Early voting turnout in Alexandria continues to significantly outpace the 2021 election cycle, with more than 14,000 ballots cast so far for the November general election.
As of Oct. 20, Alexandria has recorded 14,221 early votes, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project. At the same point in 2021 — 15 days before Election Day — the city had received just 9,353 early ballots, meaning current turnout is running 52% ahead of the 2021 pace.
Of the ballots cast so far, 8,605 have been in person and 5,616 by mail. The data shows Alexandria voters have cast approximately 125.4 early votes per 1,000 registered voters, compared to 98.3 in Northern Virginia and 119.1 statewide.
Across Virginia, 708,354 early ballots have been cast as of Oct. 20, with 485,747 in person and 222,607 by mail, compared to a final total of 1,194,252 in 2021. In Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, and parts of Fairfax County, early voting has reached 54,035 ballots, compared to a final total of 122,832 in 2021.
Oct. 18 marked a particularly busy day for early voting in Alexandria, with 1,124 people voting in person — nearly double the 582 who voted on the equivalent third Saturday in the 2021 gubernatorial election. The surge came on the first Saturday that early voting was open and coincided with a No Kings Rally that took place next door to the early voting facility.
The Oct. 18 turnout also nearly matched turnout from the same Saturday in the 2024 presidential election, when 1,111 people voted early in person, according to data provided to ALXnow from the city’s Office of Voter Registration and Elections. The highest single-day turnout in 2021 came on the last day of early voting — Saturday, Oct. 30 — when 1,132 people voted at the Royal Street location.
By the conclusion of early voting in 2021, Alexandria saw a total of 25,475 early ballots cast, with 16,670 voting in person and 8,805 by mail. If the current pace continues, 2025 could see significantly higher early voting participation.
In 2021, in-person ballots accounted for 65% of early votes cast, compared to 61% so far this year, indicating voter preferences for voting methods have remained relatively consistent between the two elections.
The Nov. 4 general election includes races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, House of Delegates, commonwealth’s attorney, and sheriff. Democrat Abigail Spanberger faces Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in the governor’s race, while Democrat Ghazala Hashmi is running against Republican John Reid for lieutenant governor, and Democrat Jay Jones faces Republican Jason Miyares for attorney general.
In the House of Delegates, Democrat Alfonso Lopez is running in the 3rd District, Democrat Charniele Herring in the 4th District, and Democrat Elizabeth Bennett-Parker in the 5th District. Bryan Porter is running for Commonwealth’s Attorney, and Sean Casey for Sheriff. Sample ballots for all three House of Delegates districts in Alexandria are available on the city’s website.
Virginia’s early voting period runs through Nov. 1, the Saturday before Election Day. The deadline to register to vote, update a registration, and request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on Oct. 24.
Alexandria residents can vote early in person at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections, located at 132 N. Royal St., Suite 100, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evening hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. are available from Oct. 27-30.
Starting Oct. 24, voters can also cast early ballots at Charles Beatley Jr. Central Library, located at 5005 Duke St. The library location will be open for early voting from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with extended hours until 7 p.m. from Oct. 27-30.
Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day and received by noon on Nov. 7. A secure ballot drop box is available 24/7 in front of the Office of Voter Registration and Elections, and drop boxes will be available at all polling places on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
More information about voting in Alexandria is available on the city’s elections website.
