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Early voting began across the region last week with some localities reporting record turnout.
Richmond registrar Keith Balmer said the 1,037 votes tallied on Friday was the most the city’s had on its first day of early voting.
Balmer, whose office is being investigated for potential improper spending and nepotism, said it took residents an average of three minutes to vote and that 120 people voted curbside.
Curbside voters are those who are over 65 years old or those who have reduced mobility and are allowed to vote from their cars.
Neighboring areas also reported high numbers.
“It was unprecedented for the first day,” said Teri Smithson, the director of elections for Hanover County. Just over 1,000 people voted there on Friday; 56 of them voted curbside.
“It was noticeably more than in 2020,” she said.
Chesterfield County welcomed about 2,000 voters the first day of early voting. Missy Vera, the county director of elections, said her team “processed 250 [votes] an hour.”
In Henrico County, 2,444 people cast votes on Friday. Mark Coakley, the county general registrar, said the figure ranks among the highest in the state.
“And today we’ve already received 739 votes in three hours,” he said Monday. “It’s been busy the whole day.”
