Voters in Martinsville and Henry County will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5 to cast ballots in the General Election. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Martinsville and Henry County.
Voters are reminded to bring an acceptable form of photo identification with them to the polls. Virginia law requires that all voters present an acceptable form of photo identification when voting. A free voter photo identification card is available to any registered voter who does not already possess a valid form of identification, and can be obtained by visiting any Registrar’s Office.
Absentee voting may be done in person in the Martinsville or Henry County Registrar’s Office from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1.
Henry County Registrar Liz Stone said she expects “a good turnout” at the polls from the county’s 34,686 registered voters.
In the 2015 election, Stone said 34.40 percent of the county’s voters participated. That election also included a contested race for the Henry County Sheriff’s seat, she added.
This year, incumbent Henry County Sheriff Lane A. Perry is facing two challengers: John W. Cassell and Jerry W. Farmer.
Two candidates also are vying to win the School Board At Large seat on the Henry County School Board: Cherie Joyce Whitlow and Shelira D. Morrison.
Contested races for state offices include incumbent State Sen. William “Bill” Stanley, Jr., R-Glade Hill and challenger Sherman D. Witcher Sr., an independent from Franklin County.
Incumbent Del. Les R. Adams, R-Pittsylvania County, is being challenged for the 16th District House of Delegates seat by Dustin W. Evans, Libertarian.
Incumbent D. W. “Danny” Marshall III, R- Danville, is facing Eric W. Stamps, D-Danville, in his reelection bid to the 14th District House of Delegates.
Incumbent Del. Charles D. Poindexter, R-Glade Hill, is unopposed in his reelection bid for the 9th District on the Virginia House of Delegates.
Voters in the Horsepasture District also will consider incumbent local candidates seeking reelection: Debra Parsons Buchanan, who is seeking reelection to the Henry County Board of Supervisors and Terri C. Flanagan, who is seeking another term on the Henry County School Board.
In the Reed Creek District, voters also will consider incumbents Tommy J. Slaughter to the Henry County Board of Supervisors and Teddy Doyle Martin II to the Henry County School Board.
Ridgeway District voters also will consider incumbents Ryan F. Zehr to the Henry County Board of Supervisors and Francis E. Zehr to the Henry County School Board.
Other local uncontested races include Henry County Commonwealth’s Attorney M. Andrew Nester, Henry County Treasurer Scott B. Grindstaff and Henry County Commissioner of Revenue Linda N. Love.
Two candidates: R. Darryl Holland and Andrew L. Barker are seeking the two open seats for the Soil and Water Conservation Director Blue Ridge District.
In Martinsville, three races are on the ballot:
Incumbent Ashby R. Pritchett is seeking reelection as Circuit Court Clerk.
City voters also will decide two state offices: Incumbent State Sen. William “Bill” Stanley, Jr., R-Glade Hill faces challenger Sherman D. Witcher Sr., an independent from Franklin County.
In the 16th District House of Delegates race, incumbent Del. Les R. Adams, R-Pittsylvania County, is facing Dustin W. Evans, Libertarian.
For additional information, contact Stone at the Henry County Registrar’s Office at (276) 638-5108 or Cynthia Barbour, Martinsville Registrar, at (276) 403-5122.
(A countywide sample ballot is printed inside this newspaper.)
