ACV Democratic News: AM DEMS Dinner Meeting at Meredith's Restraunt Features Gary Beasley

Gary Beasley, Amherst County General Registrar was the featured speaker at the July Dinner Meeting of the Amherst County Democrats.

Gary Beasley Details Changes for Crowd

July in Central Virginia. Hot, 100 degree days and we just recovered from a derecho that knocked 60% of the households back to the days before air conditioning, before television, before electricity. AEP worked round the clock for over a week and enlisted the help of 5,100 linemen and bucket truck and crane drivers from as far away as Canada to undo the damage mother nature did in a couple of hours. So it was with great pleasure thet we gathered at Meredith's Restaurant for a wonderful evening of great and delicious food and warm and friendly conversation with our fellow Democrats, our fellow survivors of the summer's (hopefully) biggest storm.

Everyone was interested in the new requirements for identification

at the polls and other changes to the voting system. There is NO More Knowledgable person in this area than Gary Beasley, The General Registrar and we were lucky enough to have Gary as our special guest for our July Dinner Meeting.

Mr. Beasley detailed the changes and explained that some items were still to be decided and took copious questions from the audience. I will list info here and give you links to down load forms such as "Voter Registration Application" or an "Application for Absentee Voting".

In every community there are certain people that hold the system together and ensure that things work smoothly. In Amherst County Gary Beasley is one of the dedicated public servants that make things work and we salute him for his service. We also graciously thank him for his presentation to our meeting.

From here on there will be lots of pictures and lots of information.

Voter registration is available to any Virginia resident who will be eighteen years of age or older by the next General election. Registration can be accomplished at the office of the General Registrar, in person, or by any of the following methods: calling for an application which can be sent and returned by mail; at DMV when obtaining or renewing a driver's license; or at any state or federal agency.

Mr. and Mrs. Leon Parrish

If moving within the County or to another county or city within the Commonwealth, the same procedure may be followed. The final day of registration is 29 days prior to any election.

Skipper Fitts and Dave Burford

Properly registered voters may vote by absentee ballot if they will be out of the County on election day or if they are unable to go to the polls due to physical illness or disability. An absentee precinct, where absentee ballots are counted, is located in the County offices in Amherst.

The General Registrar's office is a permanent location for voter registration, in-person absentee voting, obtaining information on candidates and referenda and other voting related information. The Registrar is responsible for all candidate filings and the maintenance of these records; providing all precincts with accurate facilities to vote and training of election officials to work the polls; recording and reporting the results of elections.

The Constitution of Virginia requires that you be registered in the precinct in which you live in order to be qualified to vote. You may register at any DMV or miscellaneous agencies in the Commonwealth, or at our office. You may also vote absentee in-person at our office ONLY.

All requests for reasonable accommodations due to a disability should be made to the Office of the Registrar. You are encouraged to make application for voter registration.

Use this links to download a   Voter Registration Application

Use this link to download a   Application for Absentee Voting

You can call the office to verify that you are registered.

Remember, a good citizen registers and VOTES.

The General Registrar for Amherst County manages all activities related to voter registration, facilitates citizen education regarding registration and voting, and works under the direction of the Electoral Board to prepare for, administer, and report the results of local, state and federal elections.

The three-member Electoral Board (appointed by the Circuit Court) and the General Registrar (appointed by the Electoral Board) have the mission of maintaining an accurate list of registered voters and administering elections in a fair, efficient, and equitable manner.

Gary Beasley
General Registrar

Amherst County Courthouse
1st Floor
113 Taylor St

Mailing Address:
PO Box 550
Amherst, VA 24521
434-946-9315 Phone
434-946-9345 Fax

http://gnbeasley@countyofamherst.com

Gary Beasley
General Registrar
434-946-9315
434-946-9345

Fran Brown
Asst. Registrar
434-946-9315
434-946-9345

Margaret Smoot
Asst. Registrar
434-946-9315
434-946-9345

Absentee Voting

If you know that you will be away from your voting precinct on election day or you are physically unable to vote in person, you may apply for an absentee ballot.

