Released: Tuesday, May 25, 2021

VAIB | Virginia Voice

Volume 5  |  May 25, 2021 

State Primary Tuesday, June 8
Having quality elected officials starts with having quality candidates. Be knowledgeable and prayerful as you study candidates. All one hundred House of Delegates seats are up for election this year, but each race does not necessarily have more than one candidate. And if you vote in the primary, you must vote in only the Democratic or the Republican primary—you cannot vote in both!

Here’s the catch: only some districts will have a ballot because there are two or more candidates seeking their party nomination. For example:

• In the Democratic primary, the following districts will have elections because there are two or more candidates: Districts 2, 7, 31, 36, 38, 45, 49, 50, 66, 68, 71, 74, 79, 84, 86, 89, 99. 
• In the Republican primary: Districts 9, 22, 24, 51, 68, 72, 83.

Once each party has selected its candidates, they will be on the ballot on November 2. Of course, there may be independents on the ballot and in some cases only one person on the ballot. But your vote is needed, so I hope you will vote. Go to the Virginia Department of Elections for more information.
 
By the way, because of a new law, you can vote early by:

• going in person to your local voter registrar’s office (this actually started April 23)
• request an absentee ballot by May 28
• view a candidate list to see who is on your ballot (if anyone)
• see WHO’S MY LEGISLATOR?, which will also show you your district number for the House of Delegates

Conference Reminder!
This year’s conference happens on one day only—Thursday, September 23! The ONE Voice for Liberties Conference will be at Crossroads Baptist Church, 31 Crossroads Lane, Fishersville, VA. Plan now to attend. We need the fellowship and encouragement, and your presence will provide just that. Plus, you need to be informed on matters impacting your church. See VAIB’s website for more information.
 
As in year’s past, VAIB depends on special donations from churches and individuals to underwrite the expense of the conference. You can give online or at the conference. As always, thank you for helping.
 
Religious-Exempt Day Cares
If your church has or plans to have a religious-exempt day care, the department overseeing all day cares will change on July 1 to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) from the Department of Social Services (DSS). Throughout the process, I have been given strong assurance by those overseeing day cares that there will be no changes regarding regulations, and in fact, some staff will be the same since they will be transferring from DSS to VDOE. This is good news for the short term since I know nothing “remains the same” in government. I will continue to monitor and speak for religious-exempt day cares when the time comes regarding potential changes in regulations or laws.

As I have done in the past, I will continue to monitor laws and regulations impacting:

• churches, church ministries, church property and vehicles
• religious-exempt day cares (non-licensure)
• education (public, private, Christian, homeschooling)
• religious liberties
• sales & use tax exemptions for churches

Thank You!
Since my April newsletter, my church meeting schedule for 2021 has been filled! If your church would like to schedule for 2022, just email me at ealiff@vaib.org or call 804-789-1278 and leave a message. What a blessing to be back in churches to see what God is doing!
 
I want to say thank you to those churches and individuals who continue to give in support of VAIB’s mission. If you or your ministry does not support VAIB, would you prayerfully consider doing so to keep this ministry working on your behalf?
 
Sincerely,

Rev. Eddy Aliff
Executive Director VAIB