Primary Election Day: Polling sites welcome voters, but low turnout starts day
The voters started rolling up and into Hampton Roads polling stations at 6 a.m. Tuesday, exercising their right to vote in the 2023 Virginia Primary Election.
This year’s primaries and general elections will be the first for state lawmakers under new district boundaries that were redrawn in 2021. In Hampton Roads, Senate candidates are vying for their party’s nomination in four districts — Senate District 17, 18, 19 and 21. House of Delegates candidates have primaries in five districts — House District 84, 92, 94, 95 and 96.
In Portsmouth, a group of Democratic Party canvassers stood outside the Lakeview Elementary School polling station greeting voters as they approached through the parking lot.
“Good morning.”
“How y’all doing?”
“Welcome this morning,” they said.
Located in District 18, many of the voters entered the polling station having to make a choice between two longtime Virginia legislators in the democratic primary: Sens. Louise Lucas and Lionell Spruill.
“Louise Lucas is my choice,” said Kathie Moore, after casting her ballot. “We want to keep her in office to make sure things continue to run as they do.”
But not everyone had Moore’s unflinching certainty in who to vote for. Mark Brown walked toward the elementary school side-by-side with his wife.
“I’ll make my final decision once I get in there,” he said, adding, “Everything is so crazy in this country right, it’s hard to know who to choose.”
But although the Browns, who moved to Portsmouth less than a year ago, didn’t name any of their favorite candidates, Donna Brown said that there was one issue that took priority in her and her husband’s eyes.
“Hearing gunshots took some getting used to,” Donna Brown said.
Gun violence was at the forefront of the Browns’ minds Tuesday morning.
“If there was one issue that I wish Republicans, Democrats, Independents and everyone could get on the same page with, it’d be that one,” Donna Brown said, adding, “I hope politicians don’t forget their promises and don’t forget about the people.”
Elsewhere, the morning started off slow with about a dozen people at Churchland High School by 7:20 a.m. At Cavalier Manor Recreation Center, 12 voters had come in as of 8:45 a.m.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and people can vote as long as they are in line by 7 p.m. Though some voters have opted to vote early, voters who are 65 or older or those with a disability can have a ballot brought to their vehicle. Voters with a disability can also use an accessible voting machine when voting in person. Election officials can assist with reading or completing forms.
