THE BALLOT IS HERE

Early voting in Virginia begins tomorrow. We took a poll and have decided to go in person over to the North County Governmental Center over in Reston around this time next week when they have got things organized and we can present photo identification and be done with our part in determining what sort of civics lessons we will learn until the 2028 Generals that will determine the next wild vortex we will ride to our future.

We could reject a vista that currently has some promise, even if diesel is a little pricey. There is a plan! Or, we could return to the depressing systematic destruction of what was once good and generally decent system. We intend to get our part out of the way and relax with an early electoral Happy Hour!

Here is what we are going to get out of the way: this is not merely a congressional ballot. Virginians are being asked to decide three changes to the Commonwealth’s Constitution, along with the Senate and House contests and, here in Fairfax, two substantial bond questions.

The constitutional questions purportedly concern reproductive freedom, marriage and the automatic restoration of voting rights after felons are released from custody. Those descriptions are not campaign shorthand; that is what Virginia election authorities say the amendments do. If approved by voters on November 3, they become part of Virginia’s Constitution on January 1, 2027.

There is a political dimension worth noting. Metro DC DSA and other Virginia DSA chapters have endorsed YES on all three amendments and are actively canvassing for them. The subjects also overlap with elements of DSA’s published national program.

That does not make them DSA-authored amendments, nor does DSA support by itself determine what the amendments mean. It does tell voters something about the political coalition supporting them.

Then come the more familiar questions: Who represents Virginia in Washington? Who represents us in the House? And what exactly are Fairfax taxpayers authorizing when we approve another round of county borrowing?

That is what this ballot primer is about, since the actual provisions of things like Question One are worth discussion.

Not slogans. Not the television ads. The actual choices on the ballot.

We think the answers are pretty simple, though we were surprised that some of the Questions appeared on the ballot as simple sentences defining state policy on significant issues without much discussion. We support the two County bond issues, since we think the rec centers should be cleaned up, but are not sure 16 more beds at the teen de-toxx center are going to be enough to handle what might be coming after passing the other Questions.

Anyway, we were surprised when we saw some of the things on the short ballot here in our Olde Dominion. It’s about time to look at yours and see what sort of questions they have for you, too!

Copyright 2026 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com