Regardless of your personal political leanings, the primary lesson learned over the last year is that elections have consequences and that it is vitally important to exercise your right to vote. Elections at every level and in a variety of entities from the Hampton Roads Pride Board to school board to governor and president can have profound impacts on our quality of life.
As demonstrated in the Human Rights Campaign’s 2017 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), local elected officials and their policies can positively affect the equality of LGBTQ persons. Where you hang your hat and call home may determine how you are treated at the local and county level. While we may have to wait until 2018 to affect change at the national level, we have an opportunity tonight and tomorrow to get a head start in our hometowns.
Hampton Roads Pride Board of Director Elections
Tonight, members of Hampton Roads Pride will elect seven new members to its Board of Directors. HR Pride does more than throw a party each June. It is a leading LGBTQ organization in Hampton Roads. The direction of this high profile organization will be determined this evening. Click here for candidate profiles.
Virginia Statewide Elections
Tomorrow, the eyes of the nation will be on Virginia as we elect a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and House of Delegates. We have lined up a few resources to help you prepare for voting tomorrow:
- Candidates: get a complete list of all Virginia candidates here.
- Sample Ballot: find out what will be on your ballot here.
- Polling Locations: find your polling place here.
- Voter ID: find out what forms of voter ID are acceptable here.
- “Voting While Trans”: know your voting rights via The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) “Voting While Trans” checklist.
- Equality Virginia (EV) published a voting guide profiling candidate positions on equality that can be viewed here.
- Virginia Election Results: get live election updates here.
