Virginia voters are turning out like never before on the first day of in-person voting.

The 2020 general election will be unlike any in U.S. history due to a large number of people voting before election day, November 3.
The COVID-19 pandemic has many voting early, either in-person or by mail, so they can avoid large crowds of people. While others are mailing in their ballots early due to concerns over President Trump's attempts to stifle voter turnout by disrupting the United States Postal Service.
Four states officially started early in-person voting on Friday and if the number of people who've already cast a ballot in Virginia is any indication of a nationwide trend, voter turnout is going to be massive this year.
Early voting by mail has already started in Idaho, West Virginia, New York, and Vermont. In-person voting is now possible in Virginia, Minnesota, Wyoming, and South Dakota,
Hundreds of voters line up in Virginia as the first day of early in-person voting begins in the state. “I don't tr… https://t.co/QS02Q8aZki— CNN (@CNN) 1600439400.0
According to a report from CNN, lines at the Fairfax Country registrar's office in Virginia are as long as "two football fields" and people are waiting as long as three hours to cast their votes.
CNN reporter Kristen Holmes says a large number of people say they are voting early, in-person because they don't trust the post office.
"I don't trust the mail right now, that's why," Jim O'Conner told CNN. "If I gotta stay here all day, I'm gonna vote today."
"We have heard that over and over again," CNN reporter Kristen Holmes said. "People want to see their ballot being cast, they don't believe the mail system is working right now."
"Several people already waiting more than two hours to cast their ballot, and it is so important to keep in mind that this is a rolling process," Holmes said. "They do not have to cast their ballot today. They are choosing to do so. They want to get out there. They want to have their say, and a lot of them want to actually see their ballot being cast."
Twitter users have been posting videos of impressive lines.
Virginians, it's time to #Vote! My ballot is in—and if you are registered in Virginia, you can start voting TODAY.… https://t.co/pT9ruQZF2x— Ralph Northam (@Ralph Northam) 1600434175.0
The line outside the Fairfax County voting center in Virginia made my day. #BidenHarris2020 https://t.co/9HVV2lGJTD— United for the People 💛🥁 (@United for the People 💛🥁) 1600449260.0
Long lineups at this Fairfax, Virginia polling station as early voting gets underway. Some folks here have waited 3… https://t.co/7K775j7gko— Richard Madan (@Richard Madan) 1600448312.0
Early voting line in #Fairfax #Virginia #Election2020 #Vote https://t.co/QVtPLaZrUI— R.A. Olivieri (@R.A. Olivieri) 1600438031.0
Overhead photo of the line from our SkyFox Drone team in Fairfax Virginia, on the first day of early voting.… https://t.co/3E4O68fEUa— Tom Fitzgerald (@Tom Fitzgerald) 1600452624.0
Currently, Joe Biden has a solid lead in nationwide polls. The latest polling from The Five Thirty Eight has Biden with a comfortable lead (50.2%) in the national averages over Trump (43.5%).
According to The Five Thirty-Eight, if the election were held today, Biden would have an electoral college victory of 331 to 207 votes.
Given the fact that President Trump is fighting an uphill battle, the more votes cast early, the smaller his chance of winning.
"A ballot in is a ballot in, and no late-campaign message or event takes it out of the count," Chris Wilson, a GOP pollster who specializes in data and analytics, told Politico.
"Bottom line is that means that Biden is banking a lead in the mail and more of the risk of something going wrong late is born by Republicans because our voters haven't voted yet, Wilson adds.
Regardless of what it means for election results, it's beautiful to see that Americans are excited to participate in democracy and are willing to do whatever they can to make sure their voice is heard.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.