Absentee Voting Up More Than 20 Percent Across Virginia Compared to 2012

Absentee voting for the 2016 election is nearly 23 percent higher across the Commonwealth, as of Friday, than it was four years ago, according to a report by the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), which got the statistics from the State Board of Elections (SBE). In 2012, there were 60,612 early votes at this time before the presidential election, compared to 74,461 who have voted early as of Friday in this year's election, VPAP said.

The percent change is highest in Northern Virginia, where absentee voting is 55 percent higher than four years ago. In 2012, at this time, 21,568 had cast early votes, versus 33,559 this year who have cast early votes.

Here's the breakdown in Northern Virginia (percentage increase, number who have voted absentee this year as of Friday, number who voted absentee in 2012 during same time period -- information courtesy of VPAP/SBE):

• Manassas Park City: 141 percent/176/73
• Fairfax County: 73.35 percent/14,802/8,539
• Fairfax City: 73.18 percent/452/261
• Manassas City:60.37 percent/433/270
• Loudoun County: 52.83 percent/3,399/2,224
• Arlington County: 48.24 percent/5,980/4,034
• Alexandria City: 47.23 percent/2,840/1,929
• Falls Church City: 44.32 percent/381/264
• Prince William County: 29.34 percent/4,386/3,391
• Fauquier County: 21.78 percent/710/583

The last day to register to vote in Virginia is Monday, Oct. 17. You can register to vote online or you can also update or check your voter registration by going to the Virginia State Board of Elections Web site. If you have a question, call your local voter registration office.

Find out more about absentee voting in Virginia here.

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