Webb Election Headquarters can be reached at (703) 778-4080.
Roanoke:(540) 345-1122
Hampton Roads:(757) 200-9745
Charlottesville:(434) 295-0046
Richmond:(804) 440-8840
The Democratic National Committee maintains a point of contact if you run into problems at your polling place. It is called the Voter Protection Resource Center and you can reach them by calling 1-888-336-8683. The DNC has mobilized lawyers to help if you run into problems with election rules, or need other assistance.
The Virginia Democratic Party contact is (800)322-1144 or (804)644-1966. Make sure you know what precinct you are at, and have the specifics of your problem summarized. Be professional.
If all else fails, call the Virginia Board of Elections at (800)552-9745.
If you encounter problems:
-Be courteous - remember, you represent Jim Webb.
-Know your voting rights (they are provided below).
-Request the names of election officials involved in any interaction.
-Keep notes, auto license plate numbers, and physical descriptions of involved persons.
-take a camera.
Now, on to your Virginia Voting Rights:
As a Virginia Voter, you have the following rights:
* To be treated with courtesy and respect by the election officials
* To be notified if your voter registration has been accepted or denied.
* To vote if you have registered at your current address at least 29 days before Election Day.
* To seek help from the election officials if you are unsure about anything relating to the voting process.
* To be given a demonstration of how the voting equipment works.
* To have your paper ballot voided BEFORE IT IS CAST and be given a new one if you feel you have voted incorrectly. (This applies only if your polling place uses paper or paperGÇôstyle [punchcard or optical scan] ballot.)
* To enter the full name of a write-in candidate if the candidate of your choice is not on the ballot (except in party primaries).
* To have a ballot brought to your vehicle instead of entering the polling place if you are 65 years of age or older, or if you are disabled.
* To have an officer of election or other person help you vote if you are physically disabled or unable to read or write. Blind voters may have any person assist them. Other voters may have anyone who is not their employer or union representative assist them.
Note: The officer of election or other person so designated who assists you in the preparation of your ballot shall do so in accordance with your instructions, without soliciting your vote or in any manner attempting to influence your vote, and shall not in any manner divulge or indicate, by signs or otherwise, how you voted on any office or question.
* To vote even if you have no identification with you at the polling place. You must sign the GÇ£Affirmation of IdentityGÇ¥ statement before voting if you have no ID.
* To vote a Provisional Ballot if your status as a qualified voter is in question, and to be present when the Electoral Board meets to determine if your ballot will be counted. See GÇ£Provisional BallotsGÇ¥ below.
* To bring your minor child (age 15 or younger) into the voting booth with you to observe you vote.
* To vote if you are in line by 7:00 p.m. when the polls close.
* To cast an absentee ballot if you are qualified to vote absentee.
You cannot be denied the right to vote if you are eligible to do so.
As a Virginia Voter, you have the following responsibilities:
* To treat the election officials with courtesy and respect.
* To keep your voter registration information up-to-date with your current address.
* To show your identification (ID) at the polls. If you do not have an ID with you at the polling place, you may still vote if you sign an Affirmation of Identity statement, depending on your registration status. See GÇ£Provisional BallotsGÇ¥ below.
* To request assistance if you do not know how to use the voting equipment or have other questions about the voting process, or need assistance preparing your ballot because of a physical disability or inability to read or write.
* To check your ballot for correctness BEFORE casting it.
* To understand that once your ballot is cast, you CANNOT be given another ballot even if you think you voted incorrectly.
* To ask the election official to call the General RegistrarGÇÖs office BEFORE you leave the polling place if you have problems regarding your eligibility to vote or the casting of your ballot.
Provisional Ballots:
A Provisional Ballot is a paper ballot which is cast separately and sealed in a green envelope. An officer of election will assist the voter in completing the information on both sides of the envelope. The voter must provide the information requested and sign the Statement of Voter.
Provisional Ballots are not counted on Election Day. Your local Electoral Board will meet the day after the election to determine whether each provisional voter was qualified to vote. The votes of qualified voters will then be counted and included in the results for your locality.
Provisional voters are allowed to be present when the Electoral Board meets to determine if their vote was valid. The election officials will tell each provisional voter when and where the Electoral Board will meet, and provide a phone number to call to find out if their Provisional Ballot was counted.
Provisional Ballots are used:
* When the voterGÇÖs name is not on the pollbook, the voter believes he is registered in that precinct, and the registrarGÇÖs office cannot be contacted to verify that the voter is registered.
Note: If a voter choose to vote a Provisional Ballot because they are at the wrong polling place and are unable or unwilling to go to the correct polling place, their vote will not be counted.
* When a voter who registered by mail on or after January 1, 2003, and did not mail in a copy of their ID at that time, fails to show one of the federally-required forms of ID when voting for the first time in a federal election.
* When the normal voting hours are extended by court order.
Acts of Election Fraud and Misrepresentation
* No person may procure or submit materially false, fraudulent or fictitious voter registration applications.
* No person may submit false information as to name, address, citizenship or period of residence in a voting district for the purpose of establishing eligibility to register or vote in any election.
* No person may intentionally register at more than one address at the same time, or vote more than once in the same election.
* No person may carry the official ballot furnished by the officers of election further than the voting booth, and should they decide not to vote after receiving the ballot, they shall immediately return the ballot to the officers.
* No person may procure, cast or tabulate materially false, fraudulent or fictitious ballots in any election.
* No person may pay, offer to pay or accept payment for voting, registering to vote, withholding their vote, or voting for or against any candidate.
If you feel your voting rights have been violated or that you may have witnessed an election law being broken, contact the State Board of Elections at 1-800-552-9745
Thanks to Lowell, Josh, Rob, et al for getting me involved, this has been a very rewarding experience. A great community of activists!
1. Be smiley and friendly!
2. Take sample ballots and information on ISSUES!
3. Have information on all three amendments because you will be asked.
4. Take an umbrella.
5. Wear warm clothes (layers).
6. Take pens, pencils and paper.
7. Charge your cell phone.
8. Have a phone number list.
9. Take a book to read in case it gets slow.
10. Paper weights for your table in case it gets breezy.
11. A camp chair and an extra one if you have it.
12. A page of voters' rights and responsibilities.
13. Something to eat and drink.
14. Know the rules - e.g., no political t-shirts or stickers inside the polls, and know the boundaries.
15. Inside workers cross check against the absentee list carefully and frequently.
16. Make sure inside and outside people understand about provisional ballots.
17. If you have leftover lapel stickers or balloons take them for children.