Check out our Guide to the 2011 Elections

BY KATIE THISDELL

Know your polling place, the candidates on your ballot and plan ahead.
That’s the advice Fredericksburg-area registrars have for voters as Tuesday draws near.
The best way to make Election Day run smoothly?
“Just call to make sure,” advised King George County Registrar Lorrie Gump.
While registrars say the number of phone calls to their offices hasn’t been too overwhelming, the nature of questions has revolved around where to vote or who the candidates are.
And some who have done in-person absentee voting have even been asking more specific questions.
“They want us to tell them all about the candidates, and we can’t do that,” Spotsylvania County Registrar Kellie Acors said.
In-person absentee voting ends Saturday for those unable to get to the polls on Tuesday.
Much of the confusion stems from the redistricting required after the U.S. Census to balance local, state and federal election districts to reflect changing populations.
And some polling places have been moved, closed or added.
In Stafford County, for instance, three precincts were added because of the county’s growth: Barrett (304), Government Island (404) and England Run (604).
Seven other precincts in Stafford have changed polling place locations, and one of those has a new name and boundary lines—that’s College (104) in the Hartwood District.
Stafford County Registrar Greg Riddlemoser said poll workers will redirect voters to their appropriate voting location. They plan to have maps available to help voters get there.
“We didn’t think it was optional,” Riddlemoser said.
Virginia voters can check the State Board of Elections website, sbe.virginia.gov, to find out where to go.
In Caroline County, Registrar Danette Moen said most of the county’s 18,088 registered voters are affected by redistricting.
“Almost all our lines changed except our outside ones,” Moen said. A sixth district was added within Caroline this year.
“Just be patient, and be nice to the officers of election—they’re not the ones who moved the lines,” Moen said.
In King George, Gump said about 1,500 of the county’s 14,314 registered voters are affected by redistricting.
This may be one of the most confusing Election Days—at least in 10 years.
Acors said about the four staffers in her Spotsylvania office are “going to be going back and forth answering different people’s phones” to assist voters.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia will also offer help on Tuesday. The organization advises voters to check their registration status prior to heading to the polls.
“Casting a ballot shouldn’t be a complicated process,” ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Kent Willis said in a statement, “but there are always glitches on Election Day.”
The ACLU hotline number is 804/644-8080, or voters may send email to acluva@acluva.org.
Some voters may have received more than one voter card through the mail, from the State Board of Elections. Registrars advise to look at those closely.
Stafford sent a new mailing two weeks ago to ensure the letters stood out in mail piles, and Spotsylvania voters are encouraged to look at the dates their cards were issued—because of a delay at the printer, cards were mailed late but should be in mailboxes now, Acors said.
One thing that can’t be anticipated ahead of time is how many people will make it to the polls.
“Really, there’s no way to tell,” said Riddlemoser, who became Stafford’s registrar in July. “It’s just if the candidates on the ballot are doing ‘get out the vote’ efforts.”
He said voters should be prepared for any circumstances that may prevent you from casting your ballot from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
“For the people that work in Northern Virginia or Maryland or Richmond, you can’t count on the weather or the freeway,” Riddlemoser said. “Election Day is Election Day. There’s no do-overs.”

Katie Thisdell: 540/735-1975
kthisdell@freelancestar.com

GET READY TO VOTE
Check your polling place
Go to sbe.virginia.gov. Click on “Voter information” in the center of the webpage. The form asks for your name, address, birth date and part of your Social Security number. You’ll be able to find out your precinct, polling place and who is on your ballot—often even with links to the candidates’ website.
Voter Registrars
You may also contact your local registrar to confirm you are registered to vote or ask other questions.
Caroline: 804/633-9083
Culpeper: 540/825-0652
Fredericksburg: 540/372-1030
King George: 540/775-9186
Orange: 540/672-5262
Spotsylvania: 540/507-7380
Stafford: 540/658-4000
Westmoreland: 804/493-8898

Bring ID to the polls
Federal and state law require all voters to provide some identification at the polls, or sign a statement, in order to vote. ID requirements also may apply to absentee voters who vote in person.