More than 4,000 Virgin Islanders have already cast ballots in the 2026 Democratic primary election, putting early voting on pace to challenge the record participation set during the last gubernatorial primary.
According to the Virgin Islands Election System, 4,064 active Democratic voters had voted early as of Friday, representing 19% of active Democratic registered voters territory-wide. The total includes 2,012 voters on St. Croix, 1,965 on St. Thomas and 87 on St. John. Early voting remains open through Wednesday, July 29, ahead of the Aug. 1 Primary Election.
The latest figures already place this year’s turnout within reach of the 4,418 voters who participated during the entire early voting period for the 2022 Democratic Primary Election. At the time, Election System officials announced the total had surpassed 2018 and marked a record for primary early voting in the territory. The 2022 breakdown included 2,182 early voters on St. Thomas, 2,131 on St. Croix and 105 on St. John, representing 13% of the territory’s 34,697 registered Democrats.
With five days of voting still remaining, this year’s early voting total has already reached more than 91% of the record set four years ago. While the Elections System now reports participation as a percentage of active Democratic registered voters rather than total registered Democrats, the current pace suggests turnout could meet or surpass the previous record before early voting concludes.
In Friday’s update, Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes said early voting has continued to run efficiently and assured voters that the process remains secure.
“Voters continue to visit the Early Voting Centers territory-wide to cast their votes for the 2026 Primary Election,” Fawkes said, adding that the process is “efficient and transparent” and that “their sacred vote is secure.”
Early voting continues daily through Wednesday, July 29, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on St. Thomas and St. Croix. On St. John, voting is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through July 29. Polling locations are the Elections Office in Sunny Isles Shopping Center on St. Croix, the Elections Office in Lockhart Gardens on St. Thomas and the Elections Office at Market Place Suite II on St. John. Election officials also reminded voters that absentee ballots remain available for anyone unable to vote during the early voting period or on Primary Election Day.
