In the first couple days of early voting, 69,000 Virginians cast their ballots for the November elections. That’s as of Tuesday morning, according to the Department Elections.
Early in-person voting, no excuse needed, is a new way to vote in Virginia this year. There were reports of long lines in Northern Virginia and parts of Central Virginia Friday morning, the first day.
In Chesterfield where there’s also a competitive congressional race 2,689 have showed up to vote early as of Tuesday morning.
Learn More about Early and Absentee Voting
Hanover County’s Director of Elections, Teri Smithson, says it’s gone smoothly so far in her locality. She says about 1,200 people have voted there.
“It’s going smooth as silk,” Smithson says. “Lots of staff here to assist voters, our curbside is very popular. There’s zero wait time.”
She says the only hiccup is those who have already requested a mail-in ballot showing up to vote in person. “If they’ve got an absentee ballot please wait and fill that absentee ballot and send it back, our bring it to us, or otherwise bring it with you when you vote in person.”
Officials with the Department of Elections say they’ve already had almost 900,000 absentee ballot requests. That’s record-breaking. In the 2016 election about 550,000 absentee ballots were cast.
If you’ve requested an absentee ballot but haven’t gotten it yet you can check here to track it.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
