Triple-digits jumps in Southwest Virginia early voting numbers

Early voting concluded over the weekend in Virginia and the latest statistics show Southwest Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District had a larger turnout than the 2016 general election.

Data compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project showed an increase of more than 129,000 registered voters from four years ago for that entire region.

The number of early voters in the City of Bristol jumped 440 percent in just four years from just 788 in 2016 to 4,252 this year. Washington County’s rate was also substantial, with more than 14,000 residents casting a ballot prior to Tuesday, a 430 percent gain.

2016 versus 2020 early voting numbers in SW Virginia:

Bristol – 788 to 4,252 (439 percent increase)
Buchanan County – 1001 to 2,743 (174 percent)
Dickenson County – 823 to 3,108 (277 percent)
Lee County – 768 to 2,658 (246 percent)
Norton – 173 to 904 (422)
Russell County – 1,162 to 4,800 (313 percent)
Scott County – 980 to 4164 (324)
Smyth County – 858 to 4122 (380)
Washington County – 2788 to 14804
Wise County- 1379 to 8429

(Data from VPAP / IMAGE: Associated Press)