The time to vote is at hand.

In fact, extremely heavy early voting has been reported in Virginia and throughout the nation as Americans express more interest than usual in the midterm elections.

A small phenomenon unveils itself every year on Election Day.

County residents work long days for little pay as election officials. They open the polls at 6 a.m., close the polls at 7 p.m., arrive early and leave only after reporting their precincts’ votes.

Advocates for the candidates stand outdoors in the misty, chilly, often drizzly cold, sipping on coffee, greeting voters, making their last points or just exchanging a bit of news.

Voters wait patiently in lines when the election is of interest, checking in, going to their balloting machines, and leaving with a red, white and blue sticker: “I Voted.” They feel good, and should.

Goodwill prevails at our local polling places. Everyone there knows that he or she is participating in the foundation of our nation, the bedro...