Huge Absentee Voting Numbers Reported in Arlington

ARLINGTON, VA — The 2016 presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will undoubtedly go down as one of the most feisty in United States history, and voters are clearly motivated to go to the polls in Arlington: the county is reporting that total absentee voters will likely reach 43,000, which would be double the figure for the last presidential election in 2012, and would also beat the record set in 2008.

Arlington General Registrar Linda Lindberg said in a statement that vote totals are about 50 percent higher than where the county was at at the same point in 2012, and 2008's record of 35,000 absentee voters in Arlington is likely to be bested. That's probably bad news for Donald Trump, as Arlington is considered one of the most heavily Democratic counties in the state of Virginia, a vital swing state in the election.

A federal judge this week ordered an extension for voter registration in Virginia until midnight on Friday after glitches in the computer system, allowing more voters a chance to get their vote in if they've been late to register.

In-person absentee voting will continue in Arlington County through Nov. 5, which is three days before the election. The in-person absentee polling places are at Courthosue Plaza and in the Walter Reed and Madison community centers. You can find out more here.

If you're sending an application for an absentee ballot by mail, keep in mind that it must be received by the Registrar's Office by Nov. 1 at 5 p.m., and returned by Election Day, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m.

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