Election Day: What Brought You to the Polls?

Oakton voters hit the polls today to help decide the makeup of the General Assembly, Fairfax County School Board and other county elections. 

David Tober showed up in support of his neighbor, Patty Reed, who is running unopposed in the Providence District School Board race. 

"She has a great two-handed backhand," he laughed. "No, but really she's got great ideas and she's a hard worker, really dedicated to the school board."

Some voters looked for the candidates who best supported the issues important to them: "I'm particularly concerned about taxes, keeping taxes lower in the county," Evelyn Heitman said

And nearly all emphasized voting as an important civic duty: "I voted because I can. You just have to do it. It's a responsibility. Even if you don't like the candidates, you have to make a choice," Pearl Moskowitz said.

Citizens who cast their vote at Waples Mill Elementary School found three candidates on their ballot waiting to greet them as they walked into the building: Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-67th District) and Sully District school board candidates Kathy Smith and Sheila Ratnam. 

With 4,407 registered voters, the Waples Mill precinct is the largest in their districts, so they wanted to reach as many voters as possible throughout the day. 

At the Oak Marr precinct at Oak Marr Recreation Center, voters who passed through around 10:45 a.m. were greeted by 34th Senate District candidate Gerarda Culipher, who also casts her vote at the precinct.