by John Reid

On Friday, early voting began throughout Virginia. Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (D-31), who is campaigning for the Senate, talked with the PW Perspective at the Ferlazzo Building in Woodbridge, one of the locations where people can vote.

“It’s how democracy works,” she said. “The more people that participate, we should be excited about it.”

Guzman discussed why it was necessary to help pave the way for the possibility to vote.

“We represent the locality of Prince William County where 70 percent of the population have to commute for a high-paying job. During the pandemic, many of them were working remotely,” she said.

“So, for them to be able to take time from their busy schedule to participate in the democratic process, it’s exciting for them. This allows them to vote early so they can use their time to spend with their families. In the past, you would have to vote by mail, but then things happen, and all of a sudden you forget to mail it in. Now, there’s plenty of opportunity to cast your vote.”

She was also a co-patron on the bill that helps remove barriers to early voting, such as how voters had to give a reason they were voting early. “I believe that it helps communities that were disenfranchised, and we did it just for that reason.”

“We don’t leave any vote at the table. We will talk to people about issues that we care about most, and explain the issues that are on the ballot. Many people reflect on what happened in Prince William County in 2017, and what I tell them is that we now have leaders that look like the communities they serve, but also share their values.”

“It is reflected in the candidates who are running,” she continued. “No longer is it just wealthy career politicians, or people who got in due to their connections getting in, it is everyday people not only running, but winning.”

“Also, we have candidates who are going through the same struggles as voters do: working a full-time job, raising children, and so many other things, so we know what is important to them. I remember what it was like back in 2008 when former President Barack Obama was running, and I had to wait at Belville Middle School until 10pm to cast my vote. Everyone was able to vote, I was thinking why did we have to wait until the last minute? Since that day, I voted early every time, and now we are seeing more participation with early voting.”

Since becoming a delegate in 2017, what has she learned as she prepares for her senatorial campaign? “It’s about looking back on what you have done, and being able to be there for our constituents as an elected official,” she said. “We have been able to have conversations about gun safety and workers’ rights. When I first started, Virginia was dead last in protecting workers, and now we are progressing steadily in the right direction.”

“Being a leader to me means convincing those who serve with you, and change their minds by having the tough conversations. Even in the two years I have served in the majority, we passed more gun safety legislation than Maryland has in a long time. It’s about being a team player, building coalitions, and be willing to collaborate with those who may disagree politically.”

What did it mean to be endorsed by Kathleen Murphy of the Veterans Caucus? “When I was elected, Democrats weren’t talking about military families, and my district was between Fort Belvoir and Quantico. My predecessor was a veteran, and he did not introduce one bill to improve the lives of those families. That was my promise, and I’m proud to deliver to them, which I will continue to do.”

Also, she was endorsed by the Virginia AFL-CIO, and talked about the significance of such. “I cried when I heard the news,” she said. “Because it made me realize that fighting for the right cause matters.”

“The challenge is going to be greater, but at the same time, I have to think about the families I’ll be able to help once elected.”

She is running in the Democratic primary against Senator Jeremy McPike. To find out more about early voting, check out the information below, courtesy of the Virginia Department of Elections:

You can vote early at your local registrar’s office beginning 45 days before Election Day and ending the Saturday before Election Day. Before visiting your local registrar’s office, you may wish to check your registration status or call your registrar’s office. You can find your registrar’s phone number here. To vote early in-person, do the following:

• Starting 45 days before Election Day, visit your local registrar’s office or a satellite voting location in your county or city to vote early. Remember, the Saturday before Election Day is the last day to vote early.
• You do not have to have a reason or fill out an application to vote early.
• At the registrar’s office or satellite voting location, you must provide your name and address and show an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID Confirmation Statement. To view a complete list of acceptable IDs, please visit our page. If acceptable identification is not provided, you must sign an ID Confirmation Statement or a provisional ballot will be offered and you are allowed until the Friday at noon following the election to provide a copy of acceptable identification to the electoral board or sign
  an ID Confirmation Statement. Provisional voters receive a notice to remind them of the deadline and right to attend the electoral board meeting.
• Accessible equipment and/or curbside voting is available upon request.

Update: Delegate Guzman received the following endorsement from the Prince William Education Association:

PWEA’s PAC proudly announces our endorsement for Elizabeth Guzman for Virginia Senate District 29. We are grateful for her leadership in the state house to repeal the ban on collective bargaining by public sector employees. pic.twitter.com/BnLY4pV9tg

— Prince William EA (@PrinceWilliamEA) May 8, 2023