Early voting in Virginia dips below 2020 levels as parties push for final turnout surge

[RandySF]

One day before the presidential election, early voting turnout in Virginia is falling short of the historic highs seen in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Sunday, more than 2.29 million Virginians have already cast their ballots — a 525,000 decrease from the unprecedented 2.82 million early votes cast by Nov. 3, 2020, during the last presidential election, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project.

In-person was the most popular option for early voters this year. On Saturday alone — the last day for early in-person voting during this election cycle — 139,376 cast their ballot. In total, 1.856 million early voters did so in person, with just 437,173 voting by mail.

Despite an initial wave of early voting in the southern and western parts of the state, the pattern of early ballot casting is about the same as some elections in more recent years, said David Richards, a political science professor at the University of Lynchburg.



https://virginiamercury.com/briefs/early-voting-in-virginia-dips-below-2020-levels-as-parties-push-for-final-turnout-surge/

[luvallpeeps]

1. Surprised by this. N/T

[SomedayKindaLove]

3. Overall early voting across the country

Looks like it will be down in 2024, maybe by 20%. 101M voted early during the Pandemic, while as if this AM about 77M have voted early.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. I wonder if many states will have such long lines when the polls close

that there will be lawsuits for extensions, as well as voting continuing into the wee hours. In most cases from what I've ever heard they let those in line vote.

[Mr.WeRP]

4. Some states (GA, MI, NC) have exceeded or met 2020 early voting

Overall we are at 78% of 2020. There are a couple of differences:

1. No pandemic - this is key.
2. Trump supporters not as enthusiastic as 2020

Another factor: Independents have a higher share of early voting turnout.

I can say that turnout of women is way off the charts. This election is a referendum on Roe.

I have been tacking this data as it has come in. For more info, see: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219648185

[fairfaxvadem]

5. Hoping more folks back to in-person

I’m taking a turn at my polling place tomorrow, although not during rush hours. When I voted early 3 weeks ago on a Saturday, it was steady but not insane like 2020 when I stood in line.

Not worried about Virginia but expect TSF to try to take a victory lap when the rural votes come in before NoVa, Richmond and Tidewater.

At least the weather will be gorgeous here tomorrow.