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Voters across Virginia are casting absentee ballots in record numbers this year, signaling not only the growing popularity of early voting in busy lives but also the likelihood of heavy turnout Tuesday, state and local election officials said yesterday.
More than 114,000 voters have requested absentee ballots or voted early in person, according to the State Board of Elections. That compares with 44,500 who voted absentee in 2002, the last time there were midterm federal elections. The trend is pronounced in Northern Virginia jurisdictions. In Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties and in Alexandria, the number of absentee voters is on track to more than double over 2002, local election officials said.
In populous, Democrat-leaning Northern Virginia, where a heavy turnout could determine the outcome statewide in the tight U.S. Senate race, the absentee numbers could be good news for Democrat James Webb, who is trying to unseat Republican Sen. George Allen.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=364
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