Voters across Southwest Virginia are heading to the polls today to decide congressional representation, local municipal leadership, and three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and any voter in line by 7 p.m. has the legal right to cast a ballot. Valley Metro is operating all Roanoke bus routes fare-free through the close of polls to help voters reach their precincts.
Virginia law requires all voters to show an acceptable form of identification—photo or non-photo documents like a utility bill, bank statement, or voter confirmation card—or sign an ID Confirmation Statement to cast a regular ballot. Voters who arrive without ID and decline to sign the statement may cast a provisional ballot and deliver identification to their local electoral board by noon Friday.
Congressional races draw national attention
National forecasts suggest a potential realignment on Capitol Hill as voters decide control of Congress. Radford University Political Science Chair Chapman Rackaway tells WFIR that mathematical indicators show shifting momentum in the House of Representatives, projecting Democrats will win a total of 224 to 225 seats to flip the chamber while the Senate remains deadlocked at 50-50, leaving Vice President J.D. Vance with the tie-breaking vote for a functional Republican majority.
In Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, Republican incumbent Rep. Ben Cline faces Democratic challenger Beth Macy in a race that has drawn statewide attention. Sen. Mark Warner joined Macy at Golden Cactus Brewing late last week, supporting the former journalist against Cline, who has held the seat since 2019. While Cline emphasizes border security and federal spending, Macy points to local community roots, saying voters who have never supported Democrats before are displaying campaign signs in their yards.
Rackaway expects Cline to retain his seat, backed by a strong rural Republican base across the district. In the 9th Congressional District, Republican incumbent Rep. Morgan Griffith is also projected to win re-election.
In the 5th Congressional District, Republican incumbent Rep. John McGuire faces Democratic challenger Tom Perriello, a former congressman, and independent candidate Cooke Harvey.
Sen. Mark Warner is seeking a fourth term in the U.S. Senate against Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa, a retired Army major general. Campaigning in Roanoke as voters head to the polls, Warner told WFIR that his long-standing ties to the region remain central to his coalition. Mizusawa is urging voters to reject career politicians, campaigning on deficit reduction and stronger border enforcement.
Seven candidates compete for three Roanoke City Council seats
Roanoke City residents are deciding new municipal leadership today as seven candidates vie for three four-year terms on city council. The field includes Democratic incumbent Vivian Sanchez-Jones, Democrats Danny Clawson and Raekwon Moore, Republican Amanda Marko, and independents Stephanie Moon Reynolds, Kathy Cohen, and former mayor David Bowers.
All seven candidates spoke at a recent forum held by the Raleigh Court Neighborhood Association. WFIR’s Gene Marrano offers this snapshot of each candidate from that forum:
Salem voters choose two council members in nonpartisan race
In Salem, five candidates are running for two open seats in the city’s nonpartisan council election: Republican-aligned incumbent Hunter Holliday and Republican-aligned J.D. Taylor, along with independents Jeffrey Hoeflich-Nickels, A.J. Harpold, and Mark Henrickson. While candidates hold party affiliations, Salem City Council races do not feature party labels on the ballot.
Holliday, seeking re-election, has emphasized fiscal responsibility and infrastructure improvements during his tenure. Taylor, a newcomer to municipal politics, is campaigning on economic development and public safety. Independent candidates Hoeflich-Nickels, Harpold, and Henrickson have focused on transparency in local government and community engagement.
Three constitutional amendments on statewide ballot
In addition to candidate races, voters across Virginia are deciding whether to adopt three amendments to the state constitution:
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Ballot Question 1: Enshrines a constitutional right to reproductive healthcare—including contraception, fertility care, and abortion—while permitting state restrictions in the third trimester unless a patient’s life or health is at risk.
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Ballot Question 2: Formally repeals Virginia’s 2006 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and affirms marriage equality regardless of sex, gender, or race.
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Ballot Question 3: Establishes voting as a fundamental right in the state constitution, automatically restoring voting rights to individuals convicted of a felony upon completion of their prison sentence.
All three proposed amendments require a simple majority to pass.
Regional school tax referendums on local ballots
Voters across Southwest Virginia — including Franklin, Floyd, Giles, and Pulaski counties — are deciding local ballot referendums on whether to enact a dedicated 1% sales tax for public school repairs and construction. The optional local levy is on ballots in 47 Virginia localities.
In Franklin County, officials project the tax would fund a $91 million capital improvement program that includes a new career and technical center, offsetting real estate tax pressure by collecting up to 40% of sales revenue from visiting drivers and out-of-town shoppers.
Voter ID and polling information
Polls are open statewide from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Acceptable identification under the Virginia Department of Elections includes a Virginia driver’s license or DMV-issued ID (valid regardless of expiration date), a U.S. passport, student IDs from any accredited U.S. higher education institution or Virginia high school, employer photo IDs, or a current utility bill, bank statement, or official government document showing the voter’s name and address. Registered voters without an approved ID can sign an ID Confirmation Statement at check-in to cast a regular ballot.
The post Election Day intel: Your guide to congressional races, local councils, and ballot questions in Southwest Virginia’s 2026 midterms first appeared on News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR.
