From endorsements to attacks, campaigns are running nonstop ads to define candidates and sway voters long before Election Day.

Who is leading in the polls? There are plenty of misconceptions about polls that are conducted during election years. We spoke to a pollster who gave us the answers. Here's what you need to know.

The Lynchburg NAACP announced they will be holding various voter registration drives across the city over the summer.

Election day in less than 24 hours, and if you haven’t voted yet in the presidential race, you still have a little time.

A big part of the election every year are the poll workers who keep the process running smoothly and quickly.

Give us your best questions regarding the election!

Provisional ballots provide a safety net for voters facing eligibility questions, ensuring their votes are counted amidst challenges like voter purges and identification issues.

A Lynchburg organization is helping local detainees register to vote and reminding them of the power their voices have, even while incarcerated.

Friday marks the start of a busy election season, as early voting began across Virginia.

Early voting in Roanoke City starts Friday, allowing residents to vote without needing an excuse, aiming to reduce election day lines and increase convenience.

The June primaries are here, and if you plan on voting early you only have until Saturday, June 15, to cast your ballot.

Alaska’s new electoral system — with open primaries and ranked-choice voting — has been a model for voters in other states who are frustrated by political polarization and a sense that voters lack real choice at the ballot box.

Residents in the Commonwealth are voting today in the presidential primary to determine who will appear on the November general election ballots. See a county-by-county breakdown of election results.

Voters in Virginia cast their ballots Tuesday for their preferences for the November presidential candidates.

Early voting runs until 5 p.m. Saturday.

Here are some examples of strange ways elections were decided.

A Georgia appeals court ruling means that counties can offer early voting this coming Saturday in the U.S. Senate runoff election between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker.

A judge has ruled that Georgia law allows counties to offer early voting on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Results are still being finalized in key congressional and state legislature races across the country, but one thing that became clear overnight is that the 2022 midterm elections were not the red wave of Republican wins many pundits forecasted.

In case you’ve been living under a rock these last few weeks, today is election day!

Much of the focus has shifted to the Senate, specifically a few select races that will decide control.

Here’s an overview of where things stand in the Senate and House of Representatives with the election more than a month away.

A new poll from the Washington Post is offering insight into how abortion rights may factor into this year’s elections.

Most of the election process is the same as it has been in previous years, but there are a few new things the state is introducing this year.

Alaska’s new voting system and an unexpected special election have attracted a crowd of 48 candidates to run for the state’s lone House seat this year, including former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and a Democratic socialist from the city of North Pole, who legally changed his name to Santa Claus.

What do those terms mean and how have they become an issue for how elections are covered? An expert weighs in.

Voting: It’s one of the most American things we do every two years -- and along with it comes the peaceful transfer of power, democracy in action, and the voices of the people heard in the solemn right of civic duty.

Groups across the state of Virginia work all year long to get students registered to vote in high school and college -- the idea being, if these students start young, they’ll vote their entire lives.

They’ve worked hard to get from a 48% student voter rate in 2012 to a 73% student voting rate in 2020.

Deliberative dialogues series started in the spring 2022 semester

Exercising your right to vote can be confusing or intimidating, regardless if you’re a first-time voter or a veteran. KPRC 2 News and KSAT, our San Antonio sister-station, worked to create a comprehensive resource to make sure every eligible Texan can vote and is counted.

When it comes to voting these days, it’s a bit of a hot topic.

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia’s General Assembly has passed several bills this session related to voting rights, and Gov. Ralph Northam recently signed three of them into law. The three voting-related bills Northam signed on Friday are:Roanoke County Registrar Anna Cloeter said the laws and other bills in progress reflect the embrace of absentee and early voting after the COVID-19 pandemic. Cloeter said more than half of Roanoke County voters cast their ballots early or by mail during the 2020 election. “It’s hard to tell when people are really going to feel comfortable going out and voting on Election Day,” Cloeter said.

ROANOKE, Va. – In a fight to eliminate voter suppression, state lawmakers advanced House Bill 1890 in a 55-45 vote on Monday. A fine for a first offense can be as costly as $50,000 while a second offense is capped at $100,000. Deb Wake, the president for the League of Women Voters of Virginia, said she is “dismayed” that this is still a current issue, but thinks it’s a good step for voter justice to see the bill advance. “Everyone needs to have that reputation and it’s an abuse of power when that representation is not in the hands of voters,” she said. Voting materials, such as registration/voting notices, as well as forms and instruction will also need to be produced in languages other than English, according to the bill.

