Starting Friday, voters across Virginia can begin casting their ballots in this year’s critical elections for the White House, a U.S. Senate seat, and the state’s 11 congressional districts that will not only impact the future of the commonwealth but also help shape next year’s gubernatorial race.

At a polling site in Minneapolis, Jason Miller, a 37-year-old house painter, arrived well before the polls opened at 8 a.m. and was first in line. He was among roughly 75 people who cast ballots in the first hour at the city’s early voting center. “Why not try to be first? That’s kind of fun, right?” he said.