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TAKE ACTION. Join the Arlington Dems for our monthly meeting on Feb 3, 2021 at 7 PM in Eastern Time! Like previous months, we are asking that all attendees pre-register for the monthly meeting. You must register in advance for our monthly meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. View the Agenda | View the Presentation | View the Video

ARLINGTON, Va., Friday, Jan. 15, 2021—The Arlington County Democratic Committee today announced that a previously publicized socially distanced inauguration celebration will instead be virtual, in response to heightened safety concerns in Washington following last week’s insurrection attempt by right-wing extremists at the U.S. Capitol. “In the spirit of responsible leadership, Arlington Democrats have made the difficult decision to convert our previously planned, socially distanced, in-person watch party to a virtual Zoom event,” Arlington Democrats Chair Jill Caiazzo said. “We appreciate the service and sacrifice by all local and federal law enforcement during the difficult time—including the Arlington Police Department, Washington Metro Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police, and deployed National Guard units. We’ve regrettably decided that the best way to enable them to focus their full attention on the very real security threats our country faces is for us to stay home and celebrate the historic inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris virtually.” Virtual Swearing-In Watch Party Rather than gathering together at previously announced locations in Arlington to witness the swearing-in together, Arlington Democrats now invite anyone wanting to commemorate this historic event to join us on the Zoom video platform beginning at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Participants should register in advance at THIS LINK to receive login credentials via email. A previously announced Inaugural Ball Watch Party that Arlington Democrats is co-hosting with Arlington Young Democrats will proceed as previously announced, at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Advance registration also is required for the inaugural ball watch party at THIS LINK. More details are available at arldemsold.local/inauguration. Arlington Democrats Undeterred Despite last week’s violence and the impact it has had on the presidential inauguration, Arlington Democrats vow to remain an important and vocal force for progressive change in Arlington and beyond. “We will not allow the un-American actions of far-right extremists to dictate our agenda or silence our voices,” Caiazzo said. “We’ll channel our anger at the current situation and redouble our efforts to bring about a more prosperous, just, and verdant future.” In addition to its inaugural activities, Arlington Democrats will support Monday’s Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while the organization’s Black Caucus will host African-American History Month events in February. Arlington Democrats also will hold a particularly meaningful President’s Day Weekend of Action, Saturday, Feb. 13-Monday, Feb. 15. More details will follow. Commemorative Swag Pack Even as activities go virtual, participants can celebrate in style with an Arlington Democrats commemorative swag pack. Each pack includes a Biden/Harris bumper sticker; a Biden/Harris inauguration mini flag with car mount; four Biden/Harris inauguration buttons; and sweet treats to relish during the events. Swag packs are available for $50 while supplies last, and will be delivered to Arlington homes by 10 a.m. on Jan. 20. Proceeds will help Arlington Democrats gear up for the 2021 gubernatorial election. Swag packs can be ordered now at http://arldemsold.local/inauguration-swag/. The Arlington County Democratic Committee (Arlington Democrats) is the official county organization for the Democratic Party of Virginia. Arlington Democrats is open to anyone interested in advancing Democratic candidates, policy priorities and values in Arlington. Learn more at the Arlington Democrats website, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. ###

