Announcements

Absentee Voting Information

* In-Person absentee voting ends Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

* All mailed absentee ballots must be received at the Office of Elections by 7:00 pm. on Election Day, November 8, 2011, in order to be counted.

In-Person Absentee Voting:

In-Person Absentee Voting is available at the North County Governmental Center, 12000 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, through November 5, Monday through Friday, 2:30 to 7:00 p.m.; Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Voter Information Cards Mailed to All Registered Fairfax County Voters

The Fairfax County Office of Elections mailed voter information cards to all registered voters.  Voters are strongly encouraged to take a few minutes to thoroughly review their voter information card before the November 8 General Election.  Due to the recent redistricting, there may be changes in your polling place and/or your state legislative districts and county supervisory district.  Often, more polling places are needed and some voters need to be shifted in order to equalize the number of voters in each district.  If you did not recieve your new voter information card, contact the Office fo Elections at 703.222.0776, TTY 711.  You may not receive a voter information card if the address is incorrect or if you are not registered to vote.  Your registration status and voter information is online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb.

Fairfax County Seeking Bilingual Spanish Speakers to Serve as Election Officers in Reston

Bilingual Spanish speakers are needed to provide voter assistance at the polls on November 8 as part of a new requirement under the federal Voting Rights Act.  Election officers are paid $100 for working Election Day, and the hours are 5:00 a.m. to approximately 9:00 p.m.  Qualifications include being a registered voter in Virginia and attending a training session prior to Election Day.  In addition, you must be able to work the entire day, and you cannot hold an elected office or be the employee of an elected official.  Bilingual Spanish speakers are especially needed in Reston.  Serving as an election officer is a rewarding way to participate in your community.  For more information, call the Office of Elections at 703.222.0776, TTY 711, or go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb for more information. 

Celebrating Special Children

Celebrating Special Children is a not-for-profit 503(c)(3) organization headquartered in Northrn Virginia and dedicated to providing information to ensure Virginians with disabilities realize their fullest potential.  Information that connects individuals with disabilities to the wealth of services available in the Commonwealth is compiled, maintained, and made available through an Internet accessible resource database.  For more information, go to www.celebratingspecialchildren.org.

Take Back the Forest T-shirt Contest

The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking young artists to submit t-shirt designs for the Invasive Management Area (IMA) program's Take Bake the Forest initiative, a partnership with REI, Inc. to restore native habitat on parkland next spring.  Youth ages 12 to 18 may submit designs that illustrate the theme of taking back the forest now through 5:00 p.m. on January 6, 2012.  Winners will receive a $50 gift certificate to REI and a t-shirt featuring their winning design.  View more information at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/press/heml/pr135-11.htm.

State Bicycle Policy Plan Published

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently completed the 2011 State Bicycle Policy Plan identifying the agency's vision and goals for the future of bicycling in the Commonwealth.  The plan ensures that bicyclists remain an integral component of Virginia's multimodal transportation system.  This plan is the first in a three-part series that VDOT has undertaken to establish the vision for the Commonwealth's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program.  Future steps include the creation of a pedestrian policy plan and an implementation document for both plans.  The Bicycle Policy Plan was created with the assistance of a Policy Implementation Team and the Department's Bicycle Advisory Committee.  To view the finalized State Bicycle Policy Plan, visit www.virginiadot.org/programs/kb-default.asp.

SCC Adopts Rule Limiting Disconnection of Electric & Water Service to Residents with Medical Problems

The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has adopted a rule that establishes limits on the ability of electric and water service providers to disconnect service to residential customers who have a serious medical condition.  The SCC was directed by the Virginia General Assembly to have such a regulation in place by October 31, 2011.  Enacted by the legislature to promote public health and safety, the new rule expands existing law that currently prohibits termination of a customer's service without 10 days notice, by mail, to the customer.  The SCC was directed to establish a rule consistent with the public interest.  Under the new regulation, any customer who provides the certification of a licensed physician that the customer has a serious medical condition or the customer resides with a family member with a serious medical condition may seek an additional 30 days before service is disconnected.  Eligible customers are encouraged to have a serious medical condition form on file with the utility.  If not on file, the regulation includes a 10-day period for supplying such form to the utility in order to have service termination delayed for 30 days from the original termination notice.  The form (SMCC) is available from the utility service provider or can be downloaded from the SCC website at www.scc.virginia.gov/pue/rules.aspx.