VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Early voters are filling polling places in Hampton Roads, with some lining up hours before the doors open for the day. Still, despite strong crowds, early voting numbers in Virginia remain low compared to the pace set in the 2020 election.

More than 100 people lined up at the Kempsville Regional Library on Monday morning before it opened to early voters. Many brought lawn chairs, blankets and snacks for this event. It was a sight similar to a Black Friday shopping event.

“Yes, I have muffins, protein shakes and water in my bag,” Linda Guyer said.

One person tried to vote on Saturday but was deterred by long lines. Poll staff told 10 On Your Side they polled 1,368 early voters that day alone. That’s why Vernon Davis Jr. He decided to return early on Monday. He made sure he was at the front of the group.

“I got here around 5:30 this morning,” Davis Jr. said. “I felt successful. “What I didn’t expect was that there would only be seven people there at 8am.”

Most voters we spoke to think it’s very important to have their voices heard.

“Seventy years ago, many people did not have the privilege or right to vote,” Davis Jr. said. “I have this right now. Many of us do, … and I feel like I would be doing a disservice to my family, my predecessors, and my neighbors if I didn’t exercise my right to vote.”

“This is everyone’s right,” said William Guyer. “They should do this. “They have nothing to say about what will happen if they don’t.”

When the doors opened we saw a steady queue exiting the building as more people piled in. There was a strong turnout for just one morning of early voting. Despite this, early voting numbers in Virginia still lag nearly 20% behind 2020 numbers.

Nine days before Election Day, Virginia has processed 1,569,200 early ballots, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. At that point in the 2020 election, Virginia had processed 1,957,200 early ballots. There have been 65,993 early votes cast so far for Virginia Beach, the Commonwealth’s most populous city; At this point in the 2020 race, 85,653 votes have been cast.

Kempsville Satellite Chief Mike Ware said they are preparing for a gradual increase in early voter turnout as we get closer to election day.

“We will make sure there are more polling places here,” he said. “Continuously add paper. We called it fluffing the paper because there was moisture there and some of it would stick and leave little marks on it. But that was our only real hangout.

Early voting in Virginia will continue until November 2. Early voting locations open at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Anyone who lines up before the polls close will be able to vote.

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