ELECTIONS

As we sit and wait to find out of former President Donald Trump will be arrested at some point over the next few days, pro-Trump and anti-Trump protestors have gathered around the country to let their voices be heard.

Voters in the 24th District were deciding who will succeed Delegate Ronnie Campbell.

Reed won the vote over councilman Jeff Helgeson by one vote.

Here are some examples of strange ways elections were decided.

HJ 459 will be heard following the convening of the 2023 legislative session.

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.

On Tuesday, voters across the country will head to the polls. The results could shift the balance of power in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.

Lynchburg City Councilman Randy Nelson announced his resignation from council effective at noon on Monday, Nov. 7.

Two of the seven candidates are currently on City Council.

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

Republicans Nick Hagen, Maynard Keller, and Dalton Baugess are three of the nine candidates running for Roanoke City Council.

Questions asked to the candidates ranged in topics from economic development to crime in the area.

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

On Sept. 23, 1952, Richard Nixon delivered in front of a national TV audience what became known as the “Checkers Speech,” a 30-minute address to the nation.

Never before had a Hispanic woman been elected to Congress, but that changed thanks to Ros-Lehtinen.

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.

On Sept. 30, 1822, a man by the name of Joseph Hernandez was elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The NAACP was joined by the youth council to help get voters registered and raise money for their organization.

Historically, according to the experts, midterm election results typically favor the party that is not in the White House at the time of the election.

Here are your local primary results for our area.

The 6th District for the US House is holding a primary to determine the Republican nominee.

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.

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.

Political analysts are providing insight if the leaked draft opinion of Roe v. Wade will have an impact on elections.

For those who enjoyed a break from political ads for a little while, get used to them ramping up again after the holiday season, if not sooner.

Del. Jason Miyares is projected to become Virginia’s next attorney general.

Winsome Sears is projected to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor, according to NBC.

Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin is projected to be Virginia's next governor.

Richards said one factor could be Liberty University, as LU pushed students to vote in the 2016 presidential election, and the Hill City went red for Donald Trump.

Princess Blanding isn’t mincing words. She is done with the status quo.

Republican candidate for governor, Glen Youngkin, is holding an early voting rally in Roanoke.

Dominion Energy's CEO said the company's political action committee didn't properly vet an anti-Glenn Youngkin PAC before giving it large donations, and Dominion wants its money back.

The election is just a couple of weeks away but a new voting method is on the table for people who are visually impaired.

Republican Wren Williams and Democrat Bridgette Craighead are vying to for the seat in the House of Delegates.

Republican candidate Delegate Jason Miyares was in Lynchburg Thursday, leading a news conference with Judy Smith, a victim of violent crime.

The clock is ticking for Virginia’s Redistricting Commission, as it works to redraw election district maps. The citizen-led committee held a virtual hearing Thursday for the west-central region.

Two new faces are running for the House of Delegates In the New River Valley in this November’s election.

Virginia’s election is less than a month away.

The state's first bipartisan, citizen-led redistricting commission has an Oct. 10 deadline to submit its recommendations to the General Assembly.

One local race is House District 22, which includes sections of Bedford, Campbell and Franklin Counties, as well as parts of Lynchburg.

Like clockwork, it is time to vote again in Virginia. Before heading to the polls, here’s what you need to know to cast your ballot.

On November 2 Virginians will head to the polls to choose between former Governor Terry McAuliffe and businessman Glenn Youngkin for the next Governor.

The names are finalized for your Virginia governor candidates this year. It’s a crowded field, both on the Republican and Democratic sides, but each party is picking their candidate a little differently. For the GOP, these seven candidates are vying for the spot:Amanda Chase - 11th District SenatorKirk Cox - Former Virginia House SpeakerSergio De La Pena - Army ColonelPeter Doran - BusinessmanOctavia Johnson - Former Roanoke SheriffPete Snyder - Small town business ownerGlenn Youngkin - Business ownerThe winner of the seat will be picked by nominating a convention, which happens on May 8. Over on the Democratic side, these are your five candidates vying for that seat:Jennifer Carroll Foy - VMI grad and former 2nd District Virginia RepresentativeLee Carter - 50th District RepresentativeJustin Fairfax - Current Lieutenant GovernorTerry McAuliffe - Former Virginia GovernorJennifer McClellan - 9th Virginia District SenatorYou’ll be able to vote for these Democratic candidates on June 8.

