Early voting in Richmond is jumping in popularity ahead of the Tuesday, June 23, party primary, and city Voter Registrar Kirk Showalter is taking an extra step to ensure mail-in ballots get counted.

Ms. Showalter announced that her office will sponsor a “Drive Up, Drop Off!” program to collect absentee ballots outside the 9th Street entrance to City Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, June 22.

The purpose: To make sure the ballots are in and available to be counted, she said.

Ballots that are mailed must arrive by the close of the polls on Election Day,

Tuesday, June 23. With mail delays, Ms. Showalter said, some ballots might not arrive in time.

“As of June 10, our office has issued 6,713 absentee ballots through the mail for the Democrat primary,” she stated. “I don’t think we’ve ever done that volume except in a presidential primary. I want to make sure those who get mail ballots can be assured their votes will be in our hands and get counted.”

The primary to win the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 4th District congressional seat features a contest between incumbent U.S. Rep. A. Donald McEachin and challenger R. Cazel Levine, who touts her background as a mother, lifetime member of the Girl Scouts and a former 30-year federal employee.

There also is a Republican primary to choose a candidate to run against Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, who is seeking his third term in the November election.

Three GOP candidates are running: Army Lt. Col. Daniel Gade, Army reservist Tom Speciale and Nottoway County teacher Alissa Baldwin.