You may apply for an absentee ballot if you meet one of the following requirements:

· being a student or the spouse of a student outside Amherst County
· away on business
· will be at your work place 11 or more hours between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
· will be away on personal business or vacation
· are unable to go to the polls because of illness or disability
· are the primary caregiver of a confined family member
· have a religious obligation
· are confined awaiting trial
· are an election official
· are on active duty in the military
· are the spouse or dependent residing with a member of the military
· are an overseas citizen whose most recent United States residence was Amherst County

Absentee Voting in Person:

Voter may come to our office and fill out the "Absentee Ballot Application" then vote their ballot in the office. The deadline for voting absentee in person is 5:00p.m. on the Saturday before the election.

Absentee Voting by Mail:
STEP 1: The Absentee Voter Application
Voter must first submit an application for an"Absentee Ballot"
To request an application for an "Absentee Ballot" call, write, fax, or email our office.
Applications for an "Absentee Ballot" may be received in person, by mail, or by fax at 434.946.9345
Applications by mail for "Absentee Ballots" must be received no later than 5:00p.m. on the 7th day prior to the election

STEP 2: The Absentee Ballot
Once an application is on file, we will mail you an "Absentee Ballot"
Ballots that have been mailed must be returned by mail or in person by the voter in our office
Ballots may not be faxed to the voter or returned to us by fax
Ballots are not available on the internet or from our website

ABSENTEE VOTING

Citizens who will be away from Amherst on Election day, or who are unable to go to the polls because of illness or disability, may apply to have an absentee ballot mailed to them OR may vote in person at our office beginning approximately 45 days before a November General Election and approximately 30 days before other elections.

By Mail

Call (434-946-9315), fax (434-946-9345) or email gnbeasley@countyofamherst.com our office to request an absentee application. You may also print out an application from here. Once the application is on file and the ballots become available, we will mail you an absentee ballot. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day (one week before Election Day; this law changed in 2006). Return the ballot by mail or bring it to the office (ballots may NOT be faxed and are NOT available on the Internet).

An "Absentee Ballot" returned by mail or hand-carried must be received in the Registrar's Office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

In Person

To vote by "Absentee Ballot" in person, come to the Registrar's Office during the last 45 days before an election, but not later than 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday preceding the election. There you will fill out an application to be processed while you wait. You will then receive and vote your ballot. This process typically takes 10 - 20 minutes depending on the number of persons waiting to vote absentee and/or the number of issues on the ballot to be voted.
Remember: An in-person "Absentee Ballot" must be voted before 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday preceding the election.

Electoral Board

Listed below are the current members of the Electoral Board:

Chairman: Republican

Mrs. Mary Allen Fink
867 Possum Island Rd.
Madison Heights, VA 24572

Email: mafink1@comcast.net

Phone: 434 384-2513

Term ends: 02/29/2012

Vice Chairman: Republican

Mr. John Conn Pickett
117 Blackberry Rd.
P.O. Box 26
Madison Heights, VA 24572-0026

Email: john@ttbc.info

Phone: 434 942-5007

Term ends: 02/28/2013

Secretary: Democrat

Mrs. Wanda T. Spradley
PO Box 1562
Amherst, VA 24521

Email: spradley@sbc.edu

Phone: 434 946-9649

Term ends: 02/28/2014

Amherst County Virginia Democratic News

Register and Vote

If You Don't Vote

You Don't Matter

ACVDN

Thank You to all who attended the dinner. Your presence made it a great success. Our special guest speaker General Registrar Gary Beasley gave answers to all our questions and offered us an overview of recent voting law changes. Our greatest appreciation goes to Mr. Beasley for his superior efforts as he serves the citizens of Amherst County. If the old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" is true then this might just be a book.

Remember we meet the second Tuesday of every month at locations around Amherst County and you are always welcome. Read the Amherst County Virginia Democratic News to keep on top of meeting locations and dates of special meetings or provide AM Dems Chairman Dave Burford with your e-mail address and he will inform you of all events..