RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – More than 750,000 people across Virginia have already voted in this year’s election, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
It’s a new record so far for a non-presidential election year.
A Chesterfield County spokesperson said from Sept. 19 to Oct. 17, there were total of 30,891 residents who voted early
Early in-person voting became an option in Virginia in 2020, and its popularity has risen every year since.
UVA Center for Politics Director Larry Sabato warns against reading too deeply into the numbers yet.
“We are new into this early voting practice, across the country, not just in Virginia, and we only have a few years to compare this year to,” Sabato said.
Virginians this year will be voting for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, all seats in the House of Delegates, and several local elections.
Voters said convenience is the main reason they are casting their ballots early.
“We have busy schedules, so it’s hard sometimes to carve out a specific time on a specific day,” one couple said about their decision to vote early.
Sabato said while there are benefits to early voting, but there are also costs. He pointed to Attorney General Democratic candidate Jay Jones’s recent text messaging scandal.
“You learn about things after you have already voted, and there were close to 400,000 people by the time all the information came out about Jay Jones, and for that matter, other information that has come out about all the candidates,” Sabato said.
Sabato also said President Trump is playing a part in driving people to the polls.
“He is a voting motivator, and we’ll see if that helps more or hurts more for the republican candidates,” Sabato said.
Regardless of how they are voting, some said on Wednesday, they are just relieved to have their votes in.
“If you don’t speak up for yourself and what you believe, you have no right to complain. And I just think it’s important, especially if you want your views considered, to vote,” another early voter told 12 On Your Side.
The last day to vote early is Saturday, Nov. 1. Election day is Nov. 4.
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