End Of August Update

Dear Friend,

Kids are back in school and Labor Day is just around the corner. That means, sadly, summer is officially over.

As we enter the fall months and approach a new calendar year, legislators are busy preparing for the 2025 General Assembly Session. Though the legislature is often described as “part time,” there is work that takes place year round. Many of us, myself included, have attended policy conferences here in Virginia and in neighboring states to learn more about different issues impacting our state.

In this month’s update, I’ve highlighted a few actions taking place in state government and provided a brief preview of upcoming elections.

Executive Order 35

Virginia has secure and accurate elections. That reality doesn’t just happen by wishful thinking, but requires a concerted effort by state and local officials. Virginia elections use only paper ballots, not voting machines.

This August, Governor Youngkin issued Executive Order 35 to help coordinate and continue Virginia’s strong efforts of election security in advance of the November general election. This includes:

stringent ballot security
complete and thorough counting machine testing
best-in-the-nation voter list maintenance

I have heard from many individuals across our district concerning election security in advance of this year’s election. The Governor’s actions help us ensure that we can have confidence in Virginia’s results this November. I will continue to support efforts both from the Governor and in the legislature that ensure the accuracy of elections in this state.

To view the full text of Executive Order 35, click here.

Upcoming Elections

There’s an election this November! In addition to important federal races, voters will weigh in on a proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution and vote in local elections across the state.

Constitutional Amendment

All Virginia voters will have an opportunity to weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment this year.

The state constitution requires real property to be taxed. Localities (i.e., cities and counties) currently have the option to exempt from taxation the principal residence of an individual whose spouse was killed in action as determined by the US Department of Defense. The proposed amendment would expand the current option to include surviving spouses of service members killed in the line of duty.

To learn more and view the technical language, you can view the official nonpartisan brochure published by the Department of Elections by clicking here.

I encourage you to vote yes on this constitutional amendment. I believe it is important that we as a state recognize the sacrifice when a service member gives their life in defense of our nation.

Local Elections (Colonial Heights only)

Voters in Colonial Heights will elect four members of City Council and three members of School Board. Local government often impacts our daily lives to a greater degree than the federal government, making it vital to elect strong individuals.

Unfortunately, these local races often slide under radar due to the attention being focused on the still important presidential race. To help voters learn more about the candidates, the Colonial Heights Republican Committee conducted a candidate survey. You can view that survey here.

Chesterfield County does not have local elections in 2024.

Record Lottery Profits Benefit K-12 Schools

In 1987, voters adopted an amendment to the Virginia Constitution authorizing the creation of the Virginia Lottery. In 2000, a subsequent amendment to our state constitution required all profits from the lottery to be earmarked for public K-12 education. Fast forward to August 2024 when Governor Youngkin announced the largest lottery profit in state history: $934 million.

This is good news for public schools in Chesterfield and Colonial Heights. This combined with record funding from the General Assembly and consistent raises for teachers mean that public schools receive more funding today than ever before. I must caution that more money does not automatically equal better outcomes for students. It’s important that increased school funding go to classrooms where it can benefit our children the most.

You can read the Governor’s full announcement here.

In the News

Here’s a few recent news articles that you may find interesting:

I hope you continue to find these monthly email updates informative and useful. It remains an honor to represent our community in the House of Delegates. If I can assist you or your family with a state-related issue, please let me know.

Sincerely,
Mike Cherry