Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
Dear Neighbor,

This email includes important information from the County regarding an inaccurate and potentially misleading mailing that voters are receiving. This mailing is causing understandable confusion and concern among voters, especially as many are interested in absentee voting by mail due to the evolving coronavirus situation. While the mailing may appear to be from an official government agency, the Fairfax County Office of Elections did not send it. More information on this mailing and how to apply to absentee vote by mail is included below.

In addition, this email includes information about Virginia's sales tax holiday, which began today and continues through Sunday, details about a school supply donation drive, and more.

Please share this email with your friends and neighbors and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.

Sincerely,
John
Inaccurate Center for Voter Information Mailing
Fairfax County election officials are alerting voters to an inaccurate and potentially misleading mailing from the Center for Voter Information.

This group is mass mailing pre-filled, absentee ballot applications to County voters without their request. The mailer includes return envelopes to send the application to the City of Fairfax, not Fairfax County.

The mailing may also cause confusion for voters who have previously submitted absentee ballot applications themselves. These voters are worried that their applications were not received, leading them to think they need to apply again.

Fairfax County is working with the City of Fairfax to ensure that any applications received from the Center’s inaccurate mailing will be processed by the County.

When the Fairfax County Office of Elections mails election information or absentee ballots, the envelope has the County seal as part of the return address and the “Official Election Mail Authorized by the U. S. Postal Service” logo.

County election officials remind voters they can apply online to absentee vote by mail. This is the most secure method to apply rather than responding to unsolicited applications. By applying online, voters will be able to track the status of their application, including when a ballot is mailed to them and when their cast ballot has been received.

Voters can apply now to absentee vote by mail, and they will receive their ballots after September 18, the official start for absentee voting by mail. Because mail delivery may be slow, officials encourage voters to apply now and return their cast ballot as soon as possible.

In addition to voting by mail, voters are also encouraged to consider the option to absentee vote in-person at one of the 15 locations that will open this fall.

For more information or questions about absentee voting, contact the Fairfax County Office of Elections at 703-222-0776, TTY 711.
Virginia Sales Tax Holiday
Virginia's 3-day sales tax holiday is currently underway and will continue through Sunday, August 9.

During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane and emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star and WaterSense products without paying sales tax.

Eligible Items

Detailed lists of qualifying items and more information for retailers can be found here
Cornerstones Back-to-School Drive
Working in collaboration with Fairfax County Public Schools officials, Cornerstones anticipates backpacks will be an essential need for children, even with digital learning planned for this fall. Due to the uncertainty of the situation, however, Cornerstones is collecting both backpacks and financial donations to help local children. Cornerstones will be accepting donations through August 24.

Financial donations will be used to purchase backpacks and school supplies. Donate online or mail a check, made payable to Cornerstones, to 11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210, Reston, VA 20190. Note in the comments section that your donation is for the Back-to-School Drive. 

In addition, Cornerstones volunteers are ready to accept backpack donations. Every Saturday in August, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., volunteers will facilitate easy, no-contact backpack donation at the Reston National Golf Course, located at
11875 Sunrise Valley Drive, in Reston. Look for the donation drop-off tent, next to Cornerstones’ Laurel Learning Center Bus in the Golf Course’s parking lot.

Questions about Back-to-School Drive? Contact Nate King, Donations and Drives Coordinator, at nate.king@cornerstonesva.org or 571-323-9569.
Health Department Launches New Portal for Community Partners to Share COVID-19 Information
The County's Health Department estimates that more than 200 local organizations have been supporting Fairfax residents with basic needs and connection to public health resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To assist these organizations and community leaders, the Health Department has launched a new online portal which includes shareable information about COVID-19 safety. Users can grab-and-go text and video content, visuals, flyers, and other materials to insert into their next team message, email, social media post, or virtual meeting.

The Health Department encourages everyone to use the portal as a resource to share COVID-19 information within communities and neighborhoods, such as via virtual meetings or gatherings, community Facebook or What’s App groups, HOA newsletters, and any other method you and your neighbors use to share information. For questions about the content, email the Health Department at health@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Stay Informed
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below: