Record Numbers Casting Absentee Ballots in Va.

Count Is More Than Double 2002 Election Tally

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.

"It's a very close race," said Linda Lindberg, Arlington's general registrar. "People feel very strongly about both the Senate race and the . . . constitutional amendment" proposing to ban same-sex marriage.

Voter frustration with President Bush, the Republican-controlled Congress and the war in Iraq may be fueling interest in this year's elections, but local officials said the increase in absentee voting is probably attributable to other factors as well.

"There's been a steady incline in absentee voting over decades," said Tom Parkins, Alexandria's general registrar. "More and more people are doing it. It's convenient."

That's particularly true in Northern Virginia, where voters often endure long commutes and have trouble making it to the polls before or after work.

Absentee voting is open to a variety of voters with special circumstances. They might be disabled, for instance, or planning to be out of town, or they might know that work will keep them away from home for at least 11 hours on Election Day.

Steve D. Bradford, 51, voted absentee at Loudoun's election headquarters in Leesburg last night because he will be traveling to Arizona on business next week. Bradford, who has voted absentee before, finds it convenient.

"I just had to fill out a paper ballot," he said. "It was very quick. No wait."

There's still time to vote absentee. Although the deadline to request a ballot by mail has passed, qualified voters may vote absentee in person through Saturday at their jurisdictions' election headquarters.