Hundreds of Alexandrians, including U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) went to the polls for in-person early voting on Friday, September 18.

There were 518 cast ballots as of 12:30 p.m. at the city’s Office of Voter Registrations and Elections. There were reportedly around 50 people waiting in line for the office to open at 8 a.m.

Warner, who is running for reelection against Republican Daniel Gade, said that the long lines and turnout are indicative of the importance of this election.

More than a quarter of Alexandria’s 107,000 registered voters have already applied by mail to vote in the upcoming election.

Over a quarter of Alexandria’s registered voters have applied for a ballot by mail for this November’s election (!!!).

Ballots will be mailed out beginning next week when in-person early voting also begins.

You can apply online today for a mail ballot!https://t.co/p2QqzboPKG

— Justin Wilson (@justindotnet) September 9, 2020

Paul Alan Friedman, an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention for former Vice President Joe Biden, was in the front of the line to vote and said that the nation is facing a crisis.

“Trump is a barrier to our ability to tackle climate change, COVID-19, creating jobs and fixing our infrastructure in an environmentally sound way, which would address climate change and jobs,” Friedman said. “That’s why I made a special effort to be the first person to vote against Trump and Pence in Alexandria, and vote for the wonderful alternative team of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”

The ballot for the November 3 election includes races for president and vice president, one U.S. Senate seat, the 8th Congressional District and two Virginia Constitutional amendments.

The deadline to vote in-person absentee is 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 31.