Virginia 2023 election results: When to expect predictions in the fight for the General Assembly

It’s Election Day in Virginia and the entire General Assembly is up for grabs.

Polling stations opened their doors at six in the morning and will close at seven in the evening, local time. The expected election results are expected to begin after that, although officials will not certify the votes until later.

According to the Virginia Department of Elections, 789,704 residents cast ballots through early voting, including mail-in ballots and in-person ballots.

Commissioner Susan Bales said Tuesday that while the department is “making every effort this year to deliver results as quickly and efficiently as possible,” she noted the length of balloting this year because it includes all 140 members of the General Assembly as well as other members. offices, from supervisors to sheriff’s commissioners.

When asked if there were any issues at polling sites, Bales said there was a “brief issue” in Chesterfield County but “it was all resolved.” Bales added that two other counties experienced power outages.

The state legislature is currently divided between the Democratic-led Senate and the Republican-led House of Delegates. That has derailed Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s agenda, including his push to ban abortions at 15 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, which the GOP believes represents a compromise on the issue.

However, state Democrats argue that conservatives would go further if they control all of state government, and they hope that supporting abortion access will be a galvanizing issue.

Both parties campaigned extensively on abortion and education.

Political observers say the results will also affect Yongqin’s future, given his heavy participation in the races.