With thousands newly able to vote, a Va. ballot measure could unlock voting rights for more

Good morning from The Mercury.

By Charlotte Rene Woods

Nov. 3 will be Seychell Williams’ first time voting, a civic duty she said she’s excited to experience. 

Despite advocating for criminal justice reform laws at the state Capitol over the years, she’s been unable to vote herself due to a past felony conviction for which she served five years in prison. 

She chose to skip the early voting or mail-in options to savor the experience in person. 

“It’s my first time so of course I want to be out on Election Day,” she said.

By Eliza Martin and Regan Huizenga

On a recent Saturday, volunteers from Chesterfield County’s Republican and Democratic parties spent the crisp autumn morning handing out yard signs, sample ballots and campaign flyers outside the North Courthouse Road Library, a space temporarily transformed into a political battleground. 

Two women, Christina Brady and Elizabeth Schultz, are facing off in a special election to represent the Clover Hill District seat on the county school board, which the former representative vacated last year after posting a controversial social media message following the shooting death of right-wing activist and media personality Charlie Kirk.

By Nathaniel Cline

Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration is focused on early education and college and career readiness, two of several academic priorities ahead of the state’s next legislative session.

Starting in January, the executive branch and lawmakers are expected to discuss a slate of K-12 topics, including school technology, expanding career and technical education and preparing children under five for kindergarten by closing the childcare affordability gap. 

By Jennifer Shutt

Communities throughout the country have been inundated with television ads and outside spending as politicians try to spur voter turnout in the most competitive U.S. House races in Tuesday’s midterm elections.

The focus on a short list of campaigns highlights how much power voters in a small number of congressional districts have to determine whether Republicans keep control of that chamber for the next two years or Democrats take over. 

The choices Americans make before voting ends on Election Day will determine not only which bills House lawmakers debate during the next Congress, but whether they launch investigations of President Donald Trump and his administration. 

Thanks for reading Virginia Mercury. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.