One advantage of spreading the voting process over several weeks, rather than cramming all the tabulation into a single day, is that it allows time to catch and correct mistakes on the ballots.

After a day of early voting, we’ve already seen an example of the kinds of errors that can happen. Last Friday, some residents showed up to cast their ballots only to discover they had been handed the wrong ones. Precincts Gilpin, VCU/Oregon Hill and Downtown were affected, with ballots for House of Delegates races misprinted or mis-mailed. 

David Levine, the city’s newly hired general registrar, said corrected ballots will be mailed or provisional ballots can be cast in person. That’s a start. But it’s worth noting that this is not the first time Gilpin voters have faced confusion at the ballot box. 

Extending the voting window, along with providing officials a chance to correct mistakes, also gives them an opportunity to make intentional changes to the process. Just days before early voting was set to begin, Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order directing state election officials to work with the federal government to identify and remove ineligible voters from the rolls. You might think that, since the state is facing a lawsuit stemming from his 2024 executive order with similar aims, he’d be cautious about trying it again — right before an election. But here we go again. 

“Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democracy,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. “The Executive Order I am issuing today builds upon our previous work to make Virginia’s election security the best in the nation. Virginia has paper ballots, counting machines and not voting machines, no internet connections, along with extensive procedures to remove ineligible individuals from the voter rolls.” 

The executive order calls for state officials to coordinate with federal authorities to remove ineligible voters, a move critics say could target eligible citizens and create confusion at the polls. 

The fact is, voter fraud is rare in Virginia. But attempts to make it harder for citizens to vote aren’t, unfortunately. Sen. Aaron Rouse, chair of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, condemned the governor’s executive order. 

“This is voter suppression and intimidation disguised as election integrity, just a week before early voting begins in Virginia. Voter fraud is virtually nonexistent, and our elections have been among the most secure in history. This is Youngkin’s same repeated playbook,” Rouse said in a news release. “This is about undermining confidence in our elections and, ultimately, our democracy.” 

Sen. Rouse pushed legislation last session aimed at stopping unlawful voter purges and protecting eligible voters. Gov. Youngkin vetoed it, leaving us exposed to the same risks this year. 

“Instead of sowing doubt and fear, we should be focused on expanding access, protecting every eligible voter, and ensuring that Virginians can cast their ballots without intimidation or unnecessary barriers,” Rouse said. 

Despite errors and last-minute maneuvers, the power still rests with voters. Showing up, casting your ballot and making your voice heard is the best way to protect your rights and strengthen democracy. Don’t let mistakes or political games keep you from the ballot box — vote.