Virginia voter turnout down across the board this election, especially in ‘blue’ localities
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Voter turnout across the state of Virginia was down this 2024 General Election, especially in localities considered to favor Democratic candidates. While Vice President Kamala Harris (D) may have won Virginia's 13 electoral votes on Election Day by several percentage points, President-elect Donald Trump (R) is set to return to the White House in Jan. 2025, following a strong performance in many other states. As of about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Virginia Department of Elections reports that over 4.3 million ballots were cast in Virginia. However, despite how large that number appears to be, it still represents an overall decrease in Virginians hitting the polls. In all of Virginia's localities, voter turnout was down when compared to the 2020 General Election, according to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) -- meaning fewer Virginia voters cast a ballot in this battle between Trump and Harris than they did when Trump faced off against current President Joe Biden. VPAP's data also suggests that the voter turnout in areas that historically favor Democratic candidates was generally lower than turnout in areas that historically favor Republican ones. MORE: Virginia leaders react to Donald Trump’s election win More Democratic-leaning localities saw voter turnout below 70% this year than Republican-leaning ones -- and not a single Democratic-leaning locality saw a voter turnout of 80% or higher, whereas several Republican-leaning ones did. Areas with the lowest turnout this election cycle included Petersburg, Emporia and Hopewell cities, with 51%, 53% and 54% of registered voters casting a ballot in 2024, respectively. All three of those areas historically favor Democrats. Conversely, areas with the highest turnout included Goochland, Powhatan and Hanover counties, where 82%, 81% and 80% of registered voters made their voices heard in 2024, respectively. All three of those areas historically favor Republicans. It's worth noting that Virginia's 2024 General Election results are not completely finalized as of the time of reporting -- however, the overwhelming majority of ballots have been counted.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Voter turnout across the state of Virginia was down this 2024 General Election, especially in localities considered to favor Democratic candidates.
While Vice President Kamala Harris (D) may have won Virginia's 13 electoral votes on Election Day by several percentage points, President-elect Donald Trump (R) is set to return to the White House in Jan. 2025, following a strong performance in many other states.
As of about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Virginia Department of Elections reports that over 4.3 million ballots were cast in Virginia. However, despite how large that number appears to be, it still represents an overall decrease in Virginians hitting the polls.
In all of Virginia's localities, voter turnout was down when compared to the 2020 General Election, according to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) -- meaning fewer Virginia voters cast a ballot in this battle between Trump and Harris than they did when Trump faced off against current President Joe Biden.
VPAP's data also suggests that the voter turnout in areas that historically favor Democratic candidates was generally lower than turnout in areas that historically favor Republican ones.
MORE: Virginia leaders react to Donald Trump’s election win
More Democratic-leaning localities saw voter turnout below 70% this year than Republican-leaning ones -- and not a single Democratic-leaning locality saw a voter turnout of 80% or higher, whereas several Republican-leaning ones did.
Areas with the lowest turnout this election cycle included Petersburg, Emporia and Hopewell cities, with 51%, 53% and 54% of registered voters casting a ballot in 2024, respectively. All three of those areas historically favor Democrats.
Conversely, areas with the highest turnout included Goochland, Powhatan and Hanover counties, where 82%, 81% and 80% of registered voters made their voices heard in 2024, respectively. All three of those areas historically favor Republicans.
It's worth noting that Virginia's 2024 General Election results are not completely finalized as of the time of reporting -- however, the overwhelming majority of ballots have been counted.
