Virginia voters now have a lengthened, 45-day election period to vote in person or by mail via absentee ballot. The state also offers same-day voter registration now, having scrapped the traditional cutoff date of about three weeks before the election.

The longer election period has appeared to be popular among voters, according to Keith Balmer, director of elections for City of Richmond. However, turnout in Richmond seems to have dropped compared to the 2018 midterm elections, he said.

“The turnout was over 50 percent,” he said. “Four years later, the turnout for this election looks like it’s going to be about 41, maybe 42 percent.”

Voter turnout statewide this election is projected to be around 48 percent, according to the Washington Post. More than 972,000 people voted early, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, or VPAP. Almost 70 percent of those votes were cast in person.

The midterm elections went smoothly around the state, other than a few hiccups, accor...