As we look ahead to November’s elections, Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need about every race in town. Bookmark this page for updates! Links below will take you to either Patch coverage of the candidates or the candidate’s website.

To see all of our elections coverage from this year, click on the Elections tab in the blue menu bar above. 

Fairfax County’s local elections for Board of Supervisor, School Board and other local positions was in 2011, as were Virginia’s House of Delegates and State Senate elections.

Across Fairfax County, only these issues and people will be on ballots (presented in order from the most local issues to national candidates).

Clicking on the links below will bring you to Patch articles, the candidate’s website or other resources.

Voting Info

Absentee voting has already started and continues into early November. Information about absentee voting (how, where, and whether you qualify) is available here.

On Nov. 6, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Look up your voting precinct here.

You can also look up what is on your ballot through the State Board of Elections website.

Are you a first-time voter in Virginia? Here are some important ID requirements information for Virginia voters.

Fairfax County

There are four bond issues on the Fairfax County ballot for the following items. The exact phrasing of each ballot question is here. More information about each issue is available through these links:

• Parks and Park Facilities
• Public Libraries
• Public Safety
• Storm Drainage Improvements

Virginia Constitutional Amendments

There are two Virginia constitutional amendments on the ballot. The Virginia State Board of Elections has created this brochure explaining the issues.

8th Congressional District Four candidates are running for the U.S. representative position in Virginia’s 8th district. Three challengers are trying to unseat longtime Rep. Jim Moran. Click on each candidate below for more on each:

• Jim Moran (incumbent, Democrat)
• Patrick Murray (Republican)
• Jason Howell (Independent)
• Janet Murphy (Independent Green Party)

Patch questionnaires for each candidate in the 8th Congressional District will be published later this month. 

11th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly is currently serving his second term as Virginia’s 11^thDistrict Congressman, after beating GOP challenger Keith Fimian by a very narrow 981 votes, or .43 percent in the last election. A former Fairfax County supervisor, Connolly will have his work cut out for him against GOP opponent Chris Perkins, who is well aware of how close the 2010 election was.

In addition, Connolly faces challenges from several independent candidates, including Fairfax businessman Mark Gibson.

For more from each candidate, see Patch’s 11th District candidate questionnaires.

See also this Q&A with Chris Perkins.

See also this Q&A with Gerry Connolly. 

Here’s the full list of candidates. These links to go to the candidate's website or other online information:

• Gerry Connolly (incumbent, Democrat)
• Chris Perkins (Republican)
• Mark Gibson (Independent)
• Christopher F. DeCarlo (Independent)
• Joseph F. Galdo (Green Party)
• Peter M. Marchetti (Independent Green Party)

U.S. Senate

Defense cuts and political gridlock in Washington were the focal points of the first debate between U.S. Senate candidates (and former Virginia governors) George Allen and Tim Kaine. The debate was in September in McLean.  Here’s more on each candidate:

• George Allen (Republican)
• Tim Kaine (Democrat)

U.S. President

President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney have been criss-crossing the Commonwealth for months trying to woo swing state voters. President Obama is looking for a repeat victory in the Old Dominion. Gov. Romney handily won the Virginia primary against Rep. Ron Paul. Independent candidate Virgil Goode will also be on the Virginia ballot, along with Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green candidate Jill Stein.

Recent appearances in Virginia by President Obama and Gov. Romney include:

• President Obama at George Mason University in October
• Gov. Romney in Leesburg in October
• Gov. Romney in Springfield in September
• President Obama in Woodbridge in September
• Gov. Romney in Fairfax City in September
• President Obama in Leesburg in August
• Gov. Romney in Manassas in August

See these articles on the other candidates:

• Virgil Goode Campaigns for President Against the Odds
• Gary Johnson 2012: The Libertarian Revolution will not be Televised
• Green Party's Jill Stein: The Occupy Candidate

Here are results from 2008 from the major areas of Northern Virginia when then-Sen. Obama faced Sen. John McCain in the presidential election (this does not include third party candidates):

• Alexandria City – Obama 71.73 percent; McCain 27.25
• Arlington County – Obama 71.71 percent; McCain 27.12
• Fairfax County – Obama 60.11 percent; McCain 38.93 percent
• Loudoun County – Obama 53.66 percent; McCain 45.41 percent
• Prince William County – Obama 57.51 percent; McCain 41.62 percent
• Spotsylvania County – Obama 46.04; McCain 52.91 percent

Presidential Debate Coverage from Patch

First Presidential Debate:

• NoVa Republicans, Democrats Say Obama Faltered in First Presidential Debate
• A Contest of Gentlemen? Few Sparks in First Presidential Debate
• Speak Out: Who Won the First Presidential Debate?

Vice Presidential Debate:

• Joe Biden, Paul Ryan Clash in Fiery Vice Presidential Debate
• Speak Out: Who Won the Vice Presidential Debate?

Second Presidential Debate:

• Obama, Romney Face Off in Second Presidential Debate
• Speak Out: Who Won the Second Presidential Debate?