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.

This year’s crowded contest for governor is an uncertain one as Virginia nears its selection for party nominations.

Ralph Northam called on faith leaders to follow COVID-19 guidelines and lead by example. More than 2,000 faith leaders and religious activists are calling on members of Congress to honor the result of November’s election. In a joint statement released Monday, they encourage lawmakers to avoid “a delayed and drawn out objection” Wednesday when President-elect Joe Biden’s win is to be certified. Signatories include many prominent religious liberals as well as a handful of evangelicals who have criticized President Donald Trump despite his overwhelming popularity among white evangelical voters. Meanwhile, some on the religious right continue to amplify Trump’s baseless claims of widespread election fraud.

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia’s Board of Elections has delayed certifying the state’s election results until later this week to provide more time to a voter registrar’s office that had a COVID-19 outbreak. State officials announced the delay Monday to wait for certification from the voter registrar’s office in Richmond, Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. The Board of Elections was slated to certify the results Nov. 16. Chris Piper, the commissioner of the state’s Department of Elections, told the board that Virginia “had an incredibly successful election” with no major issues reported on Election Day. The Associated Press declared President-elect Joe Biden the winner of Virginia in the presidential election on Election Day after results from early returns and an AP survey of the electorate showed the former vice president had beaten President Donald Trump in the state.

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The City Commissioner of Election for Philadelphia is giving an update as the state remains too close to call. As of 12:30 p.m., Biden does have a narrow lead in the state with 3,302,977 votes while President Donald Trump has 3,293,231 votes. Biden has 253 Electoral College Votes and Trump has 214. If Biden were to win the state, he would secure more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House.

Two Virginia men have been taken into custody in Philadelphia after police say they were tipped off that the pair may have made threats against the Convention Center, where votes in the presidential election are being tallied. The men, who police have not identified, have yet to be charged with any crime. NBC in Philadelphia says police were told the two men may have been armed but police have not confirmed on the record that any weapons were found. The officials say the two men came from Virginia driving a silver-colored Hummer that has one or more “Q Anon” stickers affixed to it, but law enforcement has not indicated that the two men have any affiliation with any groups or are acting in concert with anyone else, so far.

RENO, NV – Election officials in Nevada held a press conference as a candidate has yet to claim victory in the state. Nevada voting update Clark County Registrar Joe Gloria is giving an update on Nevada vote counting. Posted by WSLS 10 / WSLS.com on Thursday, November 5, 2020In Arizona, which has 11 Electoral College votes, the Associated Press has declared Biden the winner. Going by the Associated Press tally, if Biden wins Nevada, he would secure exactly 270 Electoral College votes. Per NBC’s count, if Biden wins Nevada, he would be 11 Electoral College votes short of the 270 he needs.

CLAIM: Wisconsin has “3,129,000 registered voters,” but counted 3,239,920 votes. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, the state had 3,684,726 active registered voters as of Nov. 1. THE FACTS: On Wednesday, as states were continuing to count votes in the U.S. presidential election, multiple false posts circulated on social media claiming that Wisconsin had more votes counted than people registered to vote. Another Twitter user wrote: “Registered voters in Wisconsin: 3,129,000. The United States Census Bureau reported that there were 3,129,000 registered voters during the 2018 midterms.

Brad Raffensperger, the Secretary of State for Georgia, held a news conference as votes for Donald Trump and Joe Biden remain neck and neck in the state. In Arizona, the Associated Press has declared Biden the winner. Going by the Associated Press tally, if Biden wins Georgia, he would secure the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House. Per NBC’s count, if Biden wins Georgia, he would be one Electoral College vote short of the 270 he needs. According to Raffensperger, about 60,000 votes are yet to be counted and he is hopeful that a winner will be declared in Georgia by the end of Thursday.