Seven senators are now at least 80 years old, with four of those members being older than 85. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is 78 years old and was just elected to serve another term. “I think you can absolutely make that case.”Are there solutions to bring in younger candidates? “There’s less of a pull for younger candidates,” Dulio said. “I think it would take a concerted effort on the part of the political parties to recruit younger candidates,” Dulio said.

Here are some photos of Trump supporters in protest, courtesy of Getty Images. (Getty Images)Trump supporters in Phoenix, Arizona. (Getty Images)Photo by John Moore (Getty Images)Trump supporters in Lansing, Michigan. (Getty Images)Trump supporters in Phoenix, Arizona. (Getty Images)Trump supporters in Phoenix, Arizona.

With the news that Joe Biden had defeated President Donald Trump in this year’s presidential election after days of counting votes, supporters of Biden took to the streets to celebrate. Here are some photos of Biden supporters celebrating his win, courtesy of Getty Images. Photo by Stephanie Keith (Getty Images)Biden supporters in Minneapolis. (Getty Images)Biden supporters in Philadelphia. (Getty Images)Biden supporters in Philadelphia.

FINCASTLE, Va. – Some Virginia voters doubted if their votes had been counted on Election Day after a viral, but misleading, social media post. The post claimed some votes were ignored by the Commonwealth based on a section of the Virginia Department of Elections' voter information page. “Different offices across the state are different sizes and have different numbers of staff, which means they move at different paces.”The Virginia Department of Elections also used social media to counter the claims about the ballots. Clark hopes voters understand there is no need to worry about a ballot once it is in the system. “We’ve probably been working anywhere from 10 to 16 hour days at the election office," Clark said.

Even though the final figures still have to be tabulated, it appears the 2020 general election is already a record-setting one. As of Wednesday morning, there were an all-time high of 160,002,000 total votes cast, according to the United States Election Project. In terms of turnout as a percentage of the voting-eligible population, that number is higher than it’s been in more than 100 years. The turnout as a percentage of the voting-eligible population for this election was 66.9% as of Wednesday morning, according to the United States Election Project. That’s the highest percentage of VEP turnout since 1900, when the number was 73.7%.

Even though the final figures still have to be tabulated, it appears the 2020 general election is already a record-setting one. As of Wednesday morning, there were an all-time high of 160,002,000 total votes cast, according to the United States Election Project. In terms of turnout as a percentage of the voting-eligible population, that number is higher than it’s been in more than 100 years. The turnout as a percentage of the voting-eligible population for this election was 66.9% as of Wednesday morning, according to the United States Election Project. That’s the highest percentage of VEP turnout since 1900, when the number was 73.7%.

(Automatic Voting Machine Co/PhotoQuest/Getty Images)A hand as it inserts a ballot into a box during the U.S. presidential election in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Nov. 2, 1948. (PhotoQuest/Getty Images)An over-the-shoulder view of an unidentified woman as she demonstrates how to use an IBM voting machine in 1966. The voter casts a ballot by punching holes in a card, which then drops into a ballot box. (Getty Images)A hand presses the switch, marking a selection in a 1970s-style voting machine. (Getty Images)A view showing empty voting booths during the Senate elections in 1986.

To see what exactly the ballot measures are in each state, click or tap here. Below are five noteworthy initiatives we thought we’d mention from across the country. Mississippi’s flag redesignThe state Legislature in June eliminated the old state flag that had the Confederate battle emblem, which was widely thought of as racist. California’s app-based driving proposalThis initiative will decide whether app-based transportation and delivery drivers are classified as independent contractors or as employees. Colorado’s abortion banThis is a ballot initiative that will likely draw a lot of attention across the nation.

We’ve heard of people out in droves who voted early or sent a mail-in ballot. Lines at early-voting precincts have had some crowds waiting hours -- but to cast a ballot, many find the time well-spent. Pflughoeft was fascinated with politics and determined to vote in the 2020 General Election, so she mailed in her ballot early. All the other states have various stipulations as to whether they will allow the ballot of a deceased person to count, such as when the person died and when the death is learned. However, if past elections are any indication, votes from people who pass away before Election Day generally don’t have an impact on the results, according USA Today.

Doesn’t support increasing capital gains taxes. Does not support federal legalization of recreational marijuana. Does not support federal legalization of recreational marijuana, but would decriminalize it. EducationTrumpDoes not support making public college tuition-free. Does not support federal funding to send students to rival schools.

As people head to polling places in the next day or so, the terms “poll watcher” and “poll challenger” will likely be tossed around at precincts. What a poll watcher isA poll watcher is someone appointed by the political parties or candidates to make sure their party has a fair chance of winning an election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. What a poll challenger isA poll challenger is someone who can challenge whether a person is eligible to vote. Can the same people be poll watchers and poll challengers? What qualifications do I need to have to be a poll watcher or challenger in Virginia?

