
Early Voting Gets Underway in Virginia Primary

RICHMOND, Va. — Early voting began in Virginia on Friday ahead of the commonwealth’s June 21 primaries.
Early voting will continue through June 18 at 5 p.m.
Those wishing to vote in person can do so at their local register’s office, which can be found here.
In person voters are advised that they will need to show a valid voter ID before they cast their ballot. The list of valid IDs can be found here.
Citizens who want to vote in this year’s primary but still need to register to vote may do so here.
Those wishing to vote by absentee ballot can register to do so here. The deadline to request one is June 10. The commonwealth will begin mailing absentee ballots out to voters on Saturday. According to the state board of elections, 15,053 absentee applications have been approved as of May 8.
Once completed, voters have until June 21 at 7 p.m. to drop off their ballot.
Ballots sent back by mail will be accepted as long as they are postmarked on or before June 21 and get to the voters’ local elections office by June 24.
Completed absentee ballots can also be dropped off at one of several drop box locations.
Who’s Running?
Because 2022 is a redistricting year, voters heading to the polls or casting an absentee ballot might be surprised to discover they are not voting for or against the same incumbent as they have in the past.
The Democrats are holding only one primary this year, in the 8th Congressional District, while Republicans are holding a primary in the 7th Congressional District and also several “firehouse” primaries and conventions.
A firehouse primary, also called a firehouse caucus or “unassembled caucus,” is a term used to describe a primary election run by a political party, not a government, to select the party’s candidates for a later general election.
8th Congressional District
In the 8th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., is being challenged by Victoria Virasingh, the daughter of immigrants and a native of Arlington. The Republicans are holding a convention May 21 to select a candidate.
7th Congressional District
In the 7th Congressional District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger doesn’t have a primary opponent. However, a number of hopefuls are running in the Republican primary. They are: Gary Adkins, Derrick Anderson, Gautam Barve, Gina Ciarcia, Craig Ennis, Michael Monteforte, Bryce Reeves, David Ross, Crystal Vanuch and Yesli Vega.
6th Congressional District
In the 6th Congressional District, Republican incumbent Rep. Benjamin Lee Cline is facing a primary challenge from Merritt Hale. Meanwhile, the Democrats are holding a convention to select their candidate.
5th Congressional District
In the 5th Congressional District, Joshua Throneburg is the Democratic nominee. As for the Republicans, they are holding a convention to choose their candidate. Incumbent Rep. Bob Good and Dan Moy are in the running.
4th Congressional District
As for the 4th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Rep. Aston Donald McEachin has no challenger, but Republicans Leon Benjamin and Michael Dickinson will meet in a GOP primary.
3rd Congressional District
Incumbent Democratic Rep. Bobby Scot does not have a challenger. As for the Republicans, there will be a primary between Theodore Engquist and Terry Namkung.
2nd Congressional District
In the 2nd Congressional District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria doesn’t have a challenger. Like the 7th District, however, a handful of Republicans are lining up to challenge her. They are Tommy Altman, Andy Baan, Jarome Bell and Jennifer Kiggans.
1st Congressional District
Rep. Rob Wittman, the Republican incumbent, has no primary challenger, nor does Democrat Herb Jones.
On the actual primary day, June 21, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. If voters are in line at 7 p.m., you will get to vote.
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue.
This storyhas been updated to include the number of absentee ballots that have been approved by state to date.
In The News
Health
Voting
In The States
ROLLING FORK, Miss. (AP) — Powerful tornadoes tore through the Deep South on Friday night, killing at least 23 people... Read More
ROLLING FORK, Miss. (AP) — Powerful tornadoes tore through the Deep South on Friday night, killing at least 23 people in Mississippi, obliterating dozens of buildings and leaving an especially devastating mark in a rural town whose mayor declared, “My city is gone.” The Mississippi Emergency... Read More
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In Florida, Republican lawmakers have introduced a bevy of new legislation that will, if passed, restrict certain... Read More
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In Florida, Republican lawmakers have introduced a bevy of new legislation that will, if passed, restrict certain health educational materials used in state schools. One such bill, House Bill 1069, would limit children below sixth grade from discussing their menstrual cycles in school. ... Read More
RAVENSWOOD, W. Va. — Like a lot of communities in America’s heartland, Jackson County, West Virginia, was built on natural... Read More
RAVENSWOOD, W. Va. — Like a lot of communities in America’s heartland, Jackson County, West Virginia, was built on natural resources. Timber and energy wrought from the ground helped sustain and grow its population, and the arrival of manufacturing in the mid-1950s — in the guise... Read More
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina barbecue chain known for its pro-segregation stance in a landmark 1960s case and... Read More
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina barbecue chain known for its pro-segregation stance in a landmark 1960s case and its embrace of the Confederate flag in 2000 is facing allegations of racism and sexual harassment by the fired general manager of one of its restaurants.... Read More
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A Medicaid expansion deal in North Carolina received final legislative approval on Thursday, ending a decade of debate... Read More
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A Medicaid expansion deal in North Carolina received final legislative approval on Thursday, ending a decade of debate over whether the closely politically divided state should accept the federal government's coverage for hundreds of thousands of low-income adults. North Carolina is one of several... Read More
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is inching ever closer to a presidential bid in 2024, scheduling... Read More
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is inching ever closer to a presidential bid in 2024, scheduling his latest swing through early-voting states before returning home afterward to give donors a “political update." According to an invitation obtained by The Associated Press, Scott... Read More