Some complain that “Election Day” has now become “Election Season.”
Early voting began across the Old Dominion on Friday, Sept. 20, which puts Virginia on par with Vermont, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Mississippi for offering voting 45 days before Election Day.
Early voting became law in Virginia in 2020 when Democrats controlled the General Assembly and Governor’s Mansion. Before then, most Virginians voted on Election Day, but it’s a little-known fact that it wasn’t until 1845 when Congress passed a federal law designating the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November as Election Day. According to History.com, “Before then, states were allowed to hold elections any time they pleased within a 34-day period before the first Wednesday in December…”
Despite original misgivings by many, more and more Virginians are voting early. Originally Democrats embraced early voting while Republicans often stayed with their traditions and voted on Election Day. This year, however, former President Trump has called on his supporters to vote early in a movement he calls “Swamp the Vote.”
Early voting has several benefits. 1.) A person does not need to worry about an illness, family emergency, car trouble or bad weather keeping you from the polls on Election Day. 2.) Even though the parties don’t know how you voted, they get regular reports from registrars that you did vote, thus sparing you from the unrelenting deluge of texts, calls, and mailers urging you to go to the polls.
According to Roanoke County GOP Chairman Chris Newton, “Friday, September 20, the first day of in-person, early voting, saw 884 voters come to the polls – 423 at the Registrar’s Office in Vinton, and 461 at the Brambleton Center in Roanoke.”
Monday, September 23 saw spirited participation as well. The Registrar’s Office in Vinton had reported over 300 voters by 1:00 PM.
Roanoke County residents Warren and HyangSuk Edmonds voted shortly after noon on Monday, September 23 at the County Registrar’s Office in Vinton. They reported they moved to the Valley from California because the Golden State has been “changing.” When asked how they chose the Roanoke area to relocate to, Mrs. Edmonds said a friend of hers had moved from California to Roanoke some years earlier. Mrs. Edmonds liked to visit with her friend several times per year for extended periods of prayer together, and during those visits, the Edmonds decided to make this area their home as well.
The Edmonds enthusiastically professed support for former President Trump to be given another four years and voted for Senate candidate Hung Cao also. Mrs. Edmonds explained her reasoning by text: “We voted for President Trump for the 47th President of the United States of America because America needs a strong leader who stands with God and delivers his will by standing and supporting pro-life and marriage between a man and woman. We believe that comes from true fear of the Lord God, and that is for America to be blessed, and that is truly to make America great, strong and safe again. I voted for him in 2016, 2020, and again in 2024.”
Of course the highest-profile race this year is former President Trump seeking a comeback versus Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Democrat party bosses appointed to be nominee after President Biden suddenly reversed course and dropped out of the race in July. Second in importance is the race for US Senator, where incumbent Tim Kaine (D) is seeing another six-year term and is opposed by retired Navy captain Hung Cao (R). Moreover, there is a race in each of Virginia’s 11 seats in the House or Representatives. In our area, Sixth District Rep. Ben Cline (R) and Ninth District Rep. Morgan Griffith are heavily favored for re-election.
There is also a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot. Currently, family members of servicemembers killed in combat receive a state tax break. The amendment, if passed, would extend that tax break to relatives of service members killed in the line of duty, even if not in combat but perhaps in training, etc.
This twitter user is posting election updates and tweeted this on September 23:
- “Rural Early Voter turnout continues to surge in Virginia (full day 2 results).
- Washington Co. (Trump 75% in 2020) +150%
- Bland Co. (Trump 85% in 2020) tracking +200%
- Smyth Co. (Trump 78% in 2020) off the chart vs 2020
- SW VA really has listened to Youngkin and really turning out to vote early.”
Early voting is now being held in each locality across the Old Dominion, Monday to Friday, plus the last two Saturdays before Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 5.
To learn more about early voting, registration, and the ballot, check out this article.
Scott Dreyer