Early Voting Day Removal For November Election Draws Loudoun Board's Attention

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — As the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors returns from its August recess, one of the items being considered is opposing an early voting day removal.

The Loudoun County Electoral Board had approved a November general election schedule, including early voting dates, in mid-August. With a motion by now-chair Shelley Oberlander, the three-member board eliminated Saturday, Oct. 19 as an early voting date with support by Kaysi Sanden and opposition by Ellen Heald.

That leaves Saturday, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 as the only Saturday early voting dates in the November general election. The electoral board previously removed Sunday early voting.

The Board of Supervisors cannot amend the election schedule, as it is the electoral board's decision. However, at Wednesday's board meeting, county staff are recommending the board endorse a letter seeking Oct. 19 to be reinstated for early voting. The letter notes that turnout is typically high for presidential elections, and one less early voting day could put more of a burden on elections staff on other days.

"The Loudoun County Department of Elections did not request nor support the removal of a Saturday voting day," the draft letter states. "In fact, because 35% of Loudoun voters cast their ballots on Saturdays, removing this day of early voting could result in longer lines and more work for Department of Election staff."

Given that the November election includes a presidential election, Loudoun County's election office expects early voting to be double the numbers from three other elections since 2020. According to a report presented to the electoral board on Aug. 15, turnout for the November general election is projected to be up to 80 percent. Loudoun County's elections office has added 20,000 more voter registrations since 2020 and estimates it could add 10,000 more leading up to the November election.

Early voting is expected to account for 30 percent of total turnout, which equates to 74,400 voters. Another 20 percent of turnout, or 49,600, could be mail-in voters. The remaining 50 percent of turnout is expected from Election Day voting, representing about 124,000 voters.

Early voting for the November general election will begin on Sept. 20 and continue through Nov. 2. Early voting will be offered at the Office of Elections (750 Miller Drive, Suite 150, Leesburg) during office hours and extended hours on select days. Other early voting sites from Oct. 21 to Nov. 2 will be Carver Senior Center in Purcellville, Claude Moore Recreation Center in Sterling and Dulles South Recreation Center in Chantilly. Mail-in ballots requested by voters will also start to be sent out as of Sept. 20.