In Franklin County, voters overwhelmingly said “no” to relocating a Confederate statue from the courthouse grounds. Bridgette Craighead is the founder of the Franklin County chapter of Black Lives Matter, and she said she wasn’t surprised by the result. “I also know that a lot of the white people don’t know what’s going on or why we feel so strongly about the Confederate statue," Craighead said. Leland Mitchell is the chairman in Franklin County and said he was surprised more people didn’t vote to remove it. “If they have a heart, I would hope that they would vote to remove it," Craighead said.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) It’s been two years since Kanye wrote ‘I Love Kanye,’ and he still hasn’t given up on himself — and neither have the nearly 60,000 people that voted for him in the presidential election. KEEP BELIEVING KANYE 2020 Thank you Jesus Christ pic.twitter.com/OgFDGOCAOp — ye (@kanyewest) November 3, 2020According to his Twitter account, this is the first time he’s ever voted. Here’s how he fared, according to the Associated Press:

All rights reserved)COLUMBIA, S.C. – Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has secured a fourth term in the U.S. Senate. The incumbent defeated Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison, an associate chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Harrison’s massive fundraising broke records in the race, which allowed him to dominate airwaves and mount a significant ground effort. But Graham mustered support across South Carolina, where all statewide offices are held by Republicans and support for President Donald Trump remains strong. Graham’s newly minted close relationship with Trump played a prominent role, with Harrison portraying him as too willing to acquiesce to his former foe.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech Political Science Professor Karen Hult talked with 10 News about what happens in the coming days while we wait for results to come in. With votes still being counted in the U.S. presidential election, patience and tolerance are required as court challenges begin, according to Karen Hult. “In the coming days, there will be lawyers on both sides trying to make arguments as to why the vote count should be stopped and why the vote count should not be stopped,” said Hult. “The other thing is of at least some concern — if not surprise — is that President Trump claiming this morning that perhaps the vote count should stop.”“I think the chief thing that is hard for everyone to think about is the need for patience. It’s going to take some time for the counting, be certified and for the states to move forward.”Hult teaches political science at Virginia Tech and its Center for Public Administration & Policy, with expertise in the U.S. Presidency and Organizational and Institutional Theory.

There’s no doubt that Election Day this year was one for the books. After record-setting early voting, people still showed up in droves on Election Day to cast their ballot. Below are 10 photos -- all from Getty Images -- that give an indication of how different this Election Day looked. (2020 Getty Images)Protesters march through the streets around Black Lives Matter Plaza on Nov. 3 in Washington DC. (2020 Getty Images)Did you feel things were different this year?

ROANOKE, Va. – The results are in, and voters in Roanoke have selected three new city council members. Trish White-Boyd (D) has been elected as Vice Mayor, along with Robert Jeffrey Jr. (D) and Stephanie Moon Reynolds (I), who were elected to city council. The three beat out five other candidates, and the only incumbent among the group was White-Boyd. This is the city’s first majority Black city council. To see the results from the race, click here.

The world is watching as millions of Americans cast their ballots for the next president on Tuesday. “In the American system, the last vote counts, and maybe the last vote changes the result," Borrell told Spanish National Television. "The battle over the legitimacy of the result — whatever it will look like — has now begun,” said the German defense minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. “Africa used to learn American democracy, America is now learning African democracy,” tweeted Nigerian Sen. Shehu Sani, reflecting a common view from some on a continent long used to troubled elections and U.S. criticism of them. ___AP journalists around the world contributed to this story.

Celebrities -- they’re just like us. Well, not really, but they definitely vote, and they definitely post selfies on Election Day with their “I Voted” sticker. Here are a few celebs who have let social media know they are exercising their constitutional right to have their voice heard. Laura DernSnoop DoggJessica AlbaNatalie PortmanJennifer LopezCharlize TheronBlake Lively and Ryan ReynoldsDemi LovatoDrew BarrymoreLizzoMariah CareyKerry WashingtonAshlee Simpson RossReese WitherspoonHalle BerryNick JonasSelena GomezBrittany SnowJimmy FallonJoe Jonas

The former vice president is competitive in all the battleground states Trump carried in 2016, and has put a handful of traditional Republican states, including Georgia and Arizona, in play. Grab the binoculars and focus on these 10 states as election returns start rolling in:Florida: 29 electoral votesAll eyes are on Florida, a swing state known for razor-thin election tallies. If Trump doesn’t win Florida, he’s going to have a rough time capturing enough states to stay in office. As early voting began in the state, Biden expanded his ad buys into every corner of Ohio. Trump won Arizona in 2016, but it is no longer an ironclad GOP stalwart.

