This has been a busy election season! Thank you to all who have invited us to your amazing community events and allowed us to pop-up at your businesses! Through these pop-ups, we have been able to register new voters, help with updating registrations, assist with rights restoration applications, and share more about our work in issue advocacy and organizing.

This month, we attended:

• The Community Forum on Aging Hosted by the Peninsula Agency on Aging

• The Candidate Forum hosted by Zion Baptist Church in Newport News, and sponsored by HRCAP, Coalition of Concerned Clergy 757, and Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

• Senior Prom hosted by JenCare Senior Medical Center

• Senator Mamie Locke’s Community Day

• City Fest hosted by City on My Chest

• The 5th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Event hosted by Pretty in Pink

• Trunk or Treats hosted by Emmaus Church, Y.H. Thomas Community Center, and Ivy Baptist Church

• Community pop-ups at churches, Piggly Wiggly, Esquire Barbershop, bus stations, and more!

A special thanks to Eileen, Shannon, Valerie, & Vivian for all your help!

First time ever!

While out in the community, we have come across many people who think they can’t register to vote/vote because they think their rights haven’t been restored after a felony incarceration, only to find that their rights were restored in recent years. Check your status! You may be surprised by what you find! If you see that your rights have been restored and haven’t registered for this election, no problem! Remember same day voter registration is available! Pass along this information for those who need it! Apply/check your status at restore.virginia.gov. 

Go to linktr.ee/VABLinks to find profiles on the candidates on the ballot from various news sources. You can also always research the candidates and email/call/DM them with your questions!

Newport News Mayoral, City Council, and School Board Candidates participated in a Forum on 10/6, where they answered questions from the moderator that highlighted their vision, platform, and actions planned to improve the quality of life in Newport News. Access the forum here or on our linktree.

Absentee ballots can be returned in person by 7pm on Election Day or mailed back.

• Track Your Absentee Ballot: Check to see that your ballot has been received by going to the 'Absentee/Early Voting History' section of your voter profile at tinyurl.com/VABVoterReg. Or go to https://app.ballotscout.org/virginia/search/state. 

• If mailed back, they must be postmarked by Nov. 8th and received by 12pm on Nov. 11th.

• We encourage you to return them in person as Nov. 8th is fast approaching!

For those with a physical disability or injury, you can vote curbside at your early voting location or polling place on election day. Call the number on the signage when you arrive to alert an election official, and they will bring your ballot to you!

• Go to your polling place to vote!

  • Find your polling location by entering your address at tinyurl.com/VABVoterReg

• Polls are open 6am-7pm.

• Return your absentee ballot in-person if you didn’t already mail it back.

Yellow Cab and Coastal Ride will give senior citizens free rides to the polls on Nov. 8th in Hampton and Newport News. The offer is open to any registered voter over 60 who doesn’t have their own transportation to the polls. Those interested should call the Peninsula Agency on Aging at (757) 873-0541 by 4:00 PM on Nov. 4th.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, Hampton Roads Transit will offer free fares as a public service to help residents get to their polling places. On that day, HRT will charge no fares on its buses, light rail, ferry and other forms of transit.