Election Day 101

photo courtesy of Dakota Cunningham

The long-awaited 2012 Election Day will finally arrive tomorrow, Nov. 6. Before you cast your vote, here's what you need to know:

When to vote
The polls will be open on Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is advised that voters visit the polling locations during the day to avoid the morning and evening rushes.

Where to vote
To verify your voting location, visit here.

What to bring
Virginia voters are required to show both a state law ID requirement and a federal law ID requirement. Acceptable documents include:

• Virginia voter information card
• Valid Virginia driver's license
• Any government-issued ID card from a government agency
• Valid student ID card from a Virginia university
• Social Security card (not accepted for federal ID requirement)
• Virginia concealed handgun permit
• Employer-issued photo ID card
• Current utility bill, paycheck or bank statement with voter's name and address. 

What's on the Virginia Ballot
The Candidates
President and Vice President of the United States
Republican Party
Mitt Romney, President
Paul Ryan, Vice President
Democratic Party
Barack Obama, President
Joe Biden, Vice President
Constitution Party
Virgil Goode, President
Jim Clymer, Vice President
Libertarian Party
Gary Johnson, President
James P. Gray, Vice President
Green Party
Jill Stein, President
Cheri Honkala, Vice President

U.S. Senator
George F. Allen (R)
Timothy M. Kaine (D)

U.S. House of Representatives, 8th District
J. Patrick Murray (R)
James P. "Jim" Moran, Jr. (D)
Janet Murphy (IG)
Jason J. Howell (I)

U.S. House of Representatives, 10th District
Frank R. Wolf (R)
Kristin A. Cabral (D)
J. Kevin Chisholm (I)

U.S. House of Representatives, 11th District
Chris S. Perkins (R)
Gerald E. "Gerry" Connolly (D)
Peter M. Marchetti (IG)
Joe F. Galdo, Jr. (G)
Christopher F. DeCarlo (I)
Mark T. Gibson (I)

Proposed Amendments to the Constitution of Virginia
Article I. Bill of Rights.Section 11. Due process of law; obligation of contracts; taking of private property;prohibited discrimination; jury trial in civil cases.
BALLOT QUESTION
“Shall Section 11 of Article I (Bill of Rights) of the Constitution of Virginia be amended
(i) to require that eminent domain only be exercised where the property taken or damaged is for public use and, except for utilities or the elimination of a public nuisance, not where the primary use is for private gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax revenue, or economic development; (ii) to define what is included in just compensation for such taking or damaging of property; and (iii) to prohibit the taking or damaging of more private property than is necessary for the public use?”
For more information, visit here.

Article IV. Legislature.Section 6. Legislative sessions.
BALLOT QUESTION
Shall Section 6 of Article  IV (Legislature) of the Constitution of Virginia concerning legislative sessions be amended to allow the General Assembly to delay by no more than one week the fixed starting date for the reconvened or "veto" session when the General Assembly meets after a session to consider the bills returned to it by the Governor with vetoes or amendments?
For more information, visit here.

Information gathered from http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/