By Marlene Dolla, VCU Capital News Service
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia saw its lowest overall voter turnout in a presidential election since 2000, although over 80 districts trumped the state average.
Virginia voters elected a president, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives candidates, and local positions. All House seats were up for reelection, and Virginia has 11.
Republicans gained control of the presidency and Congress, as of Nov. 14 counts from the Associated Press.
Overall Turnout Down Across State
The overall 2024 turnout rate was 69.8%, the lowest for a presidential election since 2000, according to the Virginia Department of Elections, or ELECT. That year George W. Bush and Al Gore were on the ballot.
In 2020, the last time voters elected a new president, the turnout rate was 75%.
Voter turnout is calculated by dividing the number of ballots cast by the number of registered voters. Out of over 6.4 million registered Virginia voters, just over 4.5 million voted this year, according to Nov. 18 results from ELECT.
In contrast, the turnout rate during the last three non-presidential election cycles, 2021-2023, averaged 48%.
Virginia localities submitted tallies of this year’s Election Day results on Nov. 15, showing final counts of how many people voted in each locality for local, state and federal races. The State Board of Elections must certify results on the first Monday of December, according to ELECT. It is working to verify the accuracy of the results each local electoral board has certified. Some numbers might change in that process.
Where Turnout Was High, Low Across Virginia
Just over 60% of localities had higher turnout than the statewide total. Turnout was highest in rural counties that went for President-elect Donald Trump.
Goochland, Powhatan, Rockingham, New Kent, Botetourt and Highland counties all had turnout above 80%, according to the Nov. 18 updated ELECT numbers.
Goochland turnout was 83%, Powhatan was almost 83%, Rockingham was 81.5%. New Kent was just over 81%, Botetourt was almost 81% and Highland was 80%.
Initially, ELECT reported turnout at 83.2% in the City of Portsmouth, where there was also a competitive mayoral race on the ballot. Those numbers were unofficial, but all votes were reported counted. The numbers were adjusted by ELECT, and turnout is now at almost 65%.
The lowest voter turnouts were recorded in urban cities – locations with high population densities: 53% in Petersburg, over 54% in Emporia, over 55% in Hopewell, 58% in Bristol, over 58% in Norfolk and over 59% in Newport News.
About 1 in 2 registered voters cast a ballot in Petersburg, which had a referendum for a casino on the ballot.
Provisional Ballot Numbers Grew
The return rate for requested absentee ballots was almost 98%. Over 2.3 million ballots were returned, although the bulk of that number was in person early voting. At least 47,000 curbside ballots, helpful to those with disabilities, were cast.
Over 124,000 provisional votes were used, according to ELECT. This was the first presidential election in Virginia with same-day registration. Last year, almost 26,000 provisional ballots were used.
“A provisional ballot is offered to a voter when further research is required to confirm their eligibility to vote,” stated Nicholas Ocampo, Roanoke’s director of elections and general registrar. “Same Day Registration, a provisional process, was enacted in 2022 to offer individuals the ability to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day.”
Provisional ballots are a safety net for voters who missed the registration deadline, but still want to participate in the democratic process. This method has been important in college towns across Virginia.
What Drives Turnout
Researchers have long deduced that turnout rates reflect education and income levels.
Education can increase the sorts of knowledge and skills that make it less overwhelming to navigate politics, which makes people more likely to vote, according to a 2012 commentary authored by Michele Claibourn and published by Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.
Additionally, poverty can depress turnout because poor people may feel “alienated” from the political system, and lack resources to feel confident their vote will matter, according to Claibourn.
Trump connected with voters across income classes this election, with the economy reported as a top issue in exit polls, according to the Associated Press.
Hanover County voter Linda Jones observed unusually longer lines at Mechanicsville Elementary School, her polling location since 1987. However, she said efficient processing made the wait time shorter than expected.
“This is the first time I have ever seen this many people out here, wrapped around the way they are today,” she said on Election Day. The county’s 2024 turnout rate was over 77%.
Another voter encouraged voting as a way to effect change.
“It’s our right to vote,” said Alicia Pendergraph of Hanover County when asked what issues got her to the poll on Election Day. “What is asked of us and if you want to make change, you have to be the change.”
Voting turnouts can matter beyond the immediate election outcomes, as counties with higher turnout could receive more federal money, according to Claibourn.