THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411040307
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Virginia Beach voters alone will not decide any of the issues they will find on Tuesday's ballot. But as the commonwealth's most-populated city, we as a community will have a larger impact than most on the outcome of several key statewide issues.
Unless you've been marooned on a deserted island for the past six months, you're all too familiar with the U.S. Senate race. Virginians will choose from among independent J. Marshall Coleman, Republican Oliver L. North and Democrat incumbent Charles S. Robb to represent them for the next six years.
Virginia Beach residents also will be electing a representative to Congress. But the choices will differ based on where in the city you live (see map below).
Most of the Beach is part of the 2nd District, which also covers most of Norfolk. In that race, incumbent Democrat Owen B. Pickett faces a challenge from Republican Jim Chapman.
Beach residents living in the west Kempsville precinct of Centerville, however, are part of the 4th District, which extends west through Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk all the way to Petersburg. Centerville Elementary School is the voting site for this precinct. If you cast your ballot there, then your choices include incumbent Democrat Norman Sisisky and Republican George Sweet.
(If you're still unclear which congressional district you live in or where you're supposed to vote, call the registrar's office at 427-VOTE.)
Don't be surprised, however, that your job isn't limited to choosing a senator and a congressman.
Three proposed amendments to the state constitution also will be on the ballot Tuesday.
Here are the three questions and a brief description of what a ``Yes'' vote would mean:
1. ``Shall the constitution of Virginia be amended to authorize the General Assembly to reopen and extend the statutory time period for bringing civil lawsuits which involve intentional injuries to minors?''
A ``Yes'' vote would mean that victims of child abuse have a longer period of time - known as the ``statute of limitations'' - in which to press charges against their abusers.
2. ``Shall the Constitution of Virginia be amended to revise voter registration provisions, including two changes that will (1) delete the requirement that you must apply in person to register and allow registration by mail and (2) eliminate the requirement for canceling your registration if you have not voted in four years?''
A ``Yes'' vote would mean that state law on voter registration would come into alignment with new federal laws and prevent Virginia from having to keep two separate sets of voter lists. The new federal law forbids states from purging voters from their lists simply because they haven't voted in awhile; Virginia now purges the names of all voters who haven't voted in four years.
3. ``Shall the Constitution of Virginia be amended to revise the procedures followed (1) by the Governor to veto or propose amendments to bills passed by the General Assembly and (2) by the General Assembly in response to the Governor's vetoes or proposed amendments.
A ``Yes'' vote would mean that a conflicting procedure in the gubernatorial veto process will now be the same in both regular and late General Assembly sessions. A ``Yes'' also would mean that the General Assembly has more freedom in dealing with amendments added by the governor to bills. The constitution doesn't now specify if the General Assembly must accept or reject a governor's amendments to a bill as a block, or if the assembly can divide the amendments up and act on them separately.
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. ILLUSTRATION: Staff map
Virginia Beach residents will be electing a representative to
Congress. But the choices will differ based on where in the city you
live (see map, left).
Most of the Beach is part of the 2nd District where incumbent
Democrat Owen B. Pickett faces a challenge from Republican Jim
Chapman.
Beach residents living in the west Kempsville precinct of
Centerville, however, are part of the 4th District, where incumbent
Democrat Norman Sisisky is up against Republican George Sweet.
[sample ballot guide]
KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA BEACH by CNB