Bristol, VAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Bristol City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

6 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council · Vote for up to 3

Voters choose up to three of six candidates for three four-year council seats; two other council members continue in office.

3 notes on these statements

Michael W. Pollard was censured by the City Council on January 28, 2025; Jake Preston Holmes and F. Neal Osborne voted for the resolution. Bristol City Council minutes, January 28, 2025 · Jan 28, 2025

Michael W. Pollard, Jake Preston Holmes and F. Neal Osborne are incumbents; Jackie L. Nophlin, Melissa K. Brown and Elijah D. Walker are not on the council. Virginia Department of Elections

Melissa K. Brown and Elijah D. Walker had not answered the VOTE411 questions when checked on October 5, 2026. VOTE411 Voter Guide · Oct 5, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Anthony FarnumLicensed real estate agent and Bristol councilmember who earlier served on the Bristol Planning Commission.8sourcedAlex LittletonCouncil Member, appointed February 24, 2026 to fill a vacancy5sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesCity budget and taxes, Recreational-substance shops and street safety, Landfill remediationKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Candidates, positions and dates in one email, sent now.

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Next date

Election Day

Tue, Nov 3, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

City budget and taxes

Where it standsThe council adopted the fiscal year 2026-27 budget on May 26, 2026, and the recommended budget carried no tax-rate increases.

What's on the tableThe next council sets tax rates and the annual budget, including how to use new revenue from growth and gaming taxes.

Recreational-substance shops and street safety

Where it standsThe council adopted a zoning ordinance in August 2026 limiting where tobacco, vape, hemp and kratom shops can locate.

What's on the tableThe next council decides special use permits for these shops and how to respond to nuisance and safety concerns near stores.

Landfill remediation

Where it standsThe city is building a leachate equalization tank system at the landfill and has hired consultants and bought equipment for it.

What's on the tableThe next council funds continuing landfill work and decides how much of the budget it takes.

City management and economic development

Where it standsBristol has a new city manager and a newly hired economic development director.

What's on the tableThe next council oversees the city manager and sets the city's approach to attracting business.

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. What should Bristol do with new tax revenue?

  2. 2. How should Bristol handle recreational-substance shops?

  3. 3. How should Bristol address petty crime and vagrancy near stores?

  4. 4. Who should carry the cost of the landfill cleanup?

  5. 5. How should Bristol grow its tax base?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Anthony Farnum, Alex Littleton3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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