VIRGINIA, USA — Long lines in college towns across Virginia were a sign of high voter engagement, and all of those students had voted by 9 p.m. on Election Day, according to state Department of Elections Commissioner Susan Beals.
Beals said the lines were reported in many college towns, including at Phoebus High School, where many Hampton University students were voting.
“We have checked with all of those registrars, and they have indicated to us that all of those students have been served,” Beals stated during a 9 p.m. update with media.
Issues reported at voting precincts included a fire alarm pulled at an Arlington precinct in the final hours of voting. Beals said the building was evacuated, and voting proceeded outside.
Earlier in the day, she had reported problems at a Richmond precinct, where 11 voters received ballots that did not include their municipal races for mayor, city council and school board. She said that issue was resolved early in the day.
In addition, an Accomack County precinct had an issue with its electronic pollbook because it needed to be reset to get the correct date and time. The election officials started checking voters in via a paper pollbook, and anyone who believes they were turned away should report it to the registrar.
How Election Day results get to Virginia's electoral college?
The process continues Wednesday morning with the canvass, which sees election officials go through and double-check results, Beals said. They will also adjudicate provisional ballots that came in.
Nov. 15 is the deadline to report local results. On Nov. 18, the State Department of Elections will meet and determine the election audit, a process that will impact every locality across the state.
On Dec. 2, the State Department of Elections will meet to certify the results of all of the Nov. 5 elections.
Then on Dec. 17, Virginia will hold its electoral college in Richmond, and those votes will be delivered to the Capitol on Jan. 6.
