Weekly Column: Let's Grow Early Voting

The following is my column that will appear in the Mt. Vernon Gazette, Springfield Connection, The Mt. Vernon Voice, and the Potomac and Stafford Locals in the week of November 3, 2017.

Let’s Grow Early Voting  

The 2017 Virginia elections once against demonstrated that Virginians are choosing to vote early in larger numbers each election.  

As compared with 2013, early voting in Prince William County was up over 210%, 170% in Fairfax County, and 146% in Stafford County. In 2016, over 120,000 or one in five Fairfax County voters cast their votes early while nearly forty-four percent of Prince William County voters voted early.  

Voting early allows voters to avoid precinct lines, unpredictable weather, job, family or health problems. Voting by mail gives voters more time to complete their ballot in the privacy of their home. Most importantly, it provides the flexibility to allow more people to participate in our democracy.  

Given its popularity, there are more things our government can do to facilitate early voting.

2012 Session Looms

The 2012 Session awaits in January.  "Prefiling" or the process to request legislative drafts and file them has started.  Several bills have already been introduced.

The Budget continues to be in horrible shape. The money committees have told us to expect a $1 billion shortfall that we have to plug. The condition of the budget will have effects across all kinds of programs and issue debates.

Due to changes in the Virginia Senate, there are a lot of issues that are likely going to be coming up:

• Bills on "personhood" for fetuses and abortion restrictions will be front and center.
• Legislation to marginalize undocumented immigrants will be a hot topic.
• Bills to remove restrictions on firearms will be coming.  For example, legislation to allow a person to manufacture, sell and possess a gun in Virginia free from federal restrictions is introduced annually. 
• Removing the moratorium on uranium mining.  I wrote about that here.
• The Governor has made noises and changing Virginia's pension system to a 401K-style pension. 
• Legislation to limit people's ability to vote will be introduced again.
• There is some talk about pushing some transportation responsibilities to localities.

The Division of Legislative Services has published a newsletter which is a fairly good non-partisan recap about what is coming and has some interesting statistics.  You can read it here.  In 2011, we considered 2,692 bills and resolutions and passed 890. 

Personally, I have about 110 different ideas I've collected over the last eight months that I am narrowing down for the session.  If you have any legislative ideas for me, please feel free to drop me a note.

2011 Voting Record ***UPDATED***

The 2011 Regular Session is now concluded and the Clerk has compiled each of our respective voting records. I have posted it below. We took 1478 recorded votes. If you would like further clarification on the bills or votes below, you can look up individual bills here:

Legislative Information System

My 2010 Voting Record was previously posted here:

The Dixie Pig: Voting Record for 2010 Session (June 6, 2010)

Thanks to legislation introduced by Delegates Jim Lemunyon and Mark Keam co-sponsored by the entire freshman class last year and introduced again this year, this information will be posted online in future sessions.

UPDATED - I've updated this with my voting record through the Veto Session and the first part of our special session on redistricting.

2011 Complete Voting Record

VA League of Conservation Voters Names Surovell Legislative Heroes

This week, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters release their 2010 Legislative Scorecard. I am honored to have received a 100% rating and to be named a 2010 Conservation Hero. Below is my press release regarding the Scorecard and award.

June 30, 2010
*****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*****

Contact: Christopher Bea, Legislative Assistant
DelSSurovell@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Scott Surovell was named a “2010 Conservation Hero” by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters in recognition of his support of conservation issues during the 2010 legislative session. “Virginia’s natural resources are one of our most vital assets and we have a responsibility to keep the Commonwealth clean and beautiful” said Surovell. Surovell was one of eighteen delegates to receive a 100% rating from the VALCV.

The VALCV was founded in 2000 as a non-partisan political voice for the Commonwealths conservation community. "In his first year at the General Assembly, Delegate Surovell has shown great commitment to protecting our land, air and water," said Lisa Guthrie, Executive Director of VALCV. "He has already demonstrated leadership by introducing innovative energy legislation that shows great promise for the future."

Surovells 100% rating reflects his votes on issues ranging from air quality to off-shore oil drilling. “Virginia and the nation as a whole is faced with critical decisions regarding energy and the environment,” said Surovell. “It is an honor to be recognized by the VALCV.” Surovell has long been active in conservation advocacy, having worked with the Natural Resources Defense Council and as a volunteer at Huntley Meadows Park.

House Bill 833, introduced by Surovell was one of the pieces of legislation VALCV used to in its scoring. Home energy audits are exploding in popularity due to heightened awareness, increased energy costs, and government incentives to encourage home energy efficiency. There are currently no government standards regarding what constitutes a home energy audit or any standards governing the profession. HB 833 created a system of regulation for home energy auditors and was supported by both industry and conservation groups. “HB 833 represents an important step forward for home energy efficiency, and I intend to bring the issue up again in 2011.”

Looking ahead, Surovell stated, “I appreciate the work the VALCV does in preserving and enhancing quality of life for all Virginians. I look forward to working alongside them as we defend Virginia’s natural beauty.” Surovell recently organized a community cleanup of Quander Brook, along U.S. 1 in Alexandria, removing truckloads of trash and debris from the stream. “Whether at the community level, or in Richmond, I am committed to conserving and protecting Virginia’s environment,” said Surovell. “Green technology and energy efficiency is the future and I look forward to working with the Virginia business community making Virginia the leader of green industries.”

Voting Record for 2010 Session

The Clerk of the House of Delegates records all of our votes on an electronic voting system called Legis.

All of this data is fairly easy to reformat and present, but under our current rules it is only displayed on a bill by bill basis online. While it is easy to see votes on specific bills, it is difficult to see each delegate's entire voting history.

There is one site put together by Waldo Jaquith, Richmond Sunlight, that provides some analytical tools. For example, you can see my voting record for that site here.

Because of his Delegate Jim LeMunyon introduced a rule change to require the Clerk of the House to publish our voting histories online. All 20 freshman, Democrats and Republicans, cosponsored the bill, but it did not make it out of the House it passed the House, but was killed in Senate Committee [thanks to Del. LeMunyon for that correction!].

The Clerk gave each of us our voting history last week. I am committed to making my record as available as possible to anyone who wants it. My voting record is published below.


2010 Surovell Complete Voting Record

Virginia Education Association Rookie of the Year

Last week, I was named one of the Virginia Education Association's Rookies of the Year. Below is my press release regarding that honor.

May 28, 2010
*****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*****

Contact: Christopher Bea,
Legislative Assistant DelSSurovell@house.virginia.gov


Delegate Scott Surovell was named a “Legislative Rookie of the Year” by the Virginia Education Association in recognition of his efforts to strengthen public education throughout the Commonwealth during the 2010 legislative session. “As a product of Fairfax County Public Schools, I am honored to be recognized by the VEA,” said Surovell. Surovell was one of six newly elected delegates to receive a 100% rating from the VEA.

The VEA, founded in 1863 comprises over 60,000 educators in Virginia. Dr. Kitty Boitnott, president of the VEA said of Surovell: “Delegate Surovell has begun his legislative career as a solid supporter of our public schools. We have acknowledged his 100% pro-education voting record by awarding him VEA’s Rookie of the Year award. We look forward to working with Delegate Surovell in the years ahead. He is a welcomed friend of public education.”

Surovell graduated from West Potomac High School in 1989, James Madison University in 1993, and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1996. He made public education one of the cornerstones of his 2009 campaign. “Education, from pre-K to graduate school, is a top priority in the Mount Vernon community and throughout the Commonwealth,” the Delegate noted. “Fairfax County Public Schools are one of the most effective economic development tools in our government's toolkit. Strong schools mean good jobs, a strong economy and a better way of life for area residents.”

Surovell was one of several legislators who took the lead in maintaining
state funding for public school systems throughout Northern Virginia. “While the Local Composite Index is a flawed set of rules, we have used it to allocate school funding for years,” Surovell said. “We can’t abandon it when it produces a result that some members of the legislature don’t like.”

Looking ahead, Surovell stated, “I appreciate the work the VEA does for students and teachers throughout the Commonwealth. I look forward to working alongside them as we defend and improve Virginia’s reputation for educational excellence.” Surovell is currently examining means to increase preschool access in Mount Vernon and along the Route 1 corridor.