In-person early voting for Fairfax County residents begins on Thursday, October 26, and runs until Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale, and at the Thomas Jefferson Branch Library, 7415 Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church. Weekday hours are 1 p.m. — 7 p.m.; Saturday, October 28 and November 4 hours are from 9 a.m. — 5 p.m., and hours on Sunday, October 29, are 1 p.m. — 5 p.m. Regular polling places will be open on Election Day, November 7, 2023, from 6 a.m. — 7 p.m.

This year’s ballot is long, and voters are reminded to turn over the ballot so that they can vote in all categories, including a school bond referendum. In Mason District, voters can vote for candidates for the state Senate and House of Delegates, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Mason District Supervisor, Mason District School Board, three at-large School Board seats, three at-large Soil and Water Conservation District seats, Sheriff, Commonwealth’s Attorney, a school bond referendum and, only once every eight years, the Clerk of the Court.

Redistricting for the state Senate and House of Delegates following the 2020 Census resulted in significant shifts of Mason District precincts into newly numbered legislative districts. What hasn’t changed, of course, are the county boundaries. An At-large candidate still will represent all of Fairfax County; Mason District added two new precincts, Fort Buffalo and Woodburn, in redistricting, but if you lived in Mason District before redistricting, and haven’t moved away, you still are in Mason District. The ballot you receive will have candidates for state Senate and House of Delegates, as well as the following choices: State-level candidates run by party, with a D or an R next to their name on the ballot, but candidates for local office in Virginia are not identified by party affiliation on the ballot, per state law. Countywide candidates deserving of your vote include Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Jeff McKay. Joining Jeff and running countywide are Sheriff Stacey Kincaid, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, and candidate for Clerk of the Court, Christopher Falcon.

For the first time in 28 years, my name will not be on the ballot for Mason District Supervisor, as I will retire at the end of my seventh term on December 31. The winner of the Democratic primary, Andres Jimenez, is running on a platform of environmental stewardship and service. Mason District School Board member, Dr. Ricardy Anderson, worked hard to ensure that Mason District students got the resources they needed, and she continues to advocate tirelessly for schools and students in Mason District. At-large school board candidates include two former School Board members, Ilryong Moon and Ryan McElveen; newcomer Kyle McDaniel is the third Democratically endorsed candidate.

Turn over your ballot to vote for three at-large candidates for the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District: Rhonda Bitterli, Chris Koerner, and Mason District resident Dana Barakat have the Democratic endorsement. Finally, voters are asked to consider a $435 million school bond for construction and renovation of school facilities throughout the county, including Bren Mar Park Elementary School in Mason District. Students are our most precious asset. A vote to approve school bonds is a vote to invest in their future, and ours.

Whether you vote early or at your precinct on Election Day, please remember to vote. It is your opportunity to select our leaders for the next term. Elections matter, and Mason matters!

Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.