Election Day 2023 Blog: The Tri-City area goes to the polls

Bill Atkinson and Kristi K. Higgins, Petersburg Progress-Index

All of the campaigning comes to a head Tuesday as voters across the Tri-City area head to the polls in what could be some crucial elections at both the state and local levels.

Check back often for updates.

12:37 p.m.

Christian Miller, a resident of Petersburg's Ward 5, took advantage of Tuesday afternoon's springlike temperatures to ride his bicycle to the polling station at Tabernacle Life Center on Halifax Street.

11:59 a.m.

11:43 a.m.

11:17 a.m.

10:29 a.m.

10:13 a.m.

Election Day is a day off for Petersburg public school students, but that does not mean it is a day off from learning something.

Raleigh Swarn and Prophet Simms are two Petersburg High School seniors volunteering for duty at the Ward 4 precinct at Petersburg's Union Station. By doing so, they are earning credit for their A.P. Government class.

Both young men say voting is important.

"Even if you don't think it matters, every vote adds up," Swarn said. Added Simms, "One vote can change the course of an election."

9:31 a.m.

Overall voter turnout in Petersburg is lower than four years ago, registrar Dawn Wilmoth tells The Progress-Index.

By 9 a.m., the city was reported a rate of 3.3%, compared to 5.8% in 2019, the last time all 140 seats in the Virginia General Assembly were contested.

9:17 a.m.

9 a.m.

8:33 a.m.

So far, so good in Petersburg for voting, city registrar Dawn Wilmoth tells The Progress-Index. "It looks kind of slow to me," she said.

Wilmoth said the only issue thus far involved a group that tried to set up speakers and play rap music at the entrance to the Ward 6 precinct at Cool Spring Elementary School in Petersburg. Wilmoth said she contacted Petersburg Police Monday night after word surfaced through social media that the group was planning to set up loudspeakers at three polling places in the city.

Under Virginia law, no one can set up any kind of display or stage an event within 40 feet of the entrance to a place of voting.

Shortly after the polls opened at 6 a.m., the group showed up at Cool Spring as advertised, but Police Chief Travis Christian told them they had to move. The group eventually left without any incident, and normal voting resumed.

8:18 a.m.

7:41 a.m.

7:37 a.m.

7:30 a.m.

Susan VanNess, chief election officer in Hopewell, calls early turnout "steady but slow, which is pretty normal for not being a presidential election

6 a.m.

Polls are now open.

More: Intriguing local and state races aside, early turnout across the area didn't exceed two years ago

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Election Day 2023 Blog: The Tri-City area goes to the polls

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