Blue rocks at Northside Social. On Nov. 7, every seat in the House of Delegates and State Senate is on the ballot.
There are little blue rocks painted with the word “VOTE” popping up all over Arlington. Why? Informed sources say it is because an organization called “We of Action Virginia” also known as “WOFA”, painted over 1,000 of them last week. The group hopes people who might not otherwise vote will see the rocks and make a plan to vote. They see key issues that are important to voters as being unusually vulnerable this election cycle.
Virginia has elections every year but often residents don’t vote if it is not a gubernatorial or presidential election. WOFA hopes to
Blue rocks at the Chill Zone. Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate and are three seats short of a majority in the House.
The little blue rocks are also out there to remind people to vote early. Studies have shown voting during the entire voting period (Sept. 22-Nov 7) may increase turnout among particular demographic groups, particularly working people who can’t always get away to vote. It cuts wait times at the polls, and allows for the correction of errors, particularly if an on-line or mail-in ballot is being used, but also when you show up to cast your vote and find out you had not changed your address when you moved. With early voting, there is time to correct those errors. Same day voting doesn’t usually allow for that.
Many like to physically cast a vote and for those, early voting in person is a way to vote early but in person. You can vote early in person up until Nov. 4th; bring a friend.
This election is particularly consequential as it will determine party control of the currently divided legislature for the final two years of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's term. Legislation on issues like abortion, banned books, education funding, healthcare, voting rights, gender discrimination, and clean energy can be decided in the next two years.
For more information on how to register, vote, and check your status, see: https://upvoteva.org or https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation and for more information on WOFA, see: https://wofava.org