2020 Virginia elections

Virginia state elections in 2020 was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. With the exception of its Democratic Party presidential primary election held on March 3, 2020 (its Republican Party presidential primary was cancelled by the state party),[1] its primary elections were held on June 23 of that year.[2]

Elections in Virginia
Federal government
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House
State government
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
House of Delegates
Senate
Other
Ballot measures
2016 (Fairfax County)
Alexandria
Mayor
Chesapeake
Mayor
Hampton
Mayor
Norfolk
Mayor
Richmond
Mayor
City Council
Virginia Beach
Mayor
City Council

In addition to the U.S. presidential race, Virginia voters will elect their Class II U.S. Senator and all of its seats to the House of Representatives.There are also two ballot measures which will be voted on.[2]

The state deadline for voter registration was extended for two extra days "after a severed fiber-optic cable kept voters from registering online" on October 13.[3]

To vote by mail, registered Virginia voters must request a ballot by October 23 (remotely) or by October 31, 2020 (in-person).[4] As of early October some 1,562,706 voters have requested mail ballots.[5]

Federal offices

President of the United States
Main articles: 2020 United States presidential election in Virginia and 2020 Virginia Democratic primary

Virginia has 13 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

United States Senate
Main article: 2020 United States Senate election in Virginia

United States House of Representatives
Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia

There are 10 U.S. Representatives in Virginia that will be up for election. Another seat is open after the incumbent, Denver Riggleman, lost renomination in its Republican convention.[6] Republican primary conventions were held instead of primaries at differing dates for each district.[6][7]

Ballot measures

Question 1
Main article: 2020 Virginia Question 1

Question 1, Redistricting Commission is to amend the state constitution so that the redistricting process for federal and local elections is no longer left to the state legislature but instead delegated to a commission selected by a panel of judges largely selected by majority and minority party leaders in the state legislature.[8] The initiative is supported by both Democrats and Republicans and has the support of the Virginia AARP and ACLU.[9] It is opposed by the state Democratic Party[10] and some elected Democrats[9] on the grounds that it would give inordinate power to the judges tasked with selecting citizens for the commission and that the system would not guarantee the representation of minorities on the commission.[11][12]

In August 2020, Former Virginia Democratic Chairman and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2021 Paul Goldman wrote a letter to the Virginia Department of Elections, arguing the wording of the question was misleading.[13] The Virginia Supreme Court rejected this challenge saying that the Department of Elections must put the question on the ballot with the wording agreed to by the legislature. [14]

Question 2
Question 2
November 3, 2020
Should an automobile or pickup truck that is owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability be free from state and local taxation?
Results
Response
 Votes %
Yes 3,713,771 85.99%
No 605,216 14.01%
Total votes 4,318,987 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 5,975,752 72.28%
Results by county
  Yes—70–80%
  Yes—80–90%
  Yes—90–100%
Source: Virginia Department of Elections[15][16]

Question 2, Motor Vehicle Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans asks if an automobile or pickup truck that is owned by a veteran of the US military or Virginia National Guard with a disability that is 100% service related should have that vehicle be exempt from local and state property taxes.[17]

Question 2 passed with a majority of voters in every county and independent city voting in favor of it.[15]

References
  1. Rents, Renae (October 10, 2019). "Five States Have Already Canceled GOP Primaries. Here's What You Should Know". Fortune. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  2. "Virginia elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  3. Antonio Olivo (October 14, 2020), "Federal judge extends Virginia voter registration through Thursday", Washington Post
  4. Lily Hay Newman (August 27, 2020), "How to Vote by Mail and Make Sure It Counts", Wired.com, archived from the original on October 6, 2020
  5. Michael P. McDonald, "2020 General Election Early Vote Statistics", U.S. Elections Project, retrieved October 10, 2020, Detailed state statistics
  6. Hageman, Hannah (June 14, 2020). "Virginia Rep. Riggleman, Who Officiated Same-Sex Wedding, Loses Republican Primary". NPR. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  7. "2020 District Convention: May 30th". Virginia's 8th District Republican Committee. September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  8. Leahy, Norman (September 9, 2020). "Don't expect Virginia's redistricting commission to change the political culture". Washington Post. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  9. "Virginia Question 1, Redistricting Commission Amendment (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  10. Moomaw, Graham (June 24, 2020). "Virginia Democratic Party urges voters to defeat redistricting reform amendment". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  11. Price, Marcia (October 3, 2020). "Opinion: Vote no on Virginia's Amendment 1". Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  12. "Vote NO on 1". VA Dems Arlington. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  13. "Paul Goldman Writes VA Election Commissioner, Argues Redistricting Referendum Unconstitutional". Blue Virginia. August 3, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  14. Leonor, Mel (September 11, 2020). "Virginia Supreme Court dismisses challenge to wording of redistricting amendment". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  15. "2020 November General". Virginia Elections. Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  16. "Registration Statistics". Virginia Elections. Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  17. Janney, Josh (September 16, 2020). "Virginia ballot will include 2 proposed constitutional amendments". Northern Virginia Daily. Retrieved October 19, 2020.


Further reading
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