USVI voters cast nearly 8,000 ballots in early voting surge

Participation in early voting across the US Virgin Islands has reached nearly 8,000 ballots cast, the Elections System of the Virgin Islands reported.

St. Croix leads with 4,701 votes submitted since the October 15 start date, including 384 cast on Tuesday. St. Thomas has accumulated 3,633 ballots, with 383 recorded on the same day. St. John voters have submitted 200 ballots to date.

Four days of early voting remain before the general election takes place on Tuesday, November 3, which the territory observes as a national holiday.

Caroline F. Fawkes, Supervisor of Elections, pressed eligible residents to use the remaining window for advance voting. "Every vote matters, and these final days of early voting offer a valuable opportunity for voters to participate in shaping the future of our community," she said. She also called on voters to bring family, friends and neighbors to polling locations to strengthen community participation.

Early voting occurs at Elections System of the Virgin Islands offices located on each island. Polling locations for the general election have not yet been made public, though voting typically runs between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced administrative leave for non-essential government workers on Monday, November 2, to mark D. Hamilton Jackson Day, a local observance also called Liberty Day and Bull and Bread Day. The holiday recognizes the St. Croix native who served as a labor leader, attorney, judge and newspaper publisher. Jackson established The Herald newspaper and worked to advance freedom of the press.