Listen Up, Patriots…It’s Time to VOTE!
By: Tiffany Boggs, Mason Votes Contributor
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, voters in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District will head to the polls for a special election to fill the seat of the late Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, who passed away on May 21, 2025, at the age of 75.
Only residents of Virginia’s Virginia’s 11th Congressional District are eligible to vote in the special election. Utilize the VA Dept. of Elections’ Citizen Portal to check your voter registration status.
Polls will be open 6am–7pm on Election Day and anyone in line at 7pm will be allowed to vote. Click here to find your local polling place >
Fairfax County Sample Ballot: fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/sites/elections/files/Assets/Documents/PDF/2025_September_Special_Web.pdf
Who Are the Candidates?
The race is between Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw (D) and Stewart Whitson (R), Senior Director of Federal Affairs at the Foundation of Government Accountability (FGA).
Walkinshaw previously served as chief of staff to the late Rep. Connolly and was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2019. According to his campaign website: “I’m running for Congress to stop Trump’s dangerous agenda and deliver for Fairfax.”
Whitson, a U.S. Army veteran, previously served as a supervisory special agent in the FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence. According to his campaign website: “Stewart will help President Trump restore common sense and get the country back on-track.“
Read more the candidates and their policy positions:
- James Walkinshaw (D): jameswalkinshaw.org
- Stewart Whitson (R): whitsonforcongress.com
Can I Vote Early?
Yes! Residents of Virginia’s 11th Congressional District can vote early through September 6th.
Click here to find early voting locations >
For mail-in ballots to be counted, they must be postmarked by September 9th and received by noon on September 12th.
Voting on Election Day?
Voters must visit their assigned polling place to cast their ballots between the hours of 6am-7pm to make the final decision. Click here to find your local polling place >
Your George Mason University Student Photo ID is welcomed on Election Day! Vote using either your physical Mason ID card OR electronic Mason Mobile ID. Voters will be asked to present an acceptable form of ID when voting in person or sign an affidavit certifying their identification. Click here to learn more about acceptable voter ID in Virginia >
If you missed the September 2nd special election voter registration deadline, you can take advantage of “same-day registration” and vote on Election Day with a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are not processed by a vote counting machine at the time of voting, but rather are subject to approval by the local electoral board prior to the ballot being counted. Click here to learn more about same-day voter registration and provisional ballots >
If you are already registered to vote in Virginia, you can verify your status and find your polling place using the Citizen Portal: vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation
Mason Students living in Virginia are encouraged to check their eligibility and make their voices heard in this special election!
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James Walkinshaw Photo Credit: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/braddock/about-supervisor-walkinshaw
Stewart Whitson Photo Credit: https://www.whitsonforcongress.com/