor Glenn Youngkin and the state of Virginia are making it clear that we are dedicated to providing a quality education for our children, empowering working parents, and fostering engagement—the essential building blocks for families and creating opportunities. Read more about Building Blocks for Virginia Families below. Building Blocks   On August 15th, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 36. Successful reentry after incarceration hinges on returning citizens receiving effective support and actively engaging in their own journey. Read more below about the Stand Tall – Stay Strong – Succeed Together Initiative, a comprehensive effort to help these Virginians succeed. Stand Tall - Stay Strong Today is National Fentanyl Prevention & Awareness Day. Take a moment to educate yourself on the dangers of fake prescription pills and learn how to safeguard yourself and your loved ones by visiting the link below. OnePillCanKillVA.org Senate and House Page Programs Applications are Open! These programs provide young individuals with a unique opportunity to experience our legislative process firsthand, creating a deeper understanding of public service and civic engagement. Pages gain invaluable insights and develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives. I am proud to support these programs and the bright future leaders they inspire. Page Program Info DONATE Email Us P.O. Box 145, Clarksville, VA 23927 (434) 374 5129 Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Senate of Virginia | P.O. Box 145, Clarksville, VA 23927 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!