Huge Absentee Voter Turnout in Reston, Herndon, Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A massive number of voters have already voted absentee in Fairfax County, beating figures from both of the last two presidential elections by a mile and hinting at a huge Election Day on Nov. 8.

On the last day of absentee voting Nov. 5, Fairfax County reported 10,295 absentee votes at the 10 voting locations countywide, and the county continues to receive mail-in absentee ballots. The deadline to receive mail-in ballots is 7 p.m. on Nov. 8.

A total of 77,642 in-person ballots were recorded this year, compared to 57,817 in 2012 and 64,658 in 2008. In addition, another 37,491 mail-in-ballots have been received, bringing the total to 115,133, compared to 84,687 in 2012.

Absentee ballots will be counted on election night starting at 7 p.m.

The high early voting numbers are likely to be good news for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, as Barack Obama won Fairfax County 60-39 percent over Mitt Romney in 2012. Virginia is a vital swing state that awards 13 electoral votes to the winner.

Image: Patch staff