Democrats, Republicans and Independents
have devoted unprecedented amounts of money
and time preparing for today’s general elections,
gaining national press coverage along the way.
Republicans have been working hard to
maintain their hold on the state legislature, but
factors including dissatisfaction with President
Bush have them worried.
News coverage has reported both the Senate
and House of Delegates are up for grabs. The
Republicans hold the House of Delegates by 11
seats and the Senate by four seats.
Although many seats in both the House and
the Senate are unchallenged, the ones being
fought for hold key ramifications for both parties.
Voter-heavy Northern Virginia, specifically
Fairfax, Prince William, Loudon and Clarke
counties, and the Hampton Roads area all have
highly contested seats open.
Some of the key issues resonating throughout
the school auditoriums and local fairs where
candidates are campaigning are as follows:
Immigration
A Washington Post poll found that Virginia
voters, especially those in the northern part of
the state, will vote for candidates who are ready
to deal with illegal immigration.
Republicans widely support measures to
dissuade illegal immigrants from settling in the
area, while Democratic runners are split on the
issue.
Gun Control
Following the Virginia Tech shootings, gun
control is a key issue for Virginians. A Rasmussen
Report, a firm that specializes in public opinion
polls, found 69 percent of Republicans oppose
gun-control laws, while 58 percent of Democrats
want to see stricter gun-control laws.
Mental Health Laws
Going hand-in-hand with gun control, mental
health issues have been prominent concerns
during campaigning, but generally they are not
expected to be a serious splitting point.
Some key Republicans have urged for reform
of Virginia mental health laws, gathering support
of those angered by the Virginia Tech shootings.
Driver Fees
New fees aimed to penalize drunken and
reckless drivers have become a hot topic since
the controversial transportation-funding bill was
passed last legislative session. The bill’s aim is
to avoid a statewide tax increase by imposing
strict fees for reckless driving.
Republicans generally support the bill as a
way to avoid taxation while Democrats contest
it, saying it disproportionately affects the lower
class.
More than 177,000 voters signed an online
petition against the fees, according to The
Washington Post. If those voters turn up at
the polls, they could have a large effect on the
outcome.
Public Education
Republicans have been favoring a public education
reform featuring less government influence,
while Democrats want to utilize government
funds to better Virginia schools.
Is President Bush involved in the
election?
Yes, but only inadvertently. Bush’s unpopularity
has boosted Democratic support in the state,
according to The Washington Post
Why is this election causing so much
national buzz?
High spending has caught the eye of the
nation. Two Republican runners from Northern
Virginia, Jill Holtzman Vogel and Jeannemarie
Devolites Davis, have spent nearly $1.5 million
on their campaigns for the Senate, an unprecedented
amount for a state election.
Since both the Senate and the House of Delegates
seem to be up for grabs, policy makers will keep a close
watch as Virginians take to the polls on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Nov. 6, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
To find your polling location, go to:
http://sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Statistics_Polling_Places/Index.html
All seats are open in the Senate, the House of Delegates and local
offices, such as school board, board of supervisors and sheriff.