Henrico supervisors advance several voting changes

Supervisors approved a resolution that officially begins the process of reapportioning Henrico’s population among its five magisterial districts by adopting criteria and procedures for considering reapportionment plans and encouraging public participation in the process.

Henrico voters in the Westwood precinct may find themselves at a new polling place this fall as a change in the Brookland District’s location to Libbie Mill Library is being considered.

The current polling location, the Jewish Community Center, has served as a polling location for more than 20 years, Deputy Registrar Anne Marie Middlesworth said during Tuesday's meeting.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on election centers affected this relationship, leading Libbie Mill Library to be identified as an alternate location to serve the precinct’s more than 2,200 registered voters, she said.

The library meets all election requirements, including visibility, room availability and accessibility, she said. Additionally, it is preferable that polling locations are in public buildings such as libraries, Middlesworth said.

“I'm hoping that this will be a long standing partnership with libraries, which will bring us to four libraries that we utilize for polling places,” she said. “I think it's gonna be a really good occasion, and certainly, it's all of the things that we need for the voters to become comfortable.”

The ordinance was introduced at the supervisors' meeting on July 13, and will continue to a public hearing on Aug. 10. After the public hearing, the ordinance will go to the Attorney General’s Office for approval.

The Attorney General's Office has 60 days to review the ordinance, and if approved the county would advertise the new polling location and inform voters of the change.

Another voting ordinance introduced would establish a voter satellite office.

The satellite office for in-person absentee voting, if approved, would be piloted at the Varina Library to substantially reduce travel time for voters in the southeastern part of Henrico, according to the board paper.

The creation of the office would be the second part of a tiered approach within the county to create additional opportunities for early voting, the first being the use of drop boxes in the June primary.

The ordinance next will face a public hearing on Aug. 10.