Fairfax County election officials want to alert voters about an inaccurate and potentially misleading mailing from the Center for Voter Information.
This group is mass mailing pre-filled, absentee ballot applications to county voters without their request—and the mailer includes return envelopes to send the application to the City of Fairfax, not Fairfax County.
“This mailing is causing great confusion and concern among voters who have been contacting our office,” said Fairfax County General Registrar Gary Scott. “While the mailing may appear to be from an official government agency, the Fairfax County Office of Elections did not send it.”
The mailing is also confusing voters who have previously submitted absentee ballot applications themselves, Scott added. These voters are worried that their applications were not received, leading them to think they need to apply again.
Fairfax County is working with the City of Fairfax to ensure any applications received from the center’s inaccurate mailing will be processed by the county.
When the Fairfax County Office of Elections mails election information or absentee ballots, the envelope has the county seal as part of the return address and the “Official Election Mail Authorized by the U. S. Postal Service” logo. (The Office Elections mailing address is 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 322, Fairfax, VA 22035.)
County election officials remind voters they can apply online to absentee vote by mail. This is the most secure method to apply rather than responding to unsolicited applications. By applying online, voters also will be able to track the status of their application, including when a ballot is mailed to them and when their cast ballot has been received.
Voters can apply now to absentee vote by mail, and they will receive their ballots after September 18, the official start for absentee voting by mail. Because mail delivery may be slow, officials encourage voters to apply now—and return their cast ballot as soon as possible.
In addition to voting by mail, voters are also encouraged to consider the option to absentee vote in-person at one of the 15 locations that will open this fall.
For more information or questions about absentee voting, contact the Fairfax County Office of Elections at 703-222-0776, TTY 711.
# # #