Commemorative Swag Packs Also for Sale to Help Supporters Celebrate in Style ARLINGTON, Va., Monday, Jan. 11, 2021—The Arlington County Democratic Committee, whose members joined with the decisive majority of the country to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President, will celebrate the Inauguration Day Jan. 20 with two free, socially distanced events. In addition, Arlington Democrats are offering commemorative swag packs to make the celebration even more festive. “With extremists threatening our democracy, we are more determined than ever to celebrate the peaceful transfer of power to President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, who fairly won their election based on the hard work of the Arlington Democrats and thousands of other activists across the Commonwealth and the country,” Arlington Democrats Chair Jill Caiazzo said. Swearing-In Watch Party ** This event has been changed to a virtual event. See the news release about the virtual event. ** Arlington Democrats will convene at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at three public WiFi locations in Arlington to view or listen to the swearing-in ceremony together. Attendees are welcome by car or by foot and will tune-in via their phones or car radios to witness the historic proceedings together. The event locations are: Barcroft Community Center (4200 S Four Mile Run Dr.) Central Library (1015 North Quincy St.) Langston-Brown Community Center (2121 N Culpeper St). Participants are encouraged to wear Biden/Harris or Democratic apparel, and to decorate their cars and bring horns, bells or other noise makers to signal to the community their support of the Biden/Harris administration. More details, including public health restrictions, are available at arldemsold.local/inauguration. Inaugural Ball Watch Party Join Arlington Democrats and Arlington Young Democrats to participate virtually in the Biden/Harris Inauguration Committee’s evening festivities, including the traditional inaugural ball—gowns and tuxedos optional. The committee’s Zoom watch party will begin at the start of the official nighttime inaugural activities at 7 p.m., and will feature breakout rooms with fun for the entire family. Advance registration for the Arlington Democrats’ virtual inaugural ball watch party is required. Additional details will follow. Commemorative Swag Pack Whether you join the Arlington Democrats’ inauguration festivities or witness history at home, Arlington Democrats is offering flair for the event with a limited number of commemorative swag packs. Each pack includes a Biden/Harris bumper sticker; a Biden/Harris inauguration mini flag with car mount; four Biden/Harris inauguration buttons; and sweet treats to relish during the events. Swag packs are available for $50 while supplies last, and will be delivered to Arlington homes by 10 a.m. on Jan. 20. Proceeds from your purchase will help Arlington Democrats gear up for the 2021 gubernatorial election. Swag packs can be ordered now at http://arldemsold.local/inauguration-swag/. Commemoration Marks Months of Work during Hard-Fought Campaign Arlington Democrats have plenty to celebrate. Legions of Arlington Democrats and Arlington Young Democrats worked exhaustively during a campaign re-imagined to comply with public safety measures required by the COVID-19 pandemic. Democratic votes in Arlington and across the Commonwealth easily secured Virginia’s 13 electoral votes, which contributed to the 306 total votes amassed by Biden and Harris. More than 80% of Arlingtonians voted Democratic in the presidential race, contributing to a net margin of over 80,000 votes. Arlington Democrats also were instrumental in the decisive victories of U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, Rep. Don Beyer, Arlington Board member Libby Garvey, and two candidates endorsed in the nonpartisan School Board races, Cristina Diaz-Torres and David Priddy. Hundreds of Arlington volunteers called, texted, and wrote to voters across Virginia and the country. The Beyond Arlington, Blue Families and Arlington Young Democrats campaign programs actively worked on behalf of the Biden-Harris ticket and Democratic congressional candidates across more than half-dozen states beyond the Commonwealth, including the swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which were pivotal to Biden’s victory. “Even in the face of a pandemic that is ravaging our country, Arlington Democrats effectively continued our efforts to support Democratic candidates across the commonwealth and the country,” Caiazzo said. “Arlingtonians reaffirmed that they have a clear vision of where Virginia and the country should be headed—to a more equitable, sustainable, and just nation. We’re proud to have contributed to critical victories in Virginia and other battleground states in 2020, and we’ll continue our efforts in Virginia’s critical statewide elections in 2021.”

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 00:25:42 +0000 Whereas the hallmark of democracy is the peaceful transition of power by elected leaders, and Whereas, the current procedure to assure that votes of the Electoral College are tabulated in an open and transparent way is outlined in the Electoral Count Act, and Whereas, the United States Capitol is the seat of our government which embodies our tradition of open, transparent and democratic government, and Whereas, a group of Pro-Trump extremists physically attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, destroying property and leading to at least one casualty; and Whereas, the attack on the U.S. Capitol temporarily halted the ceremonial tabulation of the Electoral College votes in an unprecedented assault upon U.S. democracy and the peaceful transition of government in the United States. Therefore, be it resolved, that: 1) We condemn in the strongest possible terms the violent actions of the Pro-Trump extremists who invaded the U.S. Capitol 2) We condemn President Trump for failing to disavow these extremists; 3) We call for a prompt restoration of order, an open and transparent resolution to the 2020 Presidential election under the provisions of law, and a peaceful transition of power in keeping with our most cherished democratic traditions. 4) We commend DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan for taking decisive steps to restore order in the District of Columbia, and we salute the brave men and women of the National Capitol Police, Virginia National Guard, Maryland National Guard, and all other members of law enforcement responding to the current emergency. 5) We urge every citizen to reflect upon today's events and renew their commitment to keeping our democracy vibrant with differences resolved through debate and elections rather than through violence and lawlessness. Passed and Approved on the 6th day of January, 2021.

