A photo of vote by mail application envelopes The Center for Voter Information sent to residents.UPDATE Aug. 10 at 2 p.m.: Some Third-Party Vote by Mail Applications contain mistakes.
While the Vote By Mail Ballot applications sent by The Center of Voter Information are legitimate. In some Virginia locations the return addresses on the envelopes to request a vote by mail ballot are incorrect.While the mistakes do not appear to affect Prince William County or Manassas City residents. They do affect those in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax and other Virginia jurisdictions.
Those interested in voting by mail or voting early, can research by visiting their local office of elections online. Here is the link for the Prince William Office of Elections.
Statement from The Center of Voter Information
The Center for Voter Information recently sent vote-by-mail applications to voters in Virginia, encouraging them to safely participate in democracy. We are aware that some of the mailers may have directed the return envelopes to the wrong election offices. The issue affects the following locations: Fairfax City and Fairfax County, Franklin City and Franklin County, Richmond City and Richmond County, and Roanoke City and Roanoke County.
Approximately half a million applications sent to eligible voters in Virginia included incorrect information, and we are working diligently to address the issues. Mistakes in our programming are very rare, but we take them seriously, and our methods overall are extraordinarily effective. In fact, we have worked with our partner, the Voter Participation Center, to successfully generate nearly 900,000 vote-by-mail applications across the country, and helped more than 5 million people register to vote in our history.
We know that voters are on high alert as the November election approaches, and we regret adding to any confusion. Please rest assured that we are working with local election officials in Virginia to re-direct the vote-by-mail applications to the proper locations, and will rectify any errors at our own expense.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Aug. 6, 2020
Many Prince William County residents received by mail recently an application to request a Vote By Mail Ballot for the November U.S. General Election. Many are wondering if they should trust the application, thinking it could be fraudulent.
The return address says The Center of Voter Information. The return envelope is addressed to the Prince William County Registrar.
The Prince William County Office of Elections posted on its website that the application is not fraudulent but has also come not from its office. It was sent by a third-party organization, The Center For Voter Information.
According to its website, The Center For Voter Information is a non-partisan organization, "that works to provide even-handed and unbiased information on candidates and their positions on issues."
Residents may apply for a mail in ballot via the application, said the Prince William Office of Elections announcement. However, voters may want to follow up if especially if they do not receive their ballot, which will not arrive before the middle of November.
The Prince William Office of Elections has a vote by mail online application on its webpage. The Center For Voter Information also has an online application.
Announcement from the Prince William Office of Elections:
Recently we have received numerous phone calls and complaints regarding a mailing from The Center of Voter Information. While this is a legitimate “Third Party” organization, they are in no way affiliated with our local office, or the Virginia Departments of Elections.If you have received one of these letters with a Virginia Vote by Mail Application Form, you can use it to apply to have a ballot mailed to you (we will begin mailing ballots in mid-September.)
If you do not want to vote by mail, ignore the application you have received.
I you have already applied to vote by mail and you wish to make sure that we have received it, feel free to call 703-792-6470 (Press “O” when the menu begins.)
Further Information on Voting:
Early in-person voting begins on September 18 for the November General Election. October 13 is the last day to register to vote. October 23 is the last day to request a mail-in ballot. Octobers 31 is the last day to vote early in-person. The election is November 3. That is the last opportunity to vote.
More information, such as polling places and how to vote early, can be found at https://www.pwcvotes.org.
Those who have moved, should check with the Prince William Office of Elections make sure they are still registered to vote.
Voters are generally more interested in voting early or voting by mail this year considering the COVID-19 illness.
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