To the Fairfax County Community,

Election Day in Virginia is right around the corner (Nov. 2!), have you voted yet? On the ballot is the next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and members of the House of Delegates. Learn about the ballot here.

In Virginia, we have been lucky to make great strides to expand voter access to the ballot. If you haven't voted yet, here is how you can do so:

• Vote early in-person: Today, you may vote early at the Fairfax County Government Center, the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, and the North County Governmental Center. Starting on Thursday Oct. 21-Oct. 30, there will be 15 more locations open across the County to vote early everyday. Please check hours before you arrive here.
• By mail: You have until Oct. 22 to request an absentee ballot. Once you have filled it out (don't forget to include a witness signature!) you may return it by mail or at a drop box at all voting locations in Fairfax County when they are open (they are located at early voting locations and on Election Day).
• When do mail-in ballots need to be returned?
• The deadline to return the vote by mail ballots: Nov. 2 by 5pm if hand-delivered in-person.
• Postmarked by Nov. 2 and received by noon on Nov. 5 if by-mail.
• On Election Day: Your regular precinct will be open as usual and again there will be a ballot drop box for mail-in ballots. Find your polling place here.

In addition, we expect in the coming days to hear final decisions from the FDA and the CDC regarding booster shots for the COVID-19 vaccines produced by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. The FDA's advisory committee is also scheduled to discuss the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5–11 years old on Oct. 26. Following the CDC's recommendations, VDH will provide additional implementation guidance to health departments and providers in the Commonwealth. We will be ready to work with all our stakeholders to be sure all of our eligible residents can get their boosters. We are also working closely with FCPS and medical providers in advance of what will hopefully be an announcement about kids under 12 being able to get vaccinated. Read more about what to expect this week and how the Fairfax County Health Department is preparing here.

Finally, the Board met today. You may review today's full Board package here.