Republicans, who have generally preferred so-called “Game Day” voting on Election Day, have begun to embrace early voting either in-person or by mail—and they are outpacing where they were in 2022 and 2021, according to analysis by the Virginia Public Access Project.
Sixteen days before the November 7 Election Day, Republicans were responsible for 39 percent of early voting ballots and 26 percent of mail-in ballots.
In 2022, Republicans cast 31 percent of early voting ballots and 23 percent of mail-in ballots. In 2021, the GOP ballots were roughly the same: 31 percent of early voting ballots and 22 percent of mail-in ballots.
The pop in early Republican ballots indicates the GOP has momentum if the party can follow through with its customary strong Election Day turnout.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin launched a 20-stop bus tour of the commonwealth to promote early voting and motivate the base.
He has also cut a commercial urging voters to get out to vote early: “Time is running out. We need you to vote today. Early voting is open across the commonwealth, and you can find your early voting location at secureyourvotevirginia.com.”
Time is running out, early voting ends in 11 days! 🗳️
Secure YOUR vote BEFORE Election Day then come join us on our bus tour across the Commonwealth: https://t.co/uFm4iwC8KZ 🚌 pic.twitter.com/H2KgucuBSG
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) October 24, 2023
Voters can also track their ballots after they turn them in.
Democrats have seen their numbers drop. For early voting, their share of ballots fell to 55 percent so far in 2023; in 2022, they were at 62 percent, and in 2021, 60 percent.
With the mail-in ballots, the Democrats have been more consistent: in 2021, 65 percent; in 2022, 64 percent; and in 2023, 65 percent.
There is also the question of scale. Thus far, there has been a total of 368,210 votes cast so far. By comparison, the year of the hotly contested gubernatorial campaign between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Youngkin, a Republican. Youngkin won with 51 percent.
The 25 percent jump in Republican mail-in ballots could harbinger a big will for the GOP and Youngkin.
The governor, who is limited to one term, ramped up his personal political operation to bolster Republican General Assembly candidates through his Spirit of Virginia PAC. The governor raised over $6 million for the effort, including $3 million from Hungarian-born billionaire Thomas Peterffy, $2,000,000 from pro-life billionaire Jeff Yass, and $250,000 from Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus.
Youngkin himself stroked a check for $1,545,000 to the PAC.
All General Assembly seats are in play this off-cycle, and the challenge is for Republicans to hold on to the House of Delegates, where they have a 52-48 advantage, and take over the State Senate, where Democrats hold a 22-18 edge.
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Neil W. McCabe is a reporter for The Virginia Star.
Photo “Ballot Drop Box” by Cindy Shebley. CC BY 2.0.
