It was the first Saturday of early voting in Virginia, and the parking lot of Loudoun County’s government offices was busy, for a weekend anyway.

Voters in sweatshirts and yoga pants waded through a thicket of bright campaign signs to reach the entrance. Volunteers sidled up to them, hurriedly asking one of two questions: “Would you like a Democratic sample ballot?” “Want a Republican sample ballot?”

In the back of the parking lot, a group of volunteers with the Loudoun County NAACP and other community organizations plugged in speakers and hung t-shirts up underneath a tent in preparation for a nonpartisan get-out-the-vote march and rally later in the afternoon.

Statewide campaigns and messages merged and blended with local issues. Loudoun County schools and its school board have become a flashpoint in the culture-wars in this wealthy, rapidly-growing, and increasingly diverse county. Some parents are angry over the school system’s approach to ensuring racial equity in schools, as well as a new policy designed to protect transgender students. Several school board members are now facing a recall campaign (one has already resigned), and the slogan “Parents Matter” has become the Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin’s biggest applause line.

Next to the Republican volunteers, a group of people with blue “Fight For Schools” t-shirts collected signatures for the recall campaign at a table full of clipboards, boxes of donuts, and a peppering of small American flags. Behind the table, a bigger Spirit of 1776 flag and an American flag superimposed with the Captain America logo waved from the trunks of twin SUVs.

And next to the Democrat table, a handful of women — including Juli Briskman, a member of the county’s Board of Supervisors — passed out fliers with “Loudoun 4 All” in bold rainbow letters at the top, the logo of a parent group which supports the school system’s approach to teaching race and its efforts to increase inclusivity.

Over the course of the day, 712 people cast their ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and candidates in the House of Delegates. Across the commonwealth, and especially in Northern Virginia, early voting turnout is high, likely because the race is very close and getting national attention. It may also be the result of Virginia’s recently expanded access to early voting options. The state overall is well on its way to nearly 1 million early votes before Election Day.

Outside the polling place, some voters wanted to share pointed partisan messages. Many had thoughts about the vitriol engulfing the county’s schools. And some just wanted to encourage their fellow citizens to come out and vote.

Shruthi Rajesh, 18, first-time voter 

“Education and COVID, those are two two main things for me personally…I have a friend who’s like, ‘Infrastructure is super important to me.’ That’s a totally justifiable position. It’s just to me personally, I really think about those two things.”

On Loudoun County schools in the national spotlight:

“When you have national coverage on a really local issue, I think it oftentimes brings unnecessary attention from people who aren’t involved.”

Suzanne Satterfield, former LCPS parent and Fight For Schools volunteer 

On the fight to ban critical race theory and push back on transgender inclusive policies in Loudoun schools:

“I’m glad we’re getting the national coverage. I think it just shows even more so that what we’re doing is the right thing.”

Dorian Ritchie, 52, Ashburn resident

“I don’t focus on the national talk or talking heads, if you will. I focus on what’s happening to us locally. I’m a homeowner in the area, so my kids graduated from Loudoun County schools. And so those are still in the forefront of what’s important to me.”

Maria Damare, 64, Democratic volunteer 

“[McAuliffe is] talking too much about Youngkin, he’s talking too much about the opponent instead of talking about what he has done for us prior, you know, as a governor — and where we are right now, and what Democrats can do going forward. Stop talking about the other side and just talk about what we’re going to do.”

Kevin Saunders, 60, Ashburn resident 

“I’m very encouraged by some of the teachers that are standing up against this movement, this leftist movement. I’m very glad that they’re standing up, and I’m glad that the parents are also standing up against it, because the best of what we have to offer the future is at stake: Our children.”

Juli Briskman, Algonkian District Supervisor, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors

“It’s really funny to me that the school system is the one at the heart of all this because the school board’s not even on the ballot again till 2023.”

On the critical race theory debate:

“[Republicans] have selected the most emotional issue that they can find, and they’ve been digging and digging and poking and poking and stoking fears at this issue of children and schools.”

Ayush Ganotra, 21, Virginia Tech student and Loudoun County schools graduate

On early voting: 

“It wasn’t crowded at all, which is something I appreciate a lot. It’s on a Saturday, which is also nice; if you’re busy on a on a normal workday, then, like, early voting is a great way to do that.” 

Rory Miott, NAACP event volunteer

“We don’t want to be caught sitting on the couch, yelling at the television when we should get off the couch and vote our choices. And so that’s what we’re here today to do, is celebrate our right to vote and also to celebrate everybody’s right to vote and have their voice.”