AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Virginia on Election Day

WASHINGTON (AP) — The race for the White House tops the list of contests that Virginia voters will decide on Election Day.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican former President Donald Trump and four third-party candidates will compete for the state’s 13 electoral votes in the race to replace outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine faces a challenge from Republican Hung Cao in his bid for a third term. There are also U.S. House races in 11 districts, including three open seats. The 5th Congressional District is open after House Freedom Caucus chair Rep. Bob Good lost to challenger John McGuire in the state’s June primaries — the first and only Republican incumbent to lose a primary challenge in 2024 that didn’t involve redistricting. The 7th and 10th Districts are open due to the retirements of Reps. Abigail Spanberger and Jennifer Wexton.

Further down the ballot, voters will decide a ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to create a property tax exemption for certain veterans and surviving spouses of veterans who died in the line of duty.

Virginia is one of a handful of states that select their governors, members of the state Legislature and other statewide officeholders in odd numbered years, separately from the elections for federal offices.

After decades of choosing Republicans in presidential contests, Virginia has voted for the Democrat in every election since Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Virginia has a Republican governor, but Democrats control the state Legislature. Virginia’s delegation to the U.S. House includes six Democrats and five Republicans. Both of Virginia’s U.S. Senators are Democrats.

The Associated Press doesn’t make projections and will declare a winner only when it has determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race hasn’t been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, like candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear it hasn’t declared a winner and explain why.

Here’s a look at what to expect in the 2024 election in Virginia:

Election Day

Nov. 5

Poll closing time

7 p.m. ET.

Presidential electoral votes

13 awarded to statewide winner.

Key races and candidates

President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Claudia De la Cruz (Independent) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Jill Stein (Green) vs. Cornell West (Independent).

U.S. Senate: Kaine (D) vs. Cao (R).

7th Congressional District: Eugene Vindman (D) vs. Derrick Anderson (R).

Other races of interest

U.S. House and a ballot measure.

Past presidential results

2020: Biden (D) 54%, Trump (R) 44%, AP race call: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, 7:36 p.m.

Voter registration and turnout

Registered voters: 6,324,776 (as of Oct. 1, 2024).

Voter turnout in Nov. 2020: 74% of registered voters.

Pre-Election Day voting

Votes cast before Election Day 2020: about 63% of the total vote.

Votes cast before Election Day 2022: about 32% of the total vote.

Votes cast before Election Day 2024: See AP Advance Vote tracker.

How long does vote-counting take?

First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:03 p.m. ET.

By midnight ET: about 71% of total votes cast were reported.

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Associated Press writers Rebecca Reynolds and Maya Sweedler contributed to this report.

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Read more about how U.S. elections work at Explaining Election 2024, a series from The Associated Press aimed at helping make sense of the American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.