"Voter Friendly" Precincts

Many of you may be receiving notification in the mail in the next few weeks informing you that your polling place has changed. This notification is in direct response to the County Board of Supervisors approving a measure to approve changes to the voting roadmap and precincts in Mataoca, Dale and Bermuda. Midlothian and Clover Hill appear to be unaffected by the measure.

The measure will adjust polling places for those in the Dutch Gap, Chippenham and Wells areas and relocate some polling stations in Enon, Beach, Matoaca, and Meadowbrook.

It is curious that such a measure would be approved so close to a Presidential election cycle and it would be interesting to learn if enough time is actually being provided residents accroding to the State law and provisions of the Board of Elections.

Fact is, we knew this was coming but admittedly not this soon. The next census data I think will become available in 2010 and most likely there will be alot of changes.

One big change should be the expansion of the Board itself. There is no way a Board member can adequetely represent some 80K residents which will most likely be the lower range of the number coming in the census. The Board should be expanded by two members to balance the County needs of true transparency of leadership.

If a compromise must be reached on the expansion, I opt for the creation of one new District, maybe Bon Air to divide up portions of Midlothian and Mataoca and redraw lines for example in large part to the fact that a greater portion of the residential growth has occurred in these areas and then the appointment of an at-large member or at-large electable seat from anywhere in the County.