Early Voting Begins in Virginia Ahead of 2025 Elections

Strategic Insights -

As Election Day approaches, early voting for the 2025 Virginia elections commences Friday, featuring the gubernatorial, lieutenant governor, and attorney general races, alongside local contests for City Council and School Board members in Charlottesville. The frontrunners in the gubernatorial race are former Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, with Spanberger vowing to strengthen public schools, lower living costs, and reform university governance, while Earle-Sears promises tax cuts, reduced crime, and support for right-to-work laws.

Key Takeaways:

  • The gubernatorial election will feature former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) as the top contenders, with Spanberger aiming to strengthen public schools, lower living costs, and reform university governance, while Earle-Sears promises tax cuts, reduced crime, and support for right-to-work laws.
  • The U.Va. Center for Politics predicts Spanberger will win, citing a historical trend of Virginia electing a governor of the opposite party as the sitting president.
  • The lieutenant governor and attorney general races feature State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield) and Republican Businessman John Reid, as well as incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares and former Del. Jay Jones (D-Norfolk), respectively.
  • A Democratic win in the lieutenant governor or attorney general races would result in a pickup for the party.
  • The Charlottesville ballot also features local contests for City Council and the City School Board, with the positions of sheriff, Commonwealth's attorney, commissioner of revenue, and treasurer being uncontested.
  • Out-of-state students can register or update their registration to Virginia in-person by October 24.
  • Students can request a mail-in ballot on the Virginia Department of Elections website until October 24.
  • Same-day registration is available at polling places to cast a provisional ballot.

Statistics:

  • The gubernatorial election features two candidates with distinct policy platforms: Spanberger's focus on strengthening public schools and lowering living costs, and Earle-Sears's promises of tax cuts and reduced crime.
  • The historical trend of Virginia electing a governor of the opposite party as the sitting president suggests a shift in party control.
  • Five competitive districts in the House of Delegates election could swing the majority in favor of either party: Chesterfield, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Prince William, and Hampton.
  • In-state students can register to vote online or in-person at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections before October 24.

Sources:

  • City of Charlottesville website
  • Albemarle County website
  • Abigail Spanberger's website
  • Winsome Earle-Sears's website
  • U.Va. Center for Politics
  • Virginia Department of Elections website