Friends,

I’m delighted to share some updates about this week’s Commissions and other meetings, a few community events, and reminders about voting in Virginia.

Commissions, Meetings and Community Events
This past week, two of the Commissions on which I sit held meetings: the Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) and the Virginia Housing Commission (VHC). Both Commission meetings highlighted the efforts that have already occurred and the work that remains as we focus on improving health care quality and access, housing affordability, and housing equity. The work of both these Commissions is especially made more critical by the COVID crisis. With housing, for example, we see a broadening divide between the average wage earnings within many job sectors in Virginia and rent. This increasing disparity between wages and rent means that many families are spending a significant portion of their household income on housing and are less able to meet the costs of food, utilities and other essentials. Focusing on affordable housing must remain a priority for us in the Commonwealth.

I’ve also been participating in meetings focused on educational equity and access, and how to best use data and metrics to approach these concerns. These important conversations underscore the ways in which we continue to build upon past efforts, using past successes or missteps as guides for how we move forward. These meetings are leading towards tangible next steps, and I’ll be sharing these proposals in a few weeks.

This past week, we’ve held several Get Out the Vote (GOTV) events, both online through Zoom and in-person at polling locations. The enthusiasm and energy for this year’s election is strong, and we are just a few days away from polls closing.

Highlight events for me are those opportunities I have to speak to young people. I am always so encouraged by these conversations and reassured by their engagement, intellectual curiosity, and genuine compassion for the world around them. This past week, I enjoyed speaking with GreenUR, a University of Richmond student group focused on environmental concerns; the Greater Good Initiative, a youth-led policy think tank; and youth organizers and interns from the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), a progressive, community-based organization that works to organize Korean and Asian Americans nationally towards social, racial, and economic justice. These various groups are working toward policy efforts, community organizing, and collaboration to bring about meaningful action in a variety of different areas.

Voting in Virginia
I can’t say it enough, but I’m so proud that Virginians across the Commonwealth continue leading the national charge of early voting. As of Tuesday, October 27, Virginians had cast over 2.1 million early votes. Of these early votes, 1.3 million ballots were cast in-person at Registrar’s Offices and early voting satellite centers throughout the state. The remaining early ballots (over 800,000) were returned by mail. Senatorial District 10 (covering Richmond, Chesterfield County, and Powhatan County) has these following early voting sites:

• Chesterfield County:
  • Several Chesterfield County Libraries are available for accessible early voting
    • LaPrade Library
    • Meadowdale Library
    • North Courthouse Road Library
    • Ettrick-Matoaca Library
  • The Chesterfield Registrar’s Office, located at 9848 Lori Road, also remains open.
     
• Richmond City:
  • Early voting is ongoing at the Registrar’s Office, 2134 W Laburnum Avenue.
  • Beginning this Saturday, city voters can also cast ballots at City Hall, 900 E Broad St and at Hickory Hill Community Center, 3000 E Belt Boulevard.
     
• Powhatan County:
  • Drive through early voting is at the Village Building rear parking lot, 3910 Old Buckingham Road; entrance is through Tilman Road.

If you haven’t voted yet, please be mindful that Virginia’s early in-person voting period ends this Saturday, October 31. Most satellite voting locations and Registrar’s Offices will have Saturday hours. You can still drop off your absentee ballot or cast an in-person vote on November 3 at your usual Election Day polling site. You can find more information on voting deadlines on the Department of Elections website.

Closing thoughts
First, I wish our young trick-or-treaters a safe and fun Halloween this weekend. I hope everyone practices precautions by wearing masks and distributing candy in a safe manner.

Second, don’t forget that Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday, November 1. We will be turning our clocks back, confusing pets and little ones by this time change, and gaining an extra hour of sleep on Sunday.

And finally, I remind you once more that polls across the country close in just five days, on November 3. Please, make your voices heard in this critical election and remind your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues to do the same.

-- Ghazala Hashmi

 

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