After a historic election, Joe Biden secured the presidency, breaking multiple records, including the highest-ever voter turnout in a presidential election and the most votes ever cast for a presidential candidate. 

Vice president-elect Kamala Harris also set several “firsts” including first female vice president, first African American vice president and first Asian American vice president.

Biden won Virginia’s 13 electoral college votes. Loudoun County reported a 79.64% voter turnout with Biden securing 61.31% of the 224,807 votes cast, a majority of which were early voting or absentee ballots. Donald Trump received 37% of the county’s votes. 

Purcellville residents made their impact in Loudoun County, voting for candidates they felt best represented issues that they value most. 

Outside of the polling place at Emerick Elementary, Barbara Gerritson and her granddaughter Jane Bodamer campaigned for what they valued in the election. 

“Coronavirus care,” Gerritson said. “And as far as I’m concerned, gun control. Safety is a vital importance in this election. The environment is another issue.”

Bodamer said she values women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. Others, like resident Susan Davis, supported different platforms.

“[I value most] a strong economy, [and] I’m pro-life,” Davis said. 

Gallery • 2 Photos

Louis Volker

Jane Bodamer and her grandmother, Barbara Gerritson, campaign at their “Blue Ridge District Democrats” table outside of Emerick on Election Day.

Purcellvillians had different reasons for voting in person as opposed to mail-in and absentee ballots, which were extremely popular this year as people stayed home and isolated to protect themselves from COVID-19. According to the Virginia Department of Elections, 2.7 million Virginians voted early this election, which was times more early votes cast than in the 2016 presidential election. 

Some that voted in person, like Purcellville resident Chris Jackson, said they were just too late to mail in their early ballot, whereas for Davis it was a continuation of routine. 

“I’m just a creature of habit,” Davis said. “I like to vote on election day.”  

Local mom Stephanie (who declined to give her last name) voted in person with her infant son because she didn’t feel at risk for COVID-19. 

“We didn’t have a reason to do early voting,” Stephanie said. “We just weren’t worried. We felt that people were being sanitary, so we didn’t have a fear.”

This election has been different in many ways from the 2016 presidential election.

“I feel like everyone’s more interested this time,” Gerritson said. “They feel like it’s really, really important.”

And the election has left division throughout the country, with pro-Trump protests erupting in cities after Biden’s win was announced according to USA Today. This is felt on a local scale, too. 

“Covid has made its impact on voting, and there’s been a lot of anger from both political parties,” Davis said. “It’s been upsetting.”

Loudoun Valley High School sophomore Clay Grisius feels the same. 

“Our country desperately needs to fix the increasingly bitter divide between political parties,” Grisius said, “and begin to embrace, accept and listen to differing opinions.”