Virginia State Board of Elections Secretary Don Palmer said Tuesday afternoon the state is on track to top 2008 trunout levels.
"Turnout is robust - large turnout, anticipate a very large turnout," Palmer said. "We think it will be higher than 2008."
Palmer said the large number of voters have created lines in places that were between one and four hours long in "major population centers."
He said the SBE has worked with voting precincts in Chesapeake, Prince William County, Henrico County, Virginia Beach, Spotsylvania County and Arlington to mitigate high turnout and long lines.
Voting machines and poll workers from the local electoral board were added in Chesapeake to help bring down wait times as an example of the SBE's work, he said.
"There are some ways that voters can help the process," Palmer said. "We aske that they be patient with an understanding that they are goingto be able to exercise their right to vote. Everybody in line will be able to vote... Polls don't close until seven. So there's a number of hours left in the voting process. Anyone in line at seven will be able to vote. No matter how long it takes everyone in line will be able to vote."
he also said that there have been a low number of provisional ballots and most voters have come to the polls with acceptable identification.
"We're very encouraged," Palmer said. "What we're hearing on the voter ID law that we really have not seen a large number of provisional ballots. Voters are showing up with the appropriate ID."
A list of acceptable identification can be found at the SBE website at www.sbe.virginia.gov.
Voters who do not bring an acceptable ID and have to vote a provisional ballot have until 12 p.m. on Friday to get a copy of their ID to their local voter registrar's office by mail, email, fax or by taking it in person in order to have their provisional ballots counted.
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