By Taylor Boyd
Based on early and absentee voting, Patrick County Registrar Susan Taylor expects to be busy on Tuesday, November 2.
All polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A sample ballot is printed in this newspaper showing the names of the candidates.
The popularization of alternative voting methods like early voting and absentee voting appears to be driving an increase in participation, Taylor said.
State offices are on the ballot, including a gubernatorial contest, combined with opposed local contests, and while “it’s not as busy as a presidential election,” participation thus far has been brisk.
“We don’t really have anything to compare it to because we’re still new with early voting and no excuse absentee voting. But it’s clear that more people are interested in voting than what we’ve seen in the past,” she said.
In previous elections, she recalled that voters needed an excuse to vote early.
“Now it’s not required, so there’s no comparison” that can be made to past elections, she said.
Of the 12,622 registered voters in the county, she estimated that around 50 percent will cast a ballot in the governor’s race. Taylor said that percentage drops to 40 percent for local elections.
Taylor said that as of Oct. 15, her office had mailed out slightly more 400 ballots. She added that 500 had voted early, and estimated that 950 had cast their ballot, with more anticipated before the respective deadlines.
Voters must present a form of identification, but a photo ID is not required.
“If they have a question about what is acceptable, they can go on online to the Virginia Department of Elections website,” she said.
Early voting lasts through Oct. 30. A registered voter who needs to vote early may do so in person in the Registrar’s Office, located at the Patrick County Veterans’ Memorial Building, 106 Rucker St, Rm 216C, Stuart, VA 24171.
The office is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Early Voting also will be available on Saturday, October 30, which also marks the final day for early voting.
Absentee by mail ended Friday, Oct. 22. The deadline to register to vote has also passed.
To find your local precinct for in-person voting, go to the Virginia Department of Elections website at elections.virignia.gov, click on the Casting a Ballot tab at the top of the page, and go to link under the Where to Vote section before entering your address in the provided box.
For additional information contact the Registrar’s Office at (276) 694-7206.
