Greetings from the Omega Rho Omega
Advocate for Social Justice Committee!
2026 is an important year for elections in our local community
and within the state of Virginia.
To ensure every Virginian is informed and ready to advocate for themselves,
ORO has created the Social Justice Update.
This page will be updated monthly with relevant voter and social justice information.
The information presented is non-partisan and inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®
Critical Dates for VA Voters
August 4, 2026 – Primary Election
The Democratic and Republican parties will hold primary elections of party candidates for the general election in November. The general election will determine new Virginia’s representatives to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, as well as local offices.
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Register to Vote by: July 24, 2026
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Early Voting: June 19 – August 1, 2026
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Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: July 24, 2026
November 3, 2026 – General Election
This election decides Virginia’s representatives to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, along with local offices.
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Register to Vote by: October 23, 2026
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Early Voting: September 18 – October 31, 2026
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Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: October 23, 2026
Government Meetings – May
We can invest in our communities by getting involved with our local governments.
ORO encourages the residents of Eastern Henrico, Charles City, and New Kent to engage locally by attending these monthly meetings.
Henrico County, VA
Board of Supervisors Meetings
Board Room, Administration Building - Government Center, 4301 East Parham Rd., Richmond, VA 23228
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Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 6:00 p.m., stream here.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2028, 6:00 p.m., stream here.
Charles City County, VA
Economic Development Board Meeting
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Thursday, May 7, 2026
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Government Administration Building, 10702 Courthouse Rd., Charles City, VA 23030
Residents can stream meetings here.
New Kent County, VA
Board of Supervisors Business Meeting
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Monday, May 11, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
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Location: Boardroom of the County Administration Building, 12007 Courthouse Circle, New Kent, VA 23124
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Residents can stream meetings here.
2026 Gubernatorial Executive Orders
Upon taking office in January, Governor Abigail Spanberger passed several Executive Orders impacting public schools, community safety, housing, state government operations, law enforcement, and our statewide economy.
See a brief description the Executive Orders here.
Read the full texts of each Executive Order here.
VA Legislative Check-In
Presented by Marilyn Freeman
The Virginia General Assembly is currently in a Special Session. While the regular 60-day session ended in mid-March ("Sine Die"), the legislature returned for a Reconvened Session (often called the Veto Session) on April 22 to address Governor Spanberger’s amendments and vetoes to legislation from the 2026 session.
Because the House and Senate did not reach a final agreement on the 2026–2028 biennial budget during the regular session, they are now in concurrent special sessions to finalize the state's spending plan.
Current Status Breakdown
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The Reconvened Session: The legislature met on April 22 to vote on the Governor's recommendations for general legislation. The Governor has a final deadline of May 25, 2026 to sign the remaining bills that were adjusted during that session.
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The Budget (Special Session): Negotiators from the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees are currently meeting to bridge the gaps between their two versions of the budget.
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The State Senate: The Virginia Senate officially recessed on April 23 but remains "on call" with 48 hours' notice to return and vote once a final budget deal is struck.
Key Deadlines to Watch
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The goal is to reach a finalized budget before June 30, 2026 to avoid a government shutdown.
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The Governor's final signature deadline is May 25, 2026 for non-budget legislation.
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New laws from this most recent legislative session will take effect on July 1, 2026.
Fun Fact: Soror Marcia “Cia” Price is the first Black woman to serve as Chair of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, the longest continuously operating legislative committee in the nation.
Social Justice is a serious matter!
Remember to stay informed, get engaged, and advocate within your community.
Visit elections.virginia.gov for all official election information.