Powhatan Today, September 9, 2020
VOTING Continued from pg. 1
to previous news reports that ballots have been mishandled, Alexander said. She added that she has a great working relationship with the local post office, which has “gone to great efforts on numerous occasions to make sure that ballots are handled with priority and hand delivered at times to the registrar’s office on Election Day in order to meet election deadlines.” However, to help allay fears, her office purchased and installed a secure ballot drop box at the office that it began using for the June Primary with much success. While a spokesperson from the U.S. Postal service declined an interview, the following statement was issued on concerns of the security of the mail. “The U.S. Mail remains a secure, efficient, and effective means for citizens to participate in the electoral process, and the Postal Service is proud to serve as a critical component of our nation’s democratic process. All U.S. Mail is protected by more than 200 federal laws enforced by the United States Postal Inspection Service, one of the nation's oldest federal law enforcement agencies. The Inspection Service has a proud history of identifying, arresting, and assisting in the prosecution of criminals who use the nation’s postal system to defraud, endanger, or threaten Americans,” the statement read. The Inspection Service maintains robust mail theft, mail fraud, cyber, and security programs that identify, prevent and mitigate issues that could undermine the integrity of election mail, the statement continued. The Inspection Service works closely with the Postal Service as well as local, state and federal
SECOND ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH
partners, to address customer concerns involving election mail. To report law enforcement matters relating to election mail, call the Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455.
Early voting Many people mistakenly think the polls will not be open on Election Day for in-person voting, but they absolutely will be, Alexander stressed. Residents have three options for voting: request to have an absentee ballot mailed to them, vote early in person, or vote in person on Election Day at their assigned precinct. Many people may choose the first two options because of the expected high voter turnout on Election Day. As of July 1, 2020, absentee voting no longer requires citizens to have a reason to vote prior to the Election Day. Now, as the law states, starting 45 days prior to the election, anyone can vote early for any reason, Alexander said. The first day of early voting in Virginia is Friday, Sept. 18. As of Sept. 4, 2020, the office of elections had already received and processed about 1,400 voteby-mail applications, Alexander said. She explained that some people have requested an absentee ballot and then asked about voting on Election Day in person instead. If someone has requested an absentee ballot but then decides to vote in person on Election Day, they must bring the unmarked absentee ballot to the polls to switch it out with an inperson ballot. She warned that while this is an option, it will slow down the process and make the voting time take longer. Powhatan is doing something very unique this year in its efforts to provide an in-person early voting option while still
combatting the spread of COVID-19. Instead of voting in the office of elections, which is located in the Village Building, there will be a drive through tent for early voting in the rear parking lot of the office, which is at 3910 Old Buckingham Road. Starting Sept. 18, residents wishing to cast their ballots early can do so from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and on the two Saturdays just prior to the election, Oct. 24 and 31. No reservation or appointment or paperwork is needed. Voters will follow the detour signs to the entrance off Tilman Road, drive up to the very clearly marked voting tent, and be able to vote from the comfort and safety of their car. Election officials will greet each voter at their car to check their identification and to give them their official ballot, she said. Voters can either exit their car to cast the ballot on the scanner themselves or they can remain in their car and hand back their ballot upside down in a protective folder for the election official to cast for them while they watch. Alexander said her office has already received CARES Act money from the Virginia Department of Elections specifically for expenses related to COVID-19 in the upcoming election.
Safety measures Election Day voting is expected to be mostly similar to what residents have experienced in the past, but there will be added COVID-19 safety measures, Alexander said. Voters are asked to wear a mask and social distance with others in the voting precincts. The polls will have hand sanitizer for voters, use onetime pens, and have as many no-touch processes as possible. The privacy
booths where people will fill out their paper ballots will be cleaned after each use. The polls will have curbside voting on Election Day, but it does slow down the process, Alexander said. She recommended that those who don’t want to get out of their car to vote take advantage of the early voting drive-through tent. “We are asking people to be as patient as possible because we are expecting a huge turnout and the process will take longer because of the safety procedures we are putting in place for COVID,” she said.
Feeling overwhelmed Part of the higher stress levels with this particular election for voter registrars stems from the changes and requirements they continue to receive from the Virginia Department of Elections and the General Assembly, Alexander said. For instance, the department of elections has cyber security standards that it wanted to have initiated in each locality prior to November that are just unattainable, Alexander said. “Our IT director has assessed that the requirements the state board of elections is insisting upon would take five director level staff and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to initiate,” she said. In another instance, the General Assembly is in a special session now where they are entertaining legislation that would potentially do away with the required witness signatures on absentee ballots, she said. It would create the need for localities to pay for the postage to all returned absentee ballots. Last month, a frustrated Alexander emailed the department to let them know she thought the lo-
Sunday School 9:45-10:45 Sunday Morning Worship will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Holly Hills Baptist Church
5680 Cartersville Road Powhatan, Virginia 23139
(Independent Bible Believing)
Pastor Gregory L. Beechaum Sr. “The church where Jesus is Alive”
www.HollyHillsBaptist.org
Randy Blackwell, Pastor Sunday School - 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship - 11:00 a.m. Youth Ministry 6:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:30 PM
379-8930 1659 Anderson Highway 3½ miles east of Flat Rock
9:00 a.m. ---- Sunday School 9:45 a.m.----- Prayer & Praise 10:00 a.m.--- Sunday Morning Worship 5th Sunday at 11 a.m. Hour of Power 7:30 p.m. ---- Tuesday Night Worship & Bible Study
Baptist Church “A Church Where Love Never Fails!” Pastor Otis B. Lockhart, Jr.