Photo credit: Scott McCaffrey, InsideNoVa WHEREAS Charlene Bickford retired from the Arlington County Electoral Board on December 31, 2020; and WHEREAS, Charlene Bickford served with distinction on the Arlington County Electoral Board for a total of 23 years, and in recent years has chaired the Board; and WHEREAS, Charlene Bickford served as Chair of the Arlington County Democratic Committee for two terms for a total of six years, from 1985-87 and 1996-2000; and WHEREAS, Charlene Bickford over the last four decades has undertaken a wide variety of volunteer jobs for the Arlington County Democratic Committee; and WHEREAS, Charlene Bickford was an initial member of the Roosevelt Society (now the Roosevelt-Obama Society) and later served as chair of the Society, helping to develop it into a steady source of significant funds for the Arlington County Democratic Committee; and WHEREAS, Charlene Bickford volunteered for many local Democratic campaigns over the past decades, including in 1974, when Democrat Joe Fisher upset long-serving Republican Joel Broyhill to become Arlington’s delegate to the United States House of Representatives; and WHEREAS, Charlene Bickford served for decades on the Kitchen Crew, which provides refreshments at Arlington County Democratic Committee functions; and WHEREAS, in her professional life Charlene Bickford is a historian who has served for many years as Research Project Director at George Washington University; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Arlington County Democratic Committee hereby honors Charlene Bickford and her long and multi-faceted service to Arlington County and to the Arlington County Democratic Committee, and be it RESOLVED FURTHER that the Arlington County Democratic Committee will prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Charlene Bickford as an expression of the gratitude of the Committee and our community for her distinguished service. Passed and Approved this Resolution on the 6 day of January, 2021.

Whereas the current official seal and logo of Arlington County depict Arlington House, which is the former home of Robert E. Lee and is still known alternatively as the Robert E. Lee Memorial; Whereas Robert E. Lee commanded the Army of the Confederate States of America, which attempted to secede from the United States of America in order to preserve and maintain the abhorrent institution of slavery; Whereas, through his leadership of the Army of the Confederacy, Gen. Lee committed treason against the United States and supported the continuation of slavery; Whereas Robert E. Lee himself owned slaves, some of whom lived at Arlington House; Whereas the Confederacy was defeated militarily in the Civil War and the states that had been members of the Confederacy remained part of the United States; Whereas during and after the Reconstruction period following the Civil War, former members of the Confederacy, including jurisdictions in Virginia, adopted place names and symbols that evoked the Confederacy; Whereas these names and symbols were adopted in order to keep support for Confederate policies alive and to help thwart the efforts of persons of color to achieve equal status and opportunity in our society; Whereas the use of Arlington House in the seal and logo of Arlington County casts the Confederacy in a favorable light and suggests opposition to a fair and equitable society that fully embraces persons of color; Whereas Arlington County today has rejected its Confederate past and seeks to create a community that is fair and equitable for all, including persons of color; Whereas various individuals, public officials, and community organizations, including the NAACP, have publicly called for replacement of Arlington’s logo because of its homage to the Confederacy; Whereas a new seal and logo could better represent Arlington as it is today; therefore be it Resolved, that the Arlington County Democratic Committee hereby supports replacement of Arlington County’s current seal and logo with a new seal and logo representing Arlington County in the twenty-first century. Passed and Approved on the 6 day of January, 2021.

TAKE ACTION. Join the Arlington Dems for our monthly meeting on Jan 6, 2021 at 7 PM in Eastern Time! Like previous months, we are asking that all attendees pre-register for the monthly meeting. You must register in advance for our monthly meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. View the Agenda | View the Slides | View the Video

TAKE ACTION. Join the Arlington Dems for our monthly meeting! Like previous months, we are asking that all attendees pre-register for the monthly meeting. You must register in advance for our monthly meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. View the Agenda | View Slides | Video

