Residents will take to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, casting ballots for both federal and local candidates as well as selecting yes or no to three proposed constitutional amendments and the much discussed 1% sales tax referendum.
One of Virginia’s two United States Senator positions is up for election. Democratic incumbent Mark Warner is attempting to hold on to the seat he’s held since 2009 while Republican retired major general Bert Mizusawa hopes to add Senator to his resume. Voters in Orange and Madison counties will also select a 7th District U.S. House Representative. Democratic incumbent Eugene Vindman, who took office in 2025, faces a slew of opponents–Republican Doug Ollivant, Libertarian Taner Demirci Lopez and Independents Alaha Ahrar, Joshua Ertle and Randall Terry.
Those living in the towns of Orange and Gordonsville will have additional choices on their ballots–town council. Three seats are up for election in Orange. Incumbent Jeff Crane is seeking reelection while newcomer postman Zachary Ashworth is seeking election for the first time. Sara Jaeger and Will Morton are running as write-in candidates. Current council members Donna Waugh-Robinson and Jason Cashell are not seeking reelection. In Gordonsville, there are two town council seats up for election; incumbents Cyd Black and Nick Paxton are both seeking reelection. Resident Johnny Crouse, Jr. recently began a write-in campaign, placing signs around town.
Aside from candidates, several questions will appear on local ballots next week. Both Orange and Madison county voters will have the opportunity to decide if a portion of sales tax should be allocated to school construction and renovation. A new law that went into effect in July allows Virginia localities to place a referendum on the November ballot that, if approved, would increase sales tax by 1% to fund school projects. Previously, only nine localities had the authority to levy the additional sales tax. In Madison County, the 1% sales tax could yield approximately $1.2 million. In Orange County, as much as $5 million could be generated annually. Officials in both counties have voiced their support for the referendum, noting various school division capital needs. The sales tax would not apply to food purchased for human consumption or personal hygiene items.
Local, and state voters, will also make a decision on three proposed constitutional amendments. The first, the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, would add the fundamental right to make and carry out decisions about one’s own reproductive care with only certain, specific exceptions. The amendment allows the state government to pass laws to regulate abortion care in the third trimester, but requires the law to allow for abortion care when medically necessary to protect the life and health of the mother or because the fetus is not viable. The second, Marriage, would remove the prohibition on same sex marriages from Virginia’s Bill of Rights and replaces it with the fundamental right to marry, requiring the state to treat any lawful marriage of two adult persons equally regardless of sex, gender or race. The third, Qualifications of Voters, enshrines the fundamental right of all qualified persons to vote, restoring the right to vote for a convicted felon upon their release from incarceration. It also would require a court finding that a person cannot vote because they don’t understand the act of voting. Currently, convicted felons lose their right to vote for life unless it is restored by the Governor and a person found by a court to be incapacitated loses the right to vote and can only have it restored by the court.
More information on the proposed constitutional amendments can be found online at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/election-law/referenda/.
Polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 and close at 7 p.m. The last day to vote early is Oct. 31.
Those casting ballots in-person are required to show one form of acceptable identification. Acceptable identification includes a Virginia driver’s license or DMV-issued ID card; a valid employee identification card with a photo issued by the voter’s employer in the ordinary course of business; a U.S. military ID; a valid student ID issued by a public or private high school or institution of higher education located in Virginia; a valid U.S. passport or passport card; a government-issued ID card from a federal, Virginia or local political subdivision; a voter ID card issued by the Department of Election; voter confirmation documents; valid tribal enrollment or tribal ID issued by one of the 11 tribes recognized by Virginia; a nursing home resident ID issued by a government facility; a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck containing the name and address of the voter; any other current government document containing the name and address of the voter; and a signed ID confirmation statement.
For answers to questions, contact the local registrar’s office. The Orange County Voter Registration Office is located at 130 North Madison Road, Orange and can be contacted by phone at (540) 672-5262. The Madison County Registrar’s Office is located at 414 N. Main Street, Madison and can be contacted by phone at (540) 948-6533.
Registered voters can view their polling place and check their voting history online at https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/Lookup/polling.
