So, as Sandy was bearing down upon us here in Northern Virginia, this past Saturday my wife and I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and get into the early voting scene, just in case. I look online and find the polling place for "in person absentee voting" and, thinking it's the same thing, head on out to vote. I get there, get in, there's a dozen or so people there (with a constant flow) and get my absentee form thingie. One thing it has on it... codes for why you're voting early. (???) I look through this list of codes... there's nothing that's really covering why I'm there... because I want to.
So I ask.
Turns out there's no actual early voting in Virginia. The lady next to me quips that "They don't encourage you to vote in Virginia". The poll workers mention that you're not allowed to early absentee vote just because you want to. Fortunately, the poll workers were not of the mind that you shouldn't vote. I jokingly mention that "You know, now that I think of it, I just might be in Florida on that day". So following some good-natured "You look like you could use a vacation" and similar smiling comments, I voted. My wife shortly after (we have kids, so split it up) did the same for similar reasons.
So vote Virginia. You can do it, even early if you try. It matters now more than ever.