Happy Halloween! With a good weather forecast for this evening, I know many kids are looking forward to getting their share of candy. I’m looking forward to seeing all the creative costumes that trick-or-treaters come up with this year.
In this month’s e-newsletter, I’ve included several resources that you may find helpful and an important reminder about early voting. I hope that you continue to find these updates informative and useful.
Address Confidentiality Program
October marked Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Virginia and across the United States. For many survivors of domestic violence, concealing one’s home address is an important step in ensuring their own safety. The Attorney General’s Office, in line with state law, administers the Address Confidentiality Program to help survivors conceal their residential address from abusers.
Enrollees of the program are offered a free of charge mail forwarding service that includes a “substitute” physical address. Participants can use that substitute address in lieu of their actual physical address for all business with state and local governments.
For more information on the Address Confidentiality Program, visit the Attorney General’s website here. If you know of someone who could benefit from this information, please share it with them.
Early Voting
Election Day is next week! There’s been quite a bit of discussion in the media about which candidate is leading. I still think the old adage “it all comes down to turnout” holds true. That’s why it is so important to have a plan to vote.
The final day for early voting is Saturday, November 5.
Colonial Heights voters can cast a ballot at City Hall (201 James Ave) between 9am and 5pm.
Chesterfield voters can cast a ballot at one of the below locations:
- Central Library (7051 Lucy Corr Blvd); 9am to 5pm only
- Clover Hill Library (6701 Deer Run Dr); 10am to 6pm weekdays, 9am to 5pm on Saturday
- Ettrick-Matoaca Library (4501 River Rd); 10am to 6pm weekdays, 9am to 5pm on Saturday
- LaPrade Library (9000 Hull Street Rd); 10am to 6pm weekdays, 9am to 5pm on Saturday
- Meadowdale Library (4301 Meadowdale Blvd); 10am to 6pm weekdays, 9am to 5pm on Saturday
- North Courthouse Road Library (325 Courthouse Rd); 10am to 6pm weekdays, 9am to 5pm on Saturday
If you plan to vote on Election Day, polls will be open from 6am to 7pm. Don’t forget to bring an ID with you!
Early Childhood Web Portal
The Virginia Department of Education has released a new web portal to help connect parents with quality early childhood education options. This easy-to-use online portal gives Virginia parents and families access to meaningful and comparable information about quality and safety for 3,121 public and private child care and early learning sites. Whether you want a child care option close to work or in the neighborhood, there are now profiles for every provider receiving public funding at your fingertips.
You can access the online portal by clicking here.
Virginia Energy Assistance Program
The Virginia Department of Social Services is accepting applications from individuals needing assistance with winter fuel costs via the Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP is available to families whose household income does not exceed 150% of the federal poverty level. I would ask that you share this information with someone who could benefit from it.
You can read more about the program by clicking here. Applications are due November 15th.
Around the District
I’ve enjoyed spending time out in the community over the past several weeks, particularly as the weather has cooled down.
During the month of October, I had the opportunity to visit both Greensville Correctional Center and Riverside Regional Jail to learn more about the programs they offer to help inmates transition back into society after their sentence is completed. Numerous studies and data points tell us that the recidivism rate is lowered when inmates have access to educational classes and other pre-release programs.

At the tail end of September, Hurricane Helene devastated large swaths of the South. Virginia, sadly, was not spared. We saw horrific flooding in Southwest Virginia, with Damascus being a particular point of focus for many due to the violent nature in which the flood waters ripped through the town. A group of volunteers from the Tri-Cities organized a massive supply drive and drove several tractor trailers full of materials to SWVA.
I was glad to help pack supplies alongside my colleague Delegate Kim Taylor and wave the group off. On the other end of their journey, they were received by Delegate Israel O’Quinn.


If you’d like to read more about the supply drive, you can watch this special segment from WTVR’s Wayne Covil. Thank you to everyone who pitched in to help others in their time of need!
Virginia State University defeated Bowie State at their homecoming game earlier this month! There was a great crowd, and I even ran into one of my former students from Life Christian Academy.

In the News
Here’s a few recent news articles that you may find of interest:
- Commentary: Thanks to Youngkin, Virginia schools are being held accountable
- How an Army major killed in Afghanistan helped inspire proposed change to the Virginia Constitution
- Commentary: Youngkin is right to secure Virginia’s vote
- Supreme Court temporarily halts lower court ruling ordering 1,600 voters back on Virginia voter rolls
- ‘Monumental occasion’: Chesterfield announces new police chief
As always, it remains an honor to represent our community in the Virginia House of Delegates. If I can assist you or your family in any way, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Mike Cherry
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