Elections and Voting
Elections, blue catfish, huge trees, education: The Mercury’s most-read stories of 2024
The Mercury’s top 10 most-read stories this year reflect our readers’ interests in a range of issues that most affect them and communities across the commonwealth. Since January, over 2.7 million people have visited our site and read our stories on state politics and government, local, congressional and presidential elections, Virginia’s environment and evolving energy […]
Early voting kicks off in Virginia’s key special elections as reproductive rights take center stage
Early voting began on Wednesday for two key special elections in Virginia’s General Assembly, with reproductive rights groups urging support for the Democratic nominees. Voters in House District 26 and Senate District 32, many of whom had just cast ballots in last month’s presidential and congressional elections, are now being called back to the polls. […]
National Democratic group boosts Srinivasan, Singh in upcoming Virginia special elections
With a Republican-controlled White House, U.S. House and Senate on the horizon, some special elections in Virginia next month are the first opportunity for voters to challenge or reinforce Democratic majorities in the state legislature. That’s why the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is putting a spotlight on Senate District 32 and House District 26. After […]
Richmond registrar resigns following reports of code violation, misuse of public funds
Richmond registrar Keith Balmer confirmed that he resigned from his position Wednesday, a decision the city’s electoral board accepted in a closed session earlier in the day. His last day will be Dec. 31. The board met to discuss investigations that revealed multiple violations of city policy and misuse of public funds, The Richmonder reported. […]
Virginia’s new mayors include first Black woman, Indian-American at city helm
By Marlene Dolla/VCU Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — There were many competitive mayoral races across Virginia and the outcomes include some historic firsts, and two races within the margin of a recount. Democrat Alyia Gaskins ran unopposed to become the City of Alexandria’s first Black woman elected mayor. She received 94% of over 65,000 […]
Virginia prepares for special elections as McGuire, Subramanyam head to Congress
Following Tuesday’s general election, in which Virginians sent two state senators to Congress, the commonwealth is preparing for special elections to fill the seats vacated by John McGuire, R-Goochland, and Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun. McGuire, who is set to succeed U.S. Rep Bob Good, R-Farmville, in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, and Subramanyam, who was elected in […]
Richmond mayor-elect Danny Avula shares his outlook for the city
On Wednesday afternoon, standing next to outgoing Mayor Levar Stoney in front of City Hall, Dr. Danny Avula laid out his vision for Richmond and his administration, after emerging as the leading candidate in the city’s mayoral race. Avula racked up 44,832 votes, or 46%, the most of any candidate, and won in the 1st, […]
Subramanyam defeats Clancy in Va.’s 10th Congressional District race
State Sen. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun, has defeated Republican nominee Mike Clancy in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District race, according to The Associated Press. Subramanyam, a former tech policy adviser to former President Barack Obama, had said if elected, he will advocate for federal funding for Virginia infrastructure projects, which the district’s current representative, Democrat Jennifer Wexton, […]
Va.’s top elections official says no additional voters were removed from the rolls after Oct. 15
Virginia Elections Commissioner Susan Beals confirmed Tuesday that no voters have been removed from the state’s voter rolls under Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order since Oct. 15 — the deadline for Virginians to register to vote online or apply for absentee ballots. “I think the figure that has been out there is the figure that […]
Purged Virginia voters say experience has been ‘worrying’
Lynchburg resident Nadra Wilson was trying to be proactive this summer by renewing her driver’s license months ahead of its December expiration. As a longtime voter and Virginia resident of almost a decade, she never suspected she would be removed from the state’s voter rolls due to a paperwork error and caught up in a […]
U.S. Justice Department to monitor polling places in 27 states, including six Virginia localities
The U.S. Department of Justice plans to monitor compliance with federal voting laws in 27 states and 86 jurisdictions nationwide during Tuesday’s general elections. Six of those are in Virginia: Hanover, Henrico, Loudoun, and Prince William counties as well as the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. This means that personnel from the department’s Civil […]
A GOP-dominated Supreme Court resuscitates Youngkin’s late-game Virginia voter purge
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a partisan vote, did exactly what many feared it would do Wednesday in this pivotal election season and green-lighted a Republican-ordered, late-in-the-game scouring of Virginia voter rolls in search of “noncitizens.” The court’s two-thirds majority of Republican-appointed justices (three by former President and current GOP nominee Donald Trump) granted a […]