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Virginia Votes: Speaking to Voters in Today's Primary Election

Jahd Khalil / RADIO IQ

Virginia Democrats find out tonight who will be their nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. Both Democratic and Republican voters in today’s primary are also picking several nominees for state delegate, and some local races. Election officials say turnout has been light.

More than 115,000 people had already cast ballots as Election Day dawned.

“This polling place is now open!”

Some of those who waited until now oppose the natural gas pipeline now weaving through western Virginia. And that may cost the likely Democratic nominee for governor, Terry McAuliffe, a few votes.

Suzanne Glass of Blacksburg says she picked one of the other five candidates.

“Terry McAuliffe was involved when the Mountain Valley Pipeline was first initiated so I voted for one of the other candidates who seems good,” Glass says.

Stopping the pipeline was also an important issue for James Knight of Blacksburg.

“And then I’m very concerned with various human rights issues," says Knight. "I hope that we don’t go the route that some states are going in terms of voter restrictions.”

Other types of infrastructure are important to Cheryl Burrell-Graves of Christiansburg.

“Virginia has done a pretty good job across the state with infrastructure but southwest Virginia, we need to do better with public transportation as well as internet accessibility,” explains Burrell-Graves.

The polls will be open until 7pm. And, anyone who requested a ballot by mail has until today to get it postmarked. It will be counted as long as your registrar gets it by noon Friday.

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

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