(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.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Before the results are even in, this day is already a historical one for some Virginia Tech students as they cast their first vote ever. With a polling location in the heart of the Virginia Tech campus, hundreds of students paid a visit to the Squires Student Center to practice their civic duty. “We’re the ones that are going to be experiencing the things that are going to be implemented," Nabhan said. “So like the environment, I voted for the environment today. The Squires Student Center will close at 7pm like other polling locations around Virginia.

If you’re looking for some comfort food to get you through this Election Day, Krispy Kreme has your back! On Tuesday, you can get a free Original Glazed Doughnut at Krispy Kreme along with an “I Voted” sticker. “With many voters unable to get ‘I Voted’ stickers due to polling booth changes and an increase in mail-in ballots, these stickers with a free Original Glazed doughnut, represent a fun a badge of pride in times when we all need it most.”To see if your local Krispy Kreme is participating, click here.

Here’s what voting across the nation looks like today -- one of the most historic election days in recent history. (2020 Getty Images)Would-be voters learn they are not registered at their precinct at the O.P. (2020 Getty Images)Voters cast their ballot at The Orpheum Theater on Nov. 3 in Madison, Wisconsin. (2020 Getty Images)Voters stand in ballot boxes at the Kentucky Exposition Center on Nov. 3 in Louisville, Kentucky. (2020 Getty Images)

ROANOKE, VA. – The polls open when the sun comes up Tuesday morning and candidates all over our area made their final push to get out the vote Monday night. Monday night was dark and chilly as the clocks rolled back and a burst of winter moved in, but candidates for Roanoke mayor and city council made their final push. On election eve, Republican candidates for council, Peg McGuire and Maynard Keller knocked on doors in southwest Roanoke hoping to get Republicans on council for the first time in a while. Democrat Sherman Lea, the incumbent mayor, spent election eve making calls to Roanoke citizens asking for their vote. Mayoral candidate David Bowers did most of his work in the afternoon, but like other candidates, will make his final push at the polls Tuesday.

We understand documenting that you’ve voted is important to a lot of people — especially when you get that “I Voted” sticker. You should be proud of yourself for casting your vote. While there are strict rules in some places when it comes to taking pictures at polling places, Virginia has some of the more lenient rules. Voters should always practice courtesy and common sense, and you can always ask a poll worker to specify what the rules are. When in doubt, just wait until you’re back in your car to snap that “I Voted” sticker selfie.

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.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Lynchburg Registrar’s Office made the final push Monday to get ready for Election Day. According to the Registrar’s Office, Lynchburg has more than 55,000 registered voters. Of that, about 10,000 people participated in early voting and another 9,000 requested their ballot by mail. Despite that fact, Christine Gibbons, Lynchburg’s director of elections and general registrar, asked voters to be patient. “The lines may or may not be as long, but we also have to remember, too, because of social distancing the line might take a little bit longer, even though it may not be a long line,” Gibbons said.

ROANOKE, Va – There have been plenty of changes to the way political polls are conducted since the 2016 presidential election, including here in southwest Virginia. Dr. Harry Wilson has been overseeing the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke College for almost three decades. The institute conducts polls throughout the year, which Wilson says is not an exact science. While Biden is also ahead of Trump in several other national polls, Wilson says it does not always accurately predict an election. Wilson says certain groups of people may have not been accurately represented in 2016 polls nationwide.

One star city. Current Roanoke City Mayor Sherman Lea is facing off against the former mayor, David Bowers, in the 2020 election. The candidates differ on one controversial, key point: the downtown bus station. Bowers wants to focus on jobs and wants Roanoke to take a different route. That will bring a new direction to the Star City,” said Bowers.

Add to it a polarizing presidential election and you have a recipe for anxiety and angst. “I’m scared, my stomach hurts every day, I’m having insomnia, never had it in my life, because of this election,” says Aric Roman. Roman is one of millions of Americans that are experiencing what experts have dubbed “Election Stress Disorder.”Cleveland Clinic psychologist Dr. Adam Borland says the level of contention in this election isn’t helping, causing feelings of anxiety, tension and a lack of control. “I’m seeing a tremendous amount of people dealing with stress, anxiety, panic type symptoms as the election gets closer,” Dr. Borland says. According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, 68 percent of respondents say the election is a significant source of stress.

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?