Arlington Democrats Also Defend Elected Officials Representing Arlington in U.S. Senate, Congressional and County Board Seats, Elect Endorsed Candidates to School Board ARLINGTON, Va., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020—Months of campaign work by the Arlington County Democratic Committee (Arlington Democrats) that had to be re-imagined to comply with public safety measures required by the COVID-19 pandemic paid off with a slate of victories by candidates supported by the party, including President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. Democrats easily secured Virginia’s 13 electoral votes for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Election Day, Nov. 3. More than 80% of Arlingtonians voted Democratic in the presidential race, contributing a net margin of over 80,000 votes to the commanding Democratic statewide win. Biden and Harris declared victory today after the conclusion of the standard post-election vote counting process in the pivotal swing state of Pennsylvania, which pushed the Democratic ticket over the required 270 electoral college votes. This year’s count took longer than previous elections because pandemic-related recommended social distancing measures prompted record-breaking early and mail-in voting, which produced ballots that generally took longer to count and overwhelmingly favored the Democratic ticket. Biden won both the Electoral College and popular vote, garnering more than any presidential candidate in U.S. history. Harris also made history in her own right, becoming the first woman, first African-American, and first Indian-American to be elected vice president. U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, who represent Arlington, were comfortably reelected, as was Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey. Cristina Diaz-Torres and David Priddy, who Arlington Democrats endorsed in the nonpartisan contest for Arlington School Board, also won their races. “Arlington Democrats thank all of the candidates who ran for office on the Arlington ballot and celebrate Democratic victories, across the county, Commonwealth and country,” Arlington Dems Chair Jill Caiazzo said. “We fought hard to elect Democratic leaders who have the wisdom and empathy to address the serious challenges the country now faces, and we will continue to support their efforts to achieve a more prosperous, sustainable and just future for all.” Arlington Democrats and Arlington Young Democrats Mounted Formidable Nationwide Volunteer GOTV Effort Hundreds of Arlington volunteers called, texted, and wrote to voters across Virginia and the country. The Beyond Arlington team, which seeks to make a difference in key races outside of Arlington, fielded nearly 200 volunteers in support of over 12 congressional candidates across the Commonwealth, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Florida. In addition, the Arlington Dems’ Blue Families program, which seeks to make political engagement accessible to parents and kids, organized a postcard-writing project which reached more than 193,000 voters in battleground states, such as Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina, and swing districts in Virginia. Blue Families volunteers also made calls to thousands of North Carolina voters whose ballots needed to be cured of deficiencies prior to the close of voting. The Arlington Young Dems (AYD) also worked around the clock this election cycle to ensure voters in key battleground states had their voices heard. With multiple phone banking and text banking opportunities each week in the months leading up to the election, AYD contacted more than 100,000 people. “From Maine to Florida and all the way out to Arizona, we worked to build back a better future for our country with Biden at the helm,” said AYD President Dan Matthews. “We’re not stopping here either. There are still ballots left to be counted and we will be doing our part to ensure their acceptance. Join us to make sure #EveryVoteCounts.” Caiazzo echoed this sentiment, noting: “Even in the face of a pandemic that is ravaging our country, Arlington Democrats and Arlington Young Democrats continued our efforts to support Democratic candidates statewide. Arlingtonians reaffirmed that they have a clear vision of where Virginia and the country should be headed—and it’s not in the direction that the extreme Trump-GOP would take us. We are proud to have contributed to critical victories in Virginia and other battleground states.” U.S. Sen. Mark Warner Warner decisively defeated Republican challenger Daniel Gade for a third term in the U.S. Senate. Senator Warner currently serves as vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and has played a crucial role in holding the Trump Administration accountable for the past four years. His strong victory further emphasizes Virginians’ rejection of Trumpism in the Commonwealth. U.S. Rep. Don Beyer Beyer handily defeated Republican Jeff Jordan for a fourth term in the House of Representatives. Beyer has been a leading voice on pandemic relief funding, climate change, gun violence prevention, voting rights, and more. “I thank Virginians of the 8th Congressional District for giving me two more years to continue the work for progress,” Beyer said. “I thank them also for helping propel Vice President Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris as well as Sen. Mark Warner to victory in the Commonwealth. All of us are focused on delivering a brighter future for Virginia, and for the country, and I'm honored and humbled once again to be given this opportunity.” Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey Garvey was easily reelected to the County Board, where she has served since 2012, defeating Independent candidate Audrey Clement. “Thank you to the voters of Arlington County for your support and confidence in me,” Garvey said. “I am honored to serve our community for another four years. I’d also like to congratulate Audrey Clement, my opponent, for running a civil campaign that focused on the issues as she sees them. It is not easy to run for office. Finally, big thanks to my team and supporters and to the Arlington Democrats for their incredible effort this year to get everyone out to vote.” Arlington School Board Members-Elect Cristina Diaz-Torres and David Priddy Diaz-Torres and Priddy were newly elected to the Arlington School Board, defeating independent candidate Symone Walker. A former teacher, Diaz-Torres is an education policy specialist who works with school districts, state education agencies, and education organizations across the country to improve student outcomes by creating evidence-based systems and policies. She is an active and effective advocate within Arlington Public Schools, serving as a member of the APS Budget Advisory Council. She also serves on Arlington County’s Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission and the Joint Facilities Advisory Commission. “I am honored that David Priddy and I will join Monique O'Grady, Barbara Kanninen, and Reid Goldstein as members of the Arlington County School Board,” Diaz-Torres said. “I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from Arlingtonians from all parts of the county. I want to thank Symone Walker for running an excellent campaign focused on instruction. Our entire community benefits from her advocacy. We must all work together to build back a better, more equitable APS.” An Arlington-native and community activist, Priddy is a former business executive with deep experience managing complex operations and balancing budgets in challenging economic circumstances. The father of two young children, he has served as the president of the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Parent-Teacher Association and as an active member of the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee on Equity and Excellence, the Advisory Council on Instruction, and the County Council of PTAs. “I am humbled by this outpouring of support and want to take a moment to thank Symone Walker and her team for a substantive campaign,” Priddy said. “Looking to the future, I am excited to collaborate with Cristina and the other board members to continue building a collaborative framework for education governance—where all stakeholders are earnestly heard—as we shape a better, more equitable, and transparent APS.” The seats to which Diaz-Torres and Priddy were elected are being vacated by School Board members Tannia Talento and Nancy Van Doren at the end of their current terms. Both received the Democratic endorsement before being elected. “Arlington Democrats are grateful for the leadership of Tannia Talento and Nancy Van Doren on the School Board, particularly during a global pandemic that has profoundly impacted our schools,” Caiazzo said. “These distinguished public servants have worked tirelessly on behalf of all Arlington students, and our school system is nationally recognized due in no small part to their sound stewardship.” Increased Democratic Margin Despite Fewer Resources As of Election Day, 126,980 voters cast ballots in Arlington, which constitutes 76.3% of active voters. In comparison, the 2016 presidential race drew 122,033, or 82%, of all registered voters. The 2016 race also drew a significantly larger investment of state and national Democratic party resources in Arlington in comparison to 2020, as reflected by the presence of nine paid field organizers in the county in 2016. By contrast, Arlington’s boots-on-the-ground field activities in 2020 were entirely organized by the all-volunteer Arlington Democrats. Despite this shift in resources from Arlington to other parts of Virginia, Democratic turnout in Arlington increased in 2020: from nearly 76% of Arlington voters backing Hillary Clinton in 2016 to almost 81% of Arlington voters backing Joe Biden this year. “Arlington Democrats took care of business in Arlington without significant outside support, beating the national overall turnout average by nearly 10% and besting our own 2016 Democratic turnout rate,” Caiazzo noted. “More importantly, our self-sufficiency enabled the state and national Democratic party to focus in-state resources in the Commonwealth’s swing districts, with reinforcements provided by our Beyond Arlington and Blue Families volunteers. It was a true team effort, and every Arlington Democrat volunteer should be proud of the role they played—directly or indirectly—in securing victories across the Commonwealth.” Record Early Voting, Remarkable Performance by Arlington Election Officials Leveraging voting reforms passed by the Democratic-led Virginia General Assembly earlier this year and responding to the Arlington Democrats’ call for early voting to minimize public health risks posed by the pandemic, the majority of Arlington voters cast their ballots before Election Day. Arlingtonians took their health and the health of their friends and fellow citizens seriously by voting early: more than 105,000 votes were cast early, or more than 60% of total ballots cast, a dramatic increase compared to 37,832 votes, or 31%, in 2016. “The Arlington Registrar’s Office did a remarkable job running such a high-volume, high-stakes election so smoothly in the middle of a pandemic,” Caiazzo said. “Arlington Democrats thanks each and every election official who worked at an early voting or Election Day polling location and delivered a safe and positive experience for Arlington voters.”

