This Tuesday is Election Day, which means Virginians will get the chance to vote on a variety of state and local positions. Here’s what’s on the ballot for residents of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
Voters who are registered in the Jack Jouett Magisterial District — comprised of Albemarle voting precincts 201, 202 and 203 — and the City of Charlottesville — a separate locality divided into nine precincts — will see ballots that include candidates for state Senate and House of Delegates positions.
The Jack Jouett District ballot will also include candidates for the Albemarle Clerk of Court, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Sheriff, Albemarle School Board and Soil and Water Conservation Director. The City of Charlottesville ballot will include members for City Council, Charlottesville School Board as well as Soil and Water Conservation Director.
The majority of students living on Grounds will be voting for the Jack Jouett District, while most living in off Grounds housing will be voting in the City of Charlottesville. Voters can confirm their polling location and voter registration status on the Virginia Department of Elections website.
The two candidates running for the Virginia State Senate 11th District seat — representing Charlottesville, Albemarle, Amherst, Nelson and parts of Louisa Counties — are incumbent Creigh Deeds (D-Va.) and challenger Phillip Hamilton (R-Va.).
Deeds has served in both the House of Delegates and Senate since 2001 and is one of the Senate’s highest-ranking Democrats. His platform includes strengthening mental health resources, protecting abortion rights and banning assault weapons..
Hamilton currently works as a historian and paralegal. His platform includes support for limiting gun-control legislation, banning abortions after 15 weeks, imposing term-limits for politicians and banning minors’ access to gender-affirming care.
Albemarle County, Jack Jouett District
Albemarle’s Jack Jouett District is part of the 55th House of Delegates District — representing parts of Albemarle, Louisa, Nelson and Fluvanna Counties — and includes candidates Amy Laufer (D-Va.) and Steve Harvey (R-Va.).
Laufer currently serves on the State Senate Disability Commission and previously served on the Charlottesville City School Board. Laufer supports protecting abortion access, banning further oil and gas pipelines in Virginia, creating paid family and medical leave programs and strengthening gun control legislation.
Harvey previously served in the U.S. Army and currently runs the First Free Coffee Bar, named after the First Amendment. His legislative priorities include ending same-day voter registration, eliminating gun-control and gun-free zones, expanding nuclear power and lowering state taxes.
The other positions on the Jack Jouett District ballot are all unopposed.
The Albemarle School Board has one open seat and two candidates running — Allison Spillman and Meg Bryce.
Spillman currently serves on the board of directors for Reclaimed Hope Initiative, a faith-based organization working with families navigating adoption, foster care and caring for children with disabilities.
Bryce is the daughter of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and teaches undergraduate psychology part-time at the University. She has expressed concerns about School Board members dismissing some parents’ opposition to anti-racist and LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculums being taught at public schools.
Jon Zug is running for a second term as Clerk of Court, an eight year position that manages land and court records as well as general court functioning for Albemarle County.
Incumbent Jim Hingley is running again for Albemarle Commonwealth’s Attorney position, which manages prosecuting criminal and traffic offenses. Incumbent Chan Bryant is also running for another term as Albemarle Sheriff, and Steven Meeks and Mark Wastler are running for the two Albemarle Soil and Water Conservation seats.
City of Charlottesville
The City of Charlottesville is part of the 54th House of Delegates District — representing Charlottesville and parts of Albemarle County — where Katrena Callsen (D-Va.) is running unopposed. Callsen currently serves as the Deputy City Attorney for Charlottesville and Chair of the Albemarle County School Board.
The other positions on the City of Charlottesville Ballot are all unopposed. The Ballot includes three open City Council Seats and three candidates — Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook, Council Member Michael Payne and Natalie Oschrin, a wedding sales manager at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards.
There are also two open seats for Charlottesville Soil and Water Conservation Director and only one candidate — Joseph Thompson, who has served in the position since 2016. The other seat will be determined by write-in votes.
The Charlottesville School Board election will appear only on the City of Charlottesville ballot. There are currently four open seats and four registered candidates — Chris Meyer, a renewable energy project developer who lost an election for the seat in 2019, Amanda Burns, a member of the Walker-Buford Parent Teacher Association and healthcare administrator, Nicole Richardson, a homeless prevention administrator with The Haven, and Shymora Cooper, a housing counselor with Piedmont Housing Alliance.
Polls will open tomorrow at 6 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m. Same-day voting registration is available to those with a state-issued Virginia ID or Driver’s License. Students for Equity and Reform in Virginia is offering free golf cart rides to the polls for students. Additionally, the Student Council is offering free cab rides to the polls for students.
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