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – Virginians have been voting for this election since Sept. 18th — but it all comes to an end Tuesday. It worked out, not too busy (of a) day for me,” said early voter Lance McDaniel. In-person early voting wrapped up on Saturday, Oct. 31, so like many poll workers, Ramey said they still are prepared for a large amount of people. We know that early voting has taken in a lot of voters, but a lot of people are still waiting to vote,” said Ramey. Ramey says voting in-person during a pandemic is a little different, and poll workers are taking precautions to make sure you can cast your vote safely.

RICHMOND, Va. – If you think you might have COVID-19 before Election Day, you can still cast your ballot without going in person. The Virginia Dept. of Elections says you may be eligible to vote with an Emergency Absentee Ballot. You can use that if you miss the deadline due to a hospital emergency, like coronavirus or if a loved one dies. Officials say as long as the emergency ballot comes back by the time polls close on Election Day, it will count.

BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – Law enforcement both in our area and statewide are spending the next few days finalizing their election day plans as fears of voter intimidation remain with politics continuing to heat up. At the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Major Jon Wilks said their deputies will be prepared for Nov. 3. “With all the election laws and also polling laws for locations and we’ve distributed that to all the deputies," Wilks said. In Bedford County, deputies are not expected to post up at precincts either, but will be in the area with their eyes and ears open. Whether it be this election or any other election we have that same goal any other time," Wilks said.

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.

Whether you are a supporter of President Donald Trump, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden or someone else, there’s no doubt the two main candidates have led quite different lives. We see pictures nearly every day of the nominees on the road, aiming to gain more votes through rallies and small gatherings. However, we thought it might be interesting to take a peek into what their lives looked like in earlier years. All photos below are copyright Getty Images.

In Virginia, the state primarily uses optical ballot scanning machines, according to this elections website. Here’s how it works: An optical ballot scanning machine counts marks made on paper by the voter. For people with disabilities who wish to vote privately and independently, a Ballot Marking Device and System would be used. Want to know more about these optical ballot scanning machines that we do use in Virginia? A polling place typically only needs one machine, with certain exceptions: For example, in a presidential election, a precinct with more than 4,000 registered voters will be required to have two ballot scanning machines.

That is going to produce results coming in at very different times -- perhaps days or even weeks after Election Day. Processing early ballotsIn some places, election officials can begin processing ballots weeks before Election Day. So on Nov. 3, Election Day, officials will have to run an in-person election while also working through the unprecedented number of mail-in votes. Republicans, including Trump's campaign, have been filing lawsuits to stop election officials from counting ballots that are delivered after Election Day. Also, Pennsylvania doesn’t allow early processing of mail-in ballots, further complicating matters.

Since the Electoral College was established as the means of electing a president, it hasn’t been often when a president won the election without winning the popular vote. Despite the fact that Jackson had more electoral votes and won the popular vote, the House voted Adams as President. Cleveland ended up winning the popular vote by more than 90,000 votes, but Harrison won the electoral vote, 233-168. That gave Bush a 271-266 win in the electoral vote, even though Gore won the popular vote by roughly 500,000 more votes. But the electoral vote was a completely different matter, with Trump earning 304 votes to Clinton’s 227.

Advocacy groups say that is more difficult for some with a rise in voter suppression efforts since 2008. “Your voting right is one of the most important things that you have,” said Dr. Brenda Hale, president of the Roanoke branch of the NAACP. Hale said the NAACP works to register eligible voters, educate them and get them to the polls. She said the organization is also on the lookout for instances of voter suppression. Voter suppression is defined as strategies, legal or illegal, to prevent eligible voters from voting or registering to vote.

We don’t need to tell you that 2020 has been an epic election year. If you’ve kept an eye on social media to stay up to date on all the election happenings, you’ve likely been watching the feeds of President Donald Trump and Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden. They both address issues, as well as, at times, take jabs at one another. Regardless, it’s one of the best ways to stay up to date on what’s happening with both nominees. If you want to keep an eye on the latest tweets from both Trump and Biden, we’ve got them for you right here.