Check out the blue Sample Ballot so that you are ready to vote for Democrats! Because local candidates are not identified by party affiliation on the official ballot, the blue sample ballot is key to have on hand -- or saved to your mobile device -- when you vote! The sample ballot also includes information about the party's positions on several ballot measures. Need more info about voting logistics, like early voting locations and schedule, absentee ballot drop-box locations, and voter registration? Our Vote page is a one-stop shop of key information about voting in Arlington! Want to do more than vote to help Democrats win big this year? Visit our Volunteer page or consider making a donation to our grassroots Dollars for Democrats campaign.

TAKE ACTION. Join the Arlington Dems for our monthly meeting! Like previous months, we are asking that all attendees pre-register for the monthly meeting. You must register in advance for our monthly meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. View the Agenda | Presentation Slides | Video |

Arlington Democrats urge Biden-Harris supporters who are not at high risk of contracting COVID-19 to vote early in person, starting NOW. This is the best way to minimize exposure to COVID-19 while ensuring that your vote is counted on election night rather than a few days later. More votes counted on election night will lead to a quicker determination of the final result--giving Trump less time to cast doubt on those results or undermine confidence in appropriately cast ballots. Ballots mailed in close to Nov. 3 may not be received by the registrar until after November 3, meaning that they may not be counted until after Election Day. Trump has made it clear that if he appears to be ahead, or even close, on election night, he may attempt to stay in office by trying to discredit mail-in ballots. Biden-Harris supporters can thwart this strategy by voting in person, either early when there are fewer crowds and thus less Covid-19 risk, or in person on Election Day. Early in-person voting is already underway in Arlington. The registrar has implemented protocols to promote social distancing and comply with public health standards, making it a simple and safe process. You can minimize your risk by voting now, thereby avoiding crowds on Election Day while still ensuring that your vote is counted on election night. Where and when: The Office of Elections is open for early voting now at its new, street-level office at 2200 Clarendon Blvd. This office is located on Courthouse Plaza in the space formerly occupied by a Wells Fargo Bank office, next to a Starbucks. It’s at the other end of the block from the Elections Office’s long-time main office on the third floor of the Bozman Government Center, at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. near Courthouse Plaza. Beginning on Oct. 17, the Office of Elections will open four satellite early-voting locations. Aurora Hills Community Center, 735 18th Street South Langston – Brown Community Center, 2121 North Culpeper Street Madison Community Center, 3829 North Stafford Street Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 16th Street South Note that the last day for voting early is Saturday, Oct. 31. There is no early voting on Monday, Nov. 2, the day before Election Day. What you’ll need: Identification: a driver’s license, a passport, or other accepted form of I.D. There is no longer a requirement that the I.D. include a photo, but it must be of an approved type. If you requested and received a mail-in absentee ballot, take it with you to the polls. The polling official will permit you to vote in person using the mail-in ballot. If you requested a mail-in absentee ballot but have not received it, have lost it, or simply don’t have it with you, the polling official will ask you to swear that if you do get the mail-in ballot, you will destroy it. Then the official will give you a ballot and permit you to vote. You do not need to notify the Office of Elections in advance that you plan to vote early. You won’t be asked to give an excuse for voting early. You may just show up at the polling place. If you have received a mail-in ballot and want to use it to vote, but you also want to avoid postal delays, complete the mail-in ballot now, and return it immediately -- in person -- to the Office of Elections at 2200 Clarendon Blvd. Or, deposit your completed ballot at one of the nine ballot drop boxes that are now available around Arlington 24 hours a day: their locations are listed here. Beginning on Oct. 17, you may also return a completed mail-in ballot to one of the four early-voting satellite locations listed above. If you are only dropping off your ballot, you will not need to stand in line at the polling place. Follow carefully all of the instructions about completing the mail-in ballot; they are included with the ballot. You do not need a witness, even though there is space on the interior envelope for a witness’s signature. Do take care that, as instructed, you insert your completed ballot into the interior envelope provided by the Department of Elections. Then seal the interior envelope and put it into the main return envelope, also provided by the Department of Elections. Do not give the return envelope to someone else to mail or drop off; you must do this yourself. If you have received, completed, and returned an absentee mail-in ballot, your job is already done. Thank you! Your ballot, having been received early by the Office of Elections, will likely be tallied on election night. It’s ballots sent in later that may be counted some time after election night. More questions? Go to arldemsold.local/vote for answers.