Before the votes can be tallied, the voters must be tallied. Local registrars have been slowly shoveling themselves out from the flurry of paperwork they received around the October 6 voter registration deadline. The final count? The City of Charlottesville has 28,646 registered voters and Albemarle County boasts a total of 67,259.
The numbers are impressive considering the total population of both areas. Charlottesville has 80 percent of its eligible population registered to vote. Albemarle County has an even bigger share, with an estimated 95 percent of its eligible population registered.
“That’s based on the last census estimates from 2005,” says county registrar Jake Washburne, “but [our population] has to be higher. It’d be nice if it were exactly accurate, but it is our closest estimate.” Since the deadline passed, Washburne says, “it’s been like climbing out from under a snow bank.”
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City voter registration by precinct. If more than 4,000 people vote in a precinct, state law says the city must consider redrawing the map. Jefferson Park, Recreation and Venable all present that possibility. |
Both the city and county are swelling with newly registered voters. Between January 1 and October 6 of this year, Charlottesville has registered 3,390 new voters, and Albemarle County has registered 5,532 new voters. That’s a 7 percent increase for the county and almost an 11 percent increase for the city.
In the county, almost every precinct has seen an increase of at least 100 registered voters. The city, meanwhile, will likely have to reshape its precinct map if turnout is as high as expected.
“If a precinct votes over 4,000, then by law we need to report to our governing agency [the City of Charlottesville] to consider redrawing our precincts,” says Sheri Iachetta, city registrar.
Three precincts are likely to see some re-drawing in future elections. Jefferson Park and Recreation precincts have gained about 1,000 voters and have more than 4,500 voters total. The Venable precinct has increased by 2,204 voters, putting its total at 5,614.
But of more immediate concern to local voters will be parking on election day. Specifically, the Venable, Clark, Alumni, Tonsler and Downtown precincts are expected to be major headaches. Iachetta suggests carpooling, which not only frees up spaces but also gives you someone to yak with while waiting in those long lines.
You can also vote early (with an acceptable excuse) by a method known as in-person absentee. If you are a city resident, head down to the City Hall annex and if you’re a county resident, go to the county office building on Fifth Street Extended.
One thing you can’t do: Wear that Obama t-shirt. The Virginia State Board of Elections announced last week that any article of clothing with a political affiliation is banned from polling places. The Board chair told precincts to prepare for such rabble rousers with vests, ponchos or trashbags.
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