More than 22 percent of eligible voters in Gloucester have already cast their ballots ahead of Tuesday’s 2024 presidential election, while in Mathews, nearly 40 percent have already voted either in person or by mail-in ballot, registrars in the two counties said last week.
Early voting is still underway ahead of Tuesday’s Election Day, when the focus will shift to Gloucester’s 11 precincts and the three precincts in Mathews, as well as other polling places across the commonwealth and the nation.
Residents will be able to vote today, tomorrow and Saturday in person at the two counties’ respective voter registrar offices. The Gloucester County Registrar’s Office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while the Mathews office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This Saturday, hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in both counties.
Early voting numbers
As of Friday morning, Mathews County Registrar Carla Faulkner reported 2,646 had already voted early in person, and her office had received 241 ballots mailed back, totaling 2,887 votes out of a pool of 7,262 active voters.
Also on Friday morning, Gloucester County Registrar Bobbi Morgan reported early voting turnout of 5,797, with 1,117 absentee ballots received (totaling 6,914 votes), out of 31,351 registered voters in the county.
“We have been blessed by an awesome turnout of beautiful voters here in Gloucester County,” Morgan said. “We have had a nice, calm election so far,” Faulkner said. “I hope it carries through Election Day.”
While this year’s early voting numbers are impressive, they come up short when compared to 2020. In that election (which was held during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), about 51.4 percent of Gloucester voters and 72.7 percent of Mathews voters had either mailed in their ballots or voted early in person.
Morgan reminded voters that for those who requested an absentee by mail ballot, but since decided to cast their vote in person, they can do so by bringing their unopened ballot pack with them to the office before Election Day or bring it with them to the polls on Tuesday, or write “Void” on it and drop it in Gloucester’s drive-through ballot drop box (if they are Gloucester voters).
She noted that, either the un-voted absentee ballot must be returned on or before Election Day, or the voter will be required to cast a Provisional Ballot.
Also, if you are not registered and want to vote, you can come to the polls and do a same-day registration and cast a Provisional Ballot. Although the Provisional Ballot won’t be counted on Election Night, it will be included in the final election results.
Of course, the main question on Tuesday’s ballot will be for electors for the office of president and vice president. In addition to the Democratic Party (Kamala Harris and Tim Walz) and Republican Party (Donald Trump and J.D. Vance), candidates on this year’s ballot will also include the Green Party (Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware), Libertarian Party (Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat) and two independent bids (Claudia De la Cruz/Karina Garcia and Cornel West/Melina Abdullah).
The ballot will also include candidates for U.S. Senate (where incumbent Democrat Tim Kaine is opposed by Republican Hung Cao) and 1st District House of Representatives (where incumbent Republican Rob Wittman faces Democratic challenger Leslie Mehta). As with the presidential race, the Congressional contests also include a space in case anyone wishes to write in another name.
Finally, Tuesday’s ballot will include a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution, which reads:
“Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended so that the tax exemption that is currently available to the surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action is also available to the surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty?”
Where do I vote?
These are voting locations for residents of Gloucester and Mathews who wish to cast their ballots in person on Tuesday. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Gloucester County
Harcum Precinct, BridgePoint Church, 10487 Harcum Road;
Salem Precinct, Petsworth Elementary School, 10658 George Washington Memorial Highway;
Peasley Precinct, Peasley Middle School, 2885 Hickory Fork Road;
Court House Precinct, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 6470 Main Street;
Botetourt Precinct, Botetourt Elementary School, 6361 Main Street;
White Marsh Precinct, Page Middle School, 5198 T.C. Walker Road;
Roanes Precinct, Gloucester High School, 6680 Short Lane;
Hayes Precinct, Abingdon Elementary School, 7087 Powhatan Drive;
Sarah’s Creek Precinct, Gloucester Point Baptist Church, 7741 Terrapin Cove Road;
Achilles Precinct, Abingdon Ruritan Club, 8784 Guinea Road; and,
Walker Precinct, T.C. Walker Education Center, 6099 T.C. Walker Road.
Mathews County
Chesapeake Precinct, Mathews Elementary School, 347 Church Street;
Westville Precinct, Thomas Hunter Middle School, 387 Church Street; and,
Piankatank Precinct, Mathews High School, 9889 Buckley Hall Road.