Voter registration up 7 percent in Virginia; Monday is deadline

Posted to: News Presidential Election Virginia

By Cindy Clayton
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 3, 2008

Monday is the deadline for registering to vote in the Nov. 4 election.

Applications must be in the voter registration office or postmarked by Monday’s date of Oct. 6, according to the state registrar’s Web site.

Voter registration is up 7 percent in Virginia this year, the Associated Press was reporting. Elections officials say 306,215 Virginians have registered to vote this year, the news agency said.

Nearly 4.9 million Virginians were registered to vote as of Thursday, according to AP. Democrat Barack Obama appeared to be favored with the largest percentage increase in Richmond.

The deadline for absentee voters is Oct. 28 and applications must be in the registrar’s office by then, the state registrar's site says. The last day absentee voters can vote in person is Sat., Nov. 1.

First-time voters can get more information at The PilotOnline.com's First Voter Web site..

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Bobby Scott

Submitted by devis1 on Sat, 10/04/2008 at 11:33 am.

Bobby Scott voted NO. Get a clue.

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Great to see folks turning out

Submitted by William Bailey on Fri, 10/03/2008 at 10:35 pm.

It is great to see ALL American's interested in this election. It is a shame some folks have to turn everything into a black/white or R vs D issue. Get real...

Can't we all just enjoy the fact that EVERYONE is involved? Isn't that what we have always wanted? More involvement by the citizens is a wonderful thing... Frankly no matter who you support, please get out and VOTE on November 4th!!! American will be better off for it...

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Honestly!!!!

Submitted by meme15191 on Fri, 10/03/2008 at 6:23 pm.

Honestly I hate to say it but he did not mean any harm. Being an African American myself, I have seen alot of community organizations rallying to get Blacks registered because in the past there are alot of Blacks who are known not to vote because they have been brainwashed or have brainwashed themselves into believing their vote does not count. It is unfortunate but in some prodominately black neighborhoods it is true!!!!

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Register to vote so we can vote OUT "Banker Buddy" Bobby Scott!

Submitted by rosethornil on Fri, 10/03/2008 at 3:55 pm.

Bobby Scott (Dem-VA) is just now finishing his 8th term in Congress. Despite the fact that Virginia voters were 10-to-1 against this "no banker left behind" bill, Bobby voted in favor of it. Pack your bags, Mr. Scott. I hope and pray my fellow Virginians will be sending you back home where you can't do any more damage.

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not illegal

Submitted by hope2Bimpartial on Fri, 10/03/2008 at 9:51 am.

Not illegal.

Given the historic under-registration of minorities, I expect that is the dynamic. Perhaps if you see it again, you can politely ask what group he is working for and call their office to complain. Most stories give any group/party a place to register folk.

I'm currently out in CA, in a very politically conservative area. At the stores it is Republicans who want to tag folk (only white & Hispanic) to register for that party. I expect you saw the reverse with Democrats. It does look weird, huh?

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Racism in voter registration

Submitted by martin3996 on Fri, 10/03/2008 at 9:30 am.

Yesterday at the Farm Fresh on Little Creek in Norfolk, there was a young man registering people to vote. He only approached black people. Is it legal to only offer to register individuals of one race?

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vp debate

Submitted by saradaves on Fri, 10/03/2008 at 8:31 am.

The more I watch Palin the more embarrassed I am for her. I felt like I was watching the interview portion of an over 40 Miss America pageant. It is a crying shame that Biden had to dumb down during a vice presidential debate, just to keep from making Palin look incredibly stupid - so his over 3 decades of experience and superior intelligence would not be misconstrued as condescending. Biden was entertained by her attempt at adorableness, and I think he showed more patience than most could have. He also made no reference to Palin's "McClellan" blunder. I remember Bush also "winking" repeatedly, (like Palin) at the public during the debates in 2000 when he wasn't making any sense. I wonder if she was taught that strategy at debate camp.

I am so embarrassed for America. How could we allow someone so obviously inexperienced and ignorant, frankly, run for vice president? I would really like to hear what H. Clinton has to say about her... I wish she would just come out and tell the people how she feels about the Republican party blatantly lowering the standards of this race.

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