Early voting got underway in Virginia on Friday (September 18) in the midterm elections as the state prepares to choose a U.S. senator, 11 members of Congress, and whether to approve 3 proposed amendments to the state constitution.

The national elections on November 3rd will determine control of Congress, with both the Senate and House, currently run by Republicans, being eyed by Democrats who believe current polling suggests a takeover is within their reach.

Voters in Henrico County, outside of Richmond, will help choose a House member for the state's 1st congressional district seat, currently held by a Republican. President Donald Trump won the district in 2024.

Some voters interviewed by Reuters outside a polling place expressed displeasure with Trump administration policies. Democrats hope enough swing voters in the so-called "purple" state will held them retake the House and possibly the Senate at a time when President Trump's poll numbers are at near-record lows over the unpopular war in Iran and rising consumer prices.

A group of sorority sisters outside one polling place on Friday offered non-partisan encouragement of voter turnout. Early in-person voting will continue in Virginia until October 31.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

HENRICO COUNTY, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 18, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF MAN CASTING HIS BALLOT IN EARLY VOTING

2. EXTERIOR OF VOTING PLACE WITH SIGN READING "NO ELECTIONEERING BEYOND THIS POINT"

3. VARIOUS BUILDING EXTERIOR WITH SIGN READING "VOTE HERE"

4. (SOUNDBITE)(English) HENRICO COUNTY VOTER LISA WEBSTER, SAYING:

"I am voting full Democrat. I want this administration to change in a big way. I'm tired of the way that they're treating the American people."

5. VARIOUS BALLOT DROP OFF BOX ALONG ROAD

6. (SOUNDBITE)(English) HENRICO COUNTY VOTER LISA WEBSTER, SAYING:

"That's why we come out to vote, so we'll see what people think. It always surprised me what happened last presidential election. But based on everything that he did and said and continues to do, it's like I hope that this wakes people up and that they need to cast their vote. Do they agree with this way we're going or not? If not, come out and vote."

7. VARIOUS BALLOT DROP OFF BOX ALONG ROAD

8. (SOUNDBITE)(English) HENRICO COUNTY VOTER SHAWN BASS, SAYING:

"Regardless of what mainstream media tries to tell people that affordability is a hoax or affordability's not a thing, the economy is great. The people here in Henrico, we go to the grocery store, we buy gas, we know the economy for us is not great. So the economy's gonna be a big factor in my opinion. I think around here, probably maybe one of the biggest ones around here is just things are becoming unaffordable in Henrico anymore for people who already live in Henrico."

9. VARIOUS VIEW OF BOOTHS AT POLLING PLACE

10. (SOUNDBITE)(English) HENRICO COUNTY VOTER SHAWN BASS, SAYING:

"Here in Henrico, I think for the economy is going to be the biggest thing. But if you want to pull the camera back and look from a national standpoint, I'm thinking all the flipping that's going to go on is because everyone can see just the rampant corruption, the corruption in the administration. Everything they do is corrupt. I've not seen one thing, one claim that they've made ever since Trump took office. Any claim they've made on TV, I've never seen them back up a single comment with any evidence. Everything they do is corrupt. Everything is just take our word for it is because we say so. And I'm honestly worried that if we don't flip something now and get some kind of control by the time midterms are over and say we do take over, the Republicans are, they're already gonna be gone with every cent they can take."

11. VARIOUS VIEWS OF VOTERS AND SIGNS SHOWING VOTER RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

12. (SOUNDBITE)(English) HENRICO COUNTY VOTER ANNE BASS, SAYING:

"Yeah, just to make sure that we get that voting done again, because we think it's very important. A lot of people don't think so because they feel it doesn't matter, but every vote matters, regardless."

13. VARIOUS VIEWS OF VOTING PLACE

14. (SOUNDBITE)(English) RICHMOND ALUMNI CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY PRESIDENT BERNITA WILLIAMS, SAYING:

"Number one for us, you know, for Delta Sigma Theta, our ancestors fought very hard for this moment. Our organization walked back with the women's suffrage movement and we were there, right there, petitioning and advocating the right to vote. And now so many years later, over a hundred years later we want to make sure people realize that, hey, voting is your right. And there are so many issues on the table, your issue may be different from my issue. But in order to get our voices heard, we have to vote."

15. VARIOUS OF SAMPLE BALLOT ON COUNTERTOP

16. CURBSIDE VOTING SIGN