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2023 elections bring new scrutiny of Virginia’s ‘sore loser’ rule
Virginia’s so-called “sore loser” law is supposed to ensure that when a candidate is defeated in a Republican or Democratic primary, they can’t drop their party affiliation and appear on the general election ballot next to the person who beat them. As the state’s closely watched election season, which will determine control of all 140 […]
With start of early voting, Virginia begins high-stakes election season
Starting today, voters across Virginia can begin casting ballots in pivotal General Assembly elections that will decide which party controls the closely divided state legislature. The start of the 45-day early voting window — during which Virginians can cast ballots in person at their local election office or send an absentee ballot through the mail […]
After ERIC withdrawal, Virginia strikes deals with 6 states to share voter data
The Virginia Department of Elections recently signed agreements to exchange voter registration data with six other states
Virginia sees big tax bump from sports betting and casinos
Virginia is collecting more tax revenue from sports betting and casinos than fiscal analysts predicted four years ago when the state was considering legalizing more types of gambling. Taxes from sports betting more than doubled in fiscal year 2023, according to Virginia Lottery figures presented Tuesday, jumping to $67 million from $27 million the prior […]
After bashing GOP rival’s doughnut dropoffs, Democrat sent political email to school staff
A Democratic candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates sent a mass political email to employees of the Williamsburg-James City County school division where she works shortly after criticizing her Republican opponent for dropping off campaign-funded doughnuts at some of the same schools. The campaign of Democrat Jessica Anderson, who is running against Del. Amanda […]
Virginia elections board declines to help Democrat bounced from ballot over party’s typo
The lack of a “.gov” in a Democratic party official’s attempted email to the Virginia Department of Elections will apparently leave Democrats without a candidate in a Republican-leaning state Senate district this year. On Tuesday, the State Board of Elections seemed to ignore an 11th-hour appeal from a lawyer representing Trudy Berry, a Democrat who […]
Democrats question Youngkin election order and ex-lawmaker’s status as judge
Democratic leaders in the Virginia Senate are questioning the constitutional validity of an Aug. 29 special election for a Southwest Virginia House of Delegates seat and suggesting Gov. Glenn Youngkin doesn’t have the power to set it in motion. In a letter to Youngkin this week, Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, and Sen. Mamie […]
At parent-focused event, Youngkin takes aim at social media’s ‘destructive influence’
At the latest of three “Parents Matter” town halls he’s hosting around Virginia ahead of pivotal General Assembly elections this fall, Gov. Glenn Youngkin hit on his usual themes of giving parents a bigger role in schools, raising expectations for student achievement and finding “multiple pathways” for young Virginians to start careers. But one of […]
Virginia lawmaker’s promotion to judge triggers unusual special election
A Southwest Virginia delegate’s resignation last month to become a judge has triggered a snap special election for a General Assembly district that will cease to exist in a few months. Former Del. Jeff Campbell, a Republican attorney from Smyth County, resigned from his House of Delegates seat on July 14 after receiving a judicial […]
Richmond electoral board reverses itself, votes to open satellite voting sites
The Republican-controlled Richmond Electoral Board won’t be shuttering two early voting sites in Virginia’s capital after all. A week after deciding not to open two satellite locations for early voting for this fall’s elections due to cost concerns, the three-person board voted unanimously to reverse itself Friday morning following a public outcry that led other […]
Hemp retailers start seeing big fines as Virginia’s tougher THC law takes effect
Several Virginia businesses have been hit with five-figure fines this month as state officials start enforcing stricter new rules on the contents and labeling of hemp products to try to crack down on alternatives to marijuana. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services had sent five non-compliance letters as of July 24, assessing penalties […]
Judge dismisses federal lawsuit over firing of former Nottoway election official
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit over the contentious firing of former Nottoway County Registrar Angela Stewart and another election official who worked with her, ruling that city and county electoral boards function more as state bodies rather than local ones. Stewart, who had served as Nottoway’s registrar for 28 years before being removed from […]