Election Ballots Will Not Include Local Candidates’ Party Affiliation

Despite Del. Thomas A. “Tag” Greason’s (R-Loudoun) efforts last year, the ballots voters see in November will not include party affiliation labels for county and local candidates.

The state law banning a D, R or I next to any local candidate’s names is an effort to prevent local elections from becoming too political, The Washington Post reported this morning.

But it can be confusing for voters who want to vote along party lines—particularly for people who may have difficulty remembering names.

Fairfax County has Few Unchallenged Seats

Fairfax County races for state senate, state house of delegates and county positions more commonly have two or more candidates than other regions of Virginia. 

Voting along party lines isn’t an option in many races across the state.

A Washington Post editorial noted just 27 percent of House of Delegates contests statewide have both Democrats and Republicans running.

In Fairfax County, races are quite a bit more competitive:

• All 9 senate district seats are in contested races
• 11 of 17 house districts (or 64.7 percent) are contested;
• 6 of 9 (66.7 percent of) County Board of Supervisors district seats are contested and the chair’s race and sheriff’s race both have more than one candidate.
• Several school board positions also have more than one candidate, though officially all candidates are non-partisan.