Early voting in Virginia ended on Saturday, and last-minute voters made their picks at the polls. Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Kaine and Democratic congressional candidate Cameron Webb made campaign stops across southside Virginia. “The eyes of the country are on this race,” said Webb, who is facing Republican Bob Good in Virginia’s 5th congressional district. Last-minute early voters in Danville said they were excited to cast their vote in the congressional race. “2020 has been a tough year, but I’m ready to get this vote out of the way,” said Albert Brandon, who voted for Webb.

Is there a racial divide when it comes to voting wait times at precincts? In 2016, white voters waited an average of 10 minutes, according to a survey of voters conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In comparison, Black voters waited an average of 16 minutes and Latino voters were in line an average of 13 minutes, according to the survey. During the 2018 election, Black voters waited an average of 11.5 minutes, Latino voters an average of 11.7 minutes and white voters an average of 8.8 minutes, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. In precincts with 90% or more non-white voters, the average wait time was 32.4 minutes and the median was 13.3 minutes.

The COVID-19 pandemic and concerns over safety at polling places are causing more people to send in ballots via mail this year. In turn, due to cutbacks with the United States Postal Service that could cause delays, and the fact that mail-in ballots can take longer to count, there are additional fears for many over whether their ballots will be received and counted in time. For those who have mailed in ballots before the election but are wondering on the status, the state of Virginia has a simple way of monitoring. Visit this website and you can check on the status of your ballot by inputing the following information:Your first nameYour last nameYour addressThe deadline for the state to accept mail-in ballots is by noon Friday, three days after the election, if postmarked on or before Election Day.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – If you live in Lynchburg and still haven’t returned your absentee ballot, there’s no need to fret. On Election Day, 18 drop-off boxes will be available for voters, so your ballot will be counted. The boxes will be placed at the Lynchburg Registrar’s Office and outside each Lynchburg voting precinct. For the convenience of our voters, they will be outside and that’s the only place that you can drop off your ballot on Election Day,” explained Christine Gibbons, the city’s director of elections and general registrar. You’ll be able to spot the boxes because they will be under tents and near signs designated for the drop-off area.

But a majority of states have realized those concerns and have put in place tracking systems for people to monitor their votes, according to Business Insider. In 35 states, voters will have access to a tracking system by providing basic information such as name, address and date of birth. There are 12 additional states that not only will offer a tracking system for ballots for federal and state races, but also at the county and local level. Only three states, Mississippi, Missouri and Wyoming, don’t have ballot tracking systems at the state or county level. For further questions or information on how to track your mail-in ballot, visit your state or community elections website.

If you’re someone who prefers to vote in-person either before Election Day or on it, how long should you expect to wait in line? Below are three factors that will largely determine how long it will take for you to vote. Where you do itThe resources a voting district has will go a long way in determining how long you are there. In precincts with 90% or more non-white voters, the average wait time was 32.4 minutes and the median was 13.3 minutes. Whether you vote early or on Election DayWith the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to be an issue nationwide, more people are expected to vote early for this election.

But that fiasco could be nothing compared to this year’s election -- and not just regarding who is elected president. There will be more mail-in ballots submitted than ever. The United States Postal Service is struggling with financial issues, which could delay the mailing of ballots throughout the country, according to CNBC. In August, the USPS sent letters to 46 states and Washington, D.C. warning that some main-in ballots might not arrive in time to be counted by Election Day, according to the Washington Post. Mail-in ballots take longer to count.

If a mega-precinct is available, that means voters can cast their ballots on Election Day at any precinct in the jurisdiction, regardless of their home address. In addition, groups of people in the same jurisdiction who are friends or family but who don’t have the same voting location can vote together at a mega-precinct. Expenses on Election Day can be reduced with fewer locations to staff. There will be 19 NBA arenas turned into voting locations on Election Day, as well as the practice facility of the Detroit Pistons. For a full list of NBA arenas that will be used on Election Day, according to NBA.com, click or tap here.

It’s amazing how some tiny oval stickers have become just as synonymous with Election Day as registration cards, voting precincts and the terms “blue state” and “red state.”

The goal was to simulate the mail-in election process to track the timeliness of arrivals. (WSLS 10)Participants in Alleghany County, Bedford County, Roanoke County, Roanoke city, Montgomery County and Lexington put the letters in drop boxes addressed to themselves and tracked how long it took to get back to them. The five-day deliveries happened in Roanoke County and the city of Roanoke. In Virginia, mail-in ballots will be counted as long as they’re postmarked by Election Day and arrive by noon that Friday. If you want to applyClick here if you’d like to apply for a mail-in ballot.

