Voting 101
Don’t Forget to Vote
Tuesday, November 3rd 2009
The Virginia gubernatorial election of 2009 is scheduled
to take place on November 3, 2009. The election will choose the
next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General of the
commonwealth of Virginia. The winners will be inaugurated in January
2010 and will serve until January 2014. The current Governor,
Democrat Tim Kaine, is not eligible to run due to term limits
established by the Virginia Constitution, though others in the
state's executive branch are not restricted.
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Brief
History
The right to vote in American politics has come
a long way. It was in 1870 when the 15th Amendment gave voting
rights to all men, regardless of race. Women were given the privilege
in 1920. Native Americans, in 1924, achieved the privilege and
right to vote. Those were all hard-won campaigns to have the right
to cast a ballot that would determine our future. The entire structure
of our government is based on ordinary citizens voting for representation
by electing our political leaders. And yet, some people think
of voting as a chore, or don't want to vote because they think
their vote doesn't count. Some people don't vote because they
don't like either candidate. Yet, voting is one of the most important
rights and responsibilities we have as Americans.
Read those news stories, visit each candidate's
website, learn about their positions on issues important to you,
and make an informed decision when you cast your vote. Doing a
little research will reveal where the candidates' stand on issues
like the war; affordable health insurance; rising food costs,
housing costs and gas prices; and more importantly what they plan
to do to resolve these issues. Decide what matters to you and
what matters to the candidates. Then vote for the candidate who
best mirrors your own beliefs.
You’ll want to make sure that you are an informed voter.
Remember, elections aren’t just about electing Presidents.
You might also see candidates on the ballot for the U.S. Senate
and House of Representatives, Governor, the state legislature,
city, council, and township offices, and judges.
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The
Candidates 09
Democratic candidate
State Senator Creigh Deeds was a member of the Virginia House
of Delegates from 1992–2001 and has served in the Senate
of Virginia since December 2001. Deeds was the 2005 Democratic
nominee for Attorney General of Virginia, losing to Republican
Bob McDonnell by 323 votes. Deeds was born on January 4, 1958
in Richmond, Virginia. After graduating from high school, Deeds
enrolled in Concord College. He then entered the Wake Forest University
School of Law, from which he received his JD in 1984.His family
moved early in his life to Bath County. His is married to Pam
Deeds and together they have four children.
Republican candidate
Attorney General Bob McDonnell served in the Virginia House of
Delegates (1992-2005) and became Attorney General of Virginia
in 2006, but resigned to campaign full time for Governor of Virginia
in the 2009 election. McDonnell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
and grew up in northern Virginia. His father, John McDonnell,
was a retired United States Air Force officer. His mother, Emma,
worked at Mount Vernon. McDonnell graduated from Bishop Ireton
High School in Alexandria, Virginia in 1972.
He attended the University of Notre Dame on an ROTC scholarship,
graduating with a B.B.A. in Management in 1976. He went on to
receive a M.S.B.A. from Boston University in 1980, and a M.A./J.D.
from the Regent University School of Law in 1989.McDonnell served
in the United States Army for four years, and sixteen in the Army
Reserve, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel[1]. While on
active duty, he ran a medical clinic in Germany from 1976-1979,
and in Newport News, Virginia from 1979-1981. He married Maureen
Patricia Gardner. They have five children.
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Leewood Polling
Place
Fairfax County, VA
PRECINCT: 531 LEEWOOD
St. John's United Methodist Church
5312 Backlick Road
Springfield, VA 22151
Directions:
From the intersection of Braddock Rd. (Route 620) and Ravensworth
Rd. (Route 649): Travel East on
Braddock Rd. Turn Right onto Backlick Rd. The church is on the
Right immediately after the
intersection of Woodland Dr.
From the intersection Edsall Rd. (Route 648) and Backlick Rd.
(Route 617): Travel South on
Backlick Rd. The church is on the Right immediately after the
intersection of Woodland Dr.
Link:
Fairfax
County Goverment information page about our polling place
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Election News
Links
SBE
Election Home Page
PBS
FOX
News
CNN
MSN
REAL
CLEAR POLITICS
YAHOO
Fairfaix
County Election Home Page Link
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Absentee
Voting Information
2008 In-Person Absentee Voting is available at seven
satellite locations
October 15 thru October 31
Monday - Friday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays, October 18, 25 and November 1, from 9:00 a.m. until
5:00 p.m.
Fairfax
County Absentee Link
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Sample Ballot
2009
2009
Sample Ballot Link
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2008
Results
PBS
MAPS
FOX
News Election Tracker
CNN
Electoral Map
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Help sometimes comes at a price or with a hidden
agenda, but our helpful guides have neither. We hope that the
information in our Leewood Times Guides
give you starting points and focus. Our goal is to assist you
in making informed decisions.
Here are the links to all the Leewood
Times Guides…
345 Money
Saving Tips
Leewood Times
75 Money Saving Travel Tips
Leewood Times
2008 Winter Guide
Leewood
Times Bar-B-Que Tips & Tricks
Leewood Times
Employment Guide
Leewood
Times Energy Saving Tips Winter
/ Summer
Leewood
Times Guide to Credit Repair
Leewood
Times Guide to Fall Festivals
Leewood
Times Guide to Going Green
Leewood
Times Guide to Holiday Entertaining
Leewood
Times Guide to Local Farmers Markets
Leewood Times
Guide to New Years Resolutions
Leewood Times
Guide to Seasonal Allergies & Pollen
Leewood
Times Guide to Spring Cleaning
Leewood
Times Guide to the Capital Beltway
Leewood Times Guide to
Volunteering
Leewood Times Guide to Voting
Leewood
Times Spring Yard Maintenance Tips
Leewood Times
Summer Fun Guide
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