Public commenter urges board to improve George Mason University voter outreach and consider precinct boundary change

During the public-comment portion of the Jan. 7 meeting, Steven Spritz, identifying himself as affiliated with FCDC, urged the Fairfax County Electoral Board to improve voter registration and voting access for George Mason University students.

Spritz recommended increasing same-day registration staffing early in the day to prevent lines and offering on-campus or satellite early-voting options. He also suggested the board recommend that the Board of Supervisors redraw precinct boundaries so a nearby student housing complex "incorporates the main" and would vote at the university precinct.

"We need them to vote," Spritz said, arguing that young people who are not registered and who fail to vote when they are 18 are less likely to vote later in life. The chair thanked Spritz and said staff would "look at the main" and noted the registrar's office had not received formal complaints about the precinct assignment.

The board did not take an immediate policy action; the public comment was recorded and the chair asked staff to follow up where appropriate.