On the final day to register to vote, Virginians currently cannot do so online due to a network outage. Justin Fairfax is calling for the voter registration deadline to be extended. I am officially calling for Virginia’s Registration Deadline to be extended beyond today due to the service outages impacting voters’ ability to register statewide. We will work with the Administration to resolve this issue and ensure all voters have access to #Vote. https://t.co/PKt3vKoOnu — Justin Fairfax (@LGJustinFairfax) October 13, 2020The Virginia Department of Elections is far from the only state service impacted by this outage.

Really -- did you realize, in some areas, early voting begins in the next week? Some areas have opted out of in-person voting altogether -- Connecticut, Mississippi and South Carolina, to name a few -- but many are still encouraging early voting. People are opting to vote early — where they’re able — due to factors including coronavirus fears and doubts about the reliability of voting by mail. As more people are interested in voting by mail, only about 30% say they are “very confident” their mail-in vote will be counted accurately, according to the poll. Below is a breakdown of how voting is being handled in each state across the U.S.Scroll over the map below to see which states are opening early voting.

Women wearing masks pose behind a voter registration table in Union Square as the city continues Phase 4 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on August 09, 2020 in New York City. Photo by Alexi RosenfeldAug. 18 marked the 100-year anniversary of the 19th Amendment being ratified, which changed elections forever. The 19th Amendment prohibits the state and federal government from denying the right of citizens to vote based on sex -- meaning, women became eligible to vote after previous years of discrimination at the polls. Since 1980, more women have voted in each presidential election than men, according to Statista. So, how much of a gap has there been between women and men voters in each presidential election of the century?

ROANOKE, Va. – 2020 is the year of the mail-in ballot, according to Roanoke City election director Andrew Cochran. “We have already received 5,000 absentee applications, and most of those came by mail,” Cochran said. However, the optional switch to mailed ballots has confused some voters in both Roanoke City and Roanoke County. “So many people say, ‘Why don’t I have my ballot?’” said Roanoke County election director Anna Cloeter. “‘I know who I want to vote for, why can’t I vote?’”The ballots don’t technically exist yet.

Restrictions and types of early voting vary by state, but 40 states and the District of Columbia do offer some form of early voting. Turning in ballots at a local election office or polling locationJust about every state allows voters to bring ballots in person to turn them in at local election offices. If you’re not close to a local election office to turn in a ballot, some states allow ballots to be turned in to alternate locations or the polling locations. New Hampshire and Vermont allow voters to return ballots to a polling place. Drop boxesThese are special containers that allow voters to drop off absentee or mail-in ballots in sealed envelopes.

ROANOKE, Va. A nonprofit groups effort to register Roanoke absentee voters by mail backfired because of a massive mix-up. The Center for Voter Information sent vote-by-mail forms to every registered voter in Virginia. However, the return envelopes for Roanoke City voters were marked for Roanoke County, and vice versa. Thats not right.It also caught Roanoke City Registrar Andrew Cochran by surprise. I wish they had checked in with us to confirm the accuracy of the information they sent voters, Cochran said.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Absentee voting continues to grow in popularity as people opt-out of voting in-person because of the coronavirus. In Lynchburg, more than 700 people requested absentee ballots for Tuesday’s primary election. The registrar’s office is working to hire people to help process the ballots. “When we have a higher number of absentee requests, it does make more work for our office,” Gibbons explained. “It’s an existential election.”The registrar’s office is encouraging people to vote absentee to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

DANVILLE, Va. The coronavirus didnt keep people in Danville away from the polls. At the citys Ballou Park precinct, people came in one or two at a time throughout the day. Tape was on the floor in six foot intervals to encourage people to stay six feet apart. Voters 10 News spoke to Tuesday said they were not worried about getting the coronavirus by voting in-person. Just got to stay your 6 feet and wear your mask," said Carl Luck.

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These are the types of voting ballots and equipment used throughout the country, according to Ballotpedia:• Optical Scan Paper Ballot Systems: Voters mark their votes by filling in an oval, box, or similar shape on a paper ballot. Paper ballots are later scanned either at the polling place or at a central location. • Ballot Marking Devices and Systems: These systems are designed to help disabled voters who might be unable to vote using other methods. Rather than recording the vote into the computer’s memory, the ballot is instead marked on paper and later tabulated manually. • Punch Card Voting Systems: These devices employ a paper card and a small clipboard device.