What to expect as early voting in Virginia begins

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Polls are officially open for early voting in Virginia’s primary election.

Voters can select candidates on the ballot for lieutenant governor, attorney general and state delegates. The battles waiting to be decided include the democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.

Those primary candidates include Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Richmond), Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Va. Beach), Prince William Co. School Board chairman at-large Babur Lateef, former federal prosecutor Victor Salgado, attorney Alexander Bastani and former Richmond mayor Levar Stoney.

For Attorney General, former Del. Jay Jones and Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor will be battling for the position. 

On the Republican side, John Reid and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares are both running opposed for lieutenant governor and attorney general, respectively.

So are both parties' gubernatorial candidates, former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R-Va.).

Hanover County General Registrar Director of Elections Teri Smithson said she does not expect a huge turnout at the Hanover voting site.

“What we found from the 2021 lieutenant governor and attorney general primary for the Democratic Party is that it was only a 16% turnout. So, we do anticipate a low voter turnout,” Smithson said.

But she does encourage voters to come early before election day on June 17.

“We're hoping that, you know, people take advantage of coming out and voting for their folks. It's open to all registered voters of Hanover County and across the Commonwealth,” Smithson said. “They can go to their registrar's office and cast a ballot between now and Election Day, and they can request a vote by mail ballot.” 

If you're not able to vote early in-person, you can request a mailed-in ballot now through June 6th.

Valid id is required and if you need to register or update your voter registration, that deadline is May 27th.