According to the Washington Post:

Voters across Virginia are casting absentee ballots in record numbers this year, signaling not only the growing popularity of early voting in busy lives but also the likelihood of heavy turnout Tuesday, state and local election officials said yesterday.

More than 114,000 voters have requested absentee ballots or voted early in person, according to the State Board of Elections. That compares with 44,500 who voted absentee in 2002, the last time there were midterm federal elections.

This is a tremendous boost — more than twice as many–and actually could bode well for election day. If this many people have already voted, it may be that election day will be somewhat more manageable for election administrators on Tuesday.