MOUNT ZION
Muddy Creek BAPTIST CHURCH Baptist Church
Rev. Bryan Stevens, Pastor 11 a.m. – Worship Service 9 a.m. – Church School Wednesday Bible Study 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Sunday School - 9:45 am Worship - 11 am Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer Service - 7:00 pm Pastor Jeff Beard, MA, MBA 3470 Trenholm Road www.muddycreekbaptist.org
375-9212
Advertise in Powhatan Today’s Church Directory. Call 804-746-1235 ext. 2 for details.
804-375-9404
Hollywood
2591 Ridge Road Powhatan, Virginia 23139 804-598-2051
Friday, Sept. 18 – Early voting begins. Residents wishing to vote early can do so by either requesting an absentee ballot from the Powhatan County Office of Elections or going through the drive-through early voting tent that will be located in the parking lot behind the Village Building from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and on two Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31. Tuesday, Oct. 13 (by midnight) – This is the last day to register to vote or change your voter registration information for this election. Mailed voter registration applications must be sent to the Powhatan County Office of Elections postmarked on or before this deadline. Friday, Oct. 23 (by 5 p.m.) – Last day to request via application to have an absentee ballot mailed to you. In order to be counted, marked ballots must either be returned in-person to the Secure Ballot Drop-Box at the Office of Elections, or postmarked on/before Nov. 3 and also received by the Powhatan County Office of Elections by noon on Friday, Nov. 6. Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Election Day. All 12 precincts will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the voters assigned to that precinct. Any qualified voter who is physically in line by 7 p.m. will be able to cast their ballot. A valid form of identification is required to vote. Verify your voter registration, polling place, and identification validity before Election Day at http://elections.virginia.gov/.
cal voter registrars “are unequivocally being setup to fail this November.” “I have never before felt so overwhelmed and disheartened by the surmounting infeasibility to perform the duties incumbent upon me as a director of elections and voter registrar; the most critical of which is to uphold the security and integrity of elections in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” she wrote. “The public’s trust in Registrars’ capabilities is diminishing by the minute. It’s becoming harder and harder to blame them when I see how out-ofcontrol this process has been twisted.” Alexander cited the “unattainable cyber-security standards; the everchanging legislation; the
shameful extension of critical deadlines and certification requirements; the unjustifiable time, expense and manpower needed to comply with illconceived changes in responsibilities that are befalling us daily” and the additional burden of COVID-19 precautions. “I’m not pointing fingers, but rather begging for some relief and professional respect from whomever has the power to offer it. Each and every one of us works way too hard and cares way too much about the responsibilities of this role, to constantly feel so defeated and beat-down,” she wrote. Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday. com.
Graceland Baptist Church
Contemporary – 8:30 a.m. Sunday School – 9:45 a.m. Worship – 11 a.m. Children’s Worship – 11 a.m. Prayer/Bible Study – Wed. 6:30 p.m. 2095 Red Lane Road Children’s Worship (all ages) – 1/2 mile off Rt. 60 on Red Lane Road Wed. 6:30 p.m. 804-598-2455 New Generation Praise & Worship – www.redlanebaptist.org Sunday 6 p.m. Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Lighthouse Youth – Wed. 5:30 p.m. Small Groups 10:30 a.m. Miracles of God Sp. Needs Service: 2 p.m. the 2nd Sat. of each month Wednesday Night Classes for all ages at 6:15 598-3481 • 975 Dorset Road Dr. James Taylor, Pastor www.gracelandbc.org
Praise and Worship Service
Sunday School: 10:00-10:45 a.m. Worship Service: 11:00 a.m. 4731 Bell Road, Powhatan, VA 23139 804-598-5491
Important dates
Dr. Ronald Wyatt, Jr., Pastor
Reverend Mark A. Divens, Sr. Pastor
“God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. We walk by faith and not by sight” – Pastor Darnell Carruthers
2020 November General Election
CHURCH DIRECTORY
1059 Dorset Road Powhatan, VA 23139
GREENBRIER BAPTIST CHURCH
Page 5A
OLD POWHATAN BAPTIST CHURCH 3619 Huguenot Trail Powhatan, Virginia 23139 www.finecreekbaptist.org Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Worship Service: 11:00 a.m. Traditional Rev. David A. Simpson, Pastor
2202 Old Church Road www.powhatanbaptist.org
“Your Community Church”
598-2763 Sunday School at 9:30 am Morning Service at 11:00 am Bible Study Every Wednesday Night at 6:30 pm 3964 Old Buckingham Road
Sundays 10:00 AM Wednesday 6:30 PM Experiencing the presence, power and person of Jesus Christ
Loving, Investing, Fulfilling, Empowering Senior Pastor Justin Wilson Sunday Service 10:30am 2410 New Dorset Circle www.Communitylifechurchpowhatan.org Feeding Powhatan Open 3rd Wednesday of the month
FIRST ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH
Sunday 10am, 11am & 6pm Wednesday 7pm
3920 MAIDENS RD., POWHATAN
804-598-2301
Evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
Worship on the Lawn Service Times 8:30AM and 10:15AM OPBCKids during 10:15AM service
Family Worship Center 2901 Judes Ferry Road Powhatan, Va 23139 804-379-8223
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Service 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Mid Day Bible Study 11:30 a.m.
Brad Russell, Pastor 598-4241
Travis L. Keith- Pastor Church Office: 794.7054 1530 Cook Road (Rt. 636)
www.glbcpva.org
Just Across from South Creek Shopping Center!
