Fredericksburg residents encouraged to vote absentee for May 5 elections

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor contagion will keep Fredericksburg from going through with its plans for a General Election on May 5.

There are three seats on the City Council up for grabs, to include the mayor’s seat. There are also two at-large seats on the city School Board that are up for grabs.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic and the recent stay-at-home order issued by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam effective through June 10, voters will not be able to go to the polls and they won’t be able to meet the candidates face to face.

However, Marc Hoffman, the city’s voter registrar,  has made sure that voters will have their voice heard at the polls come May 5.

Officials tell Potomac Local News all eligible voters are being strongly encouraged to vote via absentee ballot.

• There is a May 5, 2020, Absentee Voter application may be submitted online to request an absentee ballot that will be mailed to recipients. 
• The reason code that is to be marked on the application is “2A-My disability or illness”.

The last day to request an absentee ballot for the May 5 election to be mailed to voters is Tuesday, April 28.

These are the current races being run in the Fredericksburg elections:

• Current Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw will be running for re-election against her opponent Anne G. Little.
• Matthew Kelly and Kerry Devine are also running for re-election for the At-Large council seats. Jon Gerlach, a would-be newcomer to the council, is also seeking this seat. 
• Fredericksburg School Board At-Large Members Jannan Holmes and Jarvis Bailey are currently running for re-election unopposed for the two open seats in this race.
• Write-In candidates will be counted in this election.

Absentee voting for this election began on March 20. Monday, April 13 is the last day to register to vote, and Tuesday, April 28 is the last day to request an absentee ballot.