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Deadlines have been set and now that candidates have been chosen, early voting has started in the 10th District special election. 

As a quick reminder, a special election was needed because this seat in the Virginia State Senate is currently vacant. John McGuire won it in the 2023 election, but then he ran for and won a seat representing Virginia in the U.S. Congress two months ago. That means Central Virginia needs someone new to fill the spot. And by Central Virginia, we mean the 10th State Senate District covers the counties (and voters) of Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland and Powhatan, plus portions of Prince Edward, Hanover, Henrico and Louisa. 

The special election is set for Tuesday, Jan. 7. It’s scheduled so close because whoever wins on Tuesday will turn right around and be seated on Thursday, Jan. 9. That’s the first day of the new General Assembly session. But as we mentioned, residents of the 10th District counties don’t have to wait until Jan. 7 to cast a ballot. Early voting is taking place in each of the counties. 

Breaking down the early voting schedule 

First off, let’s start with the easy part. Early voting will only take place in the registrar’s office for your respective county. If you’re in the election area, then your regular polling place will be opened up on Tuesday, Jan. 7 for the special election day.  

Here’s where it gets a little complicated. There are a couple changes between counties for the early voting schedule, depending on where you live. For example, all counties except Buckingham will offer early voting on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week, with offices closed Wednesday due to it being New Year’s Day. Buckingham took off two days for New Year’s, with the registrar’s office closed on both Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. 

Also, Buckingham is offering a drop box for residents who have an absentee ballot and want to turn it in after hours. Located at the registrar’s office, which is at 13360 W. James Anderson Highway, there will be a drop box able to be accessed on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday of this week, along with Monday, Jan. 6 and Election Day, Tuesday, Jan. 7. 

“Drop boxes will also be available at all regular polling places on Election Day,” said Ginger Chiesa, Buckingham County Registrar. Those Election Day dropboxes will be available on Election Day for people to use from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Not all other counties have a drop box plan set up for the early voting period. In fact, the majority won’t be using one. There’s also one more rule in place for the special election. If you’re a new voter who needs to register or if you moved and need to update your apartment or house’s location, that all has to be done by Dec. 31. 

Who’s running in the 10th District?

With all of that said, now comes the question as to who’s competing for the seat. After a quick campaign that included seven candidates, it was Prince Edward resident and YakAttack owner Luther Cifers who won the vote for the Republican nomination. 

During the mass meeting where he was elected as the nominee, Cifers argued that his lack of political experience was a positive.
“I’d like to remind you,” Cifers said, “political experience got us Joe Biden. Real world experience got us Donald Trump.”
In his speech, Cifers painted himself in the same vein. He too is a business owner, wanting to bring that same real world experience to Richmond.
On the Democratic side, Jack Trammell was chosen back in November as his party’s candidate for the seat. In his own statement, Trammell said he wants to make changes in Richmond. 

“I want to bring valuable resources to the district to improve your lives such as increased business investments, retain teachers with better pay and benefits, and by bringing down everyday costs,” Trammell said in a statement.