Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there another Special Election ?

Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw has been elected to Congress, creating a vacancy on the Board of Supervisors.

When is the Democratic primary for the Special Election?

Voting for the Democratic Primary, which is being run by the Fairfax County Democrats, will be October 4th from 9am – 5pm in-person at Special Polling Locations. There is an online option which begins October 2nd at 9am and ends October 4th at 5pm.

Where do I vote on Oct. 4th?

Voting will be held at the Kings Park Library and the Fairfax County Government Center. 

How do I vote online?

Good question. To vote online you will need to pre-register between 9am, Saturday September 27th and 5pm, Wednesday October 1st. The preregistration link has not been released yet, check back here regularly for updates. 

Online voting begins Thursday, October 2nd at Noon. Voters who have pre-registered will be automatically sent the link to vote and a unique, anonymous voter ID. Be prepared for two-factor authentication on the cell phone number you provided when pre-registering. The voting system is called ElectionBuddy, your credentials will come directly from them.

If you have not pre-registered, you will need to vote in-person at the voting location of your choice. In-person voting locations are Kings Park Library and the Fairfax County Government Center. No pre-registration is required for in person voting.

Will I be filling out a paper ballot at the in-person voting location?

No, there is a special procedure for this election. You will be registering on-site at the voting location, and will be voting online with a unique, anonymous voter ID. Computers will be provided at the polling location, and there will be volunteers there to guide you through the process. No pre-registration is required for in person voting.

Is there anything else different about this election?

They will be using Rank Choice Voting (RCV), which allows voters to rank the candidates in order of preference: 1, 2, 3, … Remember to rank Rachna #1.

Also, the Democratic Party participants, whether remote or in-person, will have to sign a pledge affirming that they are a qualified voter in the Braddock District and that they do not intend to support any candidate that is opposed to the Democratic nominee in this Special Election. 

How do they verify that I am a qualified voter?

The Democratic Party’s voter file will be used to verify voter status. Participants whose registration can not be confirmed will be requested to submit a provisional ballot.

If I am in line at 5pm can I still vote?

Yes, as long as you are in line to check in prior to 5pm for in-person voting, you will be permitted to vote. Online voting closes promptly at 5pm.

Can I vote absentee?

Yes, but the process is different than in a regular election. The only absentee voting is online voting. Just follow the directions above for online voting. College students, members of the armed services, people out of town, or anyone who prefers to vote online can take advantage of the online option. There are no requirements other than you must be a qualified registered voter in the Braddock District, and you must sign the pledge.