Though Louisiana won’t be handing out “I Voted” stickers at the polls this year, we can’t help but highlight its award-winning design. Clark County, NevadaPersonifying Las Vegas in a creative sticker, Clark County takes into account the familiar details that make its area known in its 'I Voted' sticker. Alaska Division of ElectionsAlaska has various options of its 'I Voted' sticker for 2020 elections and they each pay homage to women and its native communities. Alaska redesigned its “I Voted” sticker in time to celebrate the 19th Amendment’s centennial. The artwork takes a twist from traditional “I Voted" sticker designs with a call to action instead, asking anyone reading to go out and vote.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Enacting restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is more important than removing them to get the economy going, according to a majority of Virginia voters polled this month. In April, during some of the strictest coronavirus restrictions, Trump tweeted “LIBERATE VIRGINIA,” an apparent reference to both gun control measures and COVID-19 restrictions. About 7 in 10 Republicans emphasized the importance of removing virus restrictions to help the economy. The October poll showed just 39% planning to vote on Election Day, with another 31% planning to vote early in person. By contrast, about two-thirds of Republicans say they will vote in person on Election Day.

With less than two weeks before one of the biggest Election Days in history, Republican incumbent nominee, President Donald Trump, and Democratic nominee and former vice president Joe Biden met at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, for the second and final presidential debate. The debate, which appeared to be a little more constructive than the last, was moderated by Kristen Welker of NBC News. What did you think of responses and ideas presented by Biden and Trump? Let us know your reaction by clicking on an emoji below each statement that was made.

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia residents still have time to vote in the Nov. 3 election without going to the polls on Election Day. Voters have until 5 p.m. Friday to request an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by the local voter registration office by noon on Nov. 6. Voters are no longer required to give a reason to vote absentee. Registered voters may request a mailed absentee ballot online at www.elections.virginia.gov/voterInformation or can contact local voter registration offices and ask them to mail an application.

ROANOKE, Va. – The candidates to be Roanoke’s next mayor faced off in a virtual forum on Thursday. Roanoke’s current mayor, Sherman Lea, and Roanoke’s former mayor, David Bowers, met on a virtual stage ahead of the November 3 election. 10 News anchor John Carlin moderated the forum, which was hosted by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. Bowers said he was against moving the bus station to the lot in front of the Virginia Museum of Transportation. He also criticized the current city council for failing to develop a proposal across I-581 from Valley View Mall.

The final debate between President Trump and Joe Biden started at 9 p.m. Thursday at Belmont University in Nashville. ORIGINAL STORYWith just 12 days until the election, it’s the final chance for each candidate to make his case to a television audience of tens of millions of voters. The debate will be moderated by NBC’s Kristen Welker. In an effort to curtail interruptions this time, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced that Trump and Biden will each have his microphone cut off while his rival delivers an opening two-minute answer to each of six debate topics. The mute button won’t figure in the open discussion portion of the debate.

John Ratcliffe, the intelligence director, and FBI Director Chris Wray said the U.S. will impose costs on any foreign countries interfering in the 2020 U.S. election. Despite the Iranian and Russian actions, they said Americans can be confident that their vote will be counted. The voter-intimidation operation apparently used email addresses obtained from state voter registration lists, which include party affiliation and home addresses and can include email addresses and phone numbers. The senders claimed they would know which candidate the recipient was voting for in the Nov. 3 election, for which early voting is ongoing. State and local election officials are in regular contact with federal law enforcement and cyber security professionals, and they are all working around the clock to ensure that Election 2020 is safe, secure, and free from outside interference.”

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.

RICHMOND, Va. – A federal judge has extended the deadline for registering to vote in Virginia by 48 hours after the state’s online voter registration system went down because of an accidentally severed cable. Both the voting rights advocates seeking the extension and the Virginia state officials they sued agreed that more time should be granted. Voting advocates said the accident couldn’t have come at a worse time, and lambasted state officials for the failure. State officials said a 10-gigabit optical fiber circuit was inadvertently cut during a Chesterfield County roadside utilities project. A voter advocacy group, the New Virginia Majority Education Fund, sued for an extension, and a federal judge granted a brief one.

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.”

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Lynchburg Registrar’s Office is accused of violating Virginia election laws. The Lynchburg Republicans City Committee claims the Registrar’s Office counted absentee ballots Monday without a Republican representative. The group says Virginia code mandates at least one election officer from each party to be present as ballots are scanned and counted prior to election day. Lynchburg’s director of elections and general registrar declined to comment. 10 News also reached out to the Virginia electoral board, but have not received a response.