Turnout is light throughout Virginia for today's primary elections, but stronger than some expected in some parts of the state. As of 1 p.m., Albemarle County reported a 4.9 percent turnout, meaning 3,351 voters had turned out so far.
At the Key Rec Center in Charlottesville, volunteers said the turnout has been steady but there hasn't been a wait at any point during the day. Charlottesville Voter Registrar Sheri Iachetta says the primary process has been smooth and the number of voters has surpassed expectations.
She said, "I said earlier we would have about a five percent turnout. Obviously, that's not going to happen. We've readjusted what we think the total is going to be at the end of the day. We could conceivably hit 10 percent, which is going to be really interesting."
One hundred and eighty-five people in Charlottesville cast an absentee ballot. Iachetta says she expects returns to come in fairly quickly after the polls close. She says that will probably be about 7:30 p.m.
In Northern Virginia, thunderstorms caused power outages at some polling place, including the one where Democratic candidate for governor Terry McAuliffe voted.
McAuliffe, Brian Moran, and Creigh Deeds are battling it out in a race some analysts say is too close to call for the Democratic nod. The winner faces Republican nominee Bob McDonnell.
Two Democrats, Michael Signer and Jody Wagner, are vying for the lieutenant governor nomination. That winner faces Republican incumbent Bill Bolling.
There are a handful of General Assembly primaries across Virginia, including a Democratic primary battle in the 25th House District between Greg Marrow and Jim Noel. The winner will face GOP incumbent Steve Landes. The 25th district includes parts of Rockingham, Augusta, and Albemarle counties including the city of Waynesboro.
Reported by NBC29 HD News
