Voters Cast Ballots Across D.C. Area.; Close Contests Expected

Polls in Virginia opened at 6 a.m.; polls in Maryland and D.C. opened at 7 a.m.

A handful of close contests are expected Tuesday as D.C., Maryland and Virginia voters head to the polls.

VIRGINIA:

In the Commonwealth, polls opened at 6 a.m. Mark Warner, a Democratic mainstay in Virginia and incumbent U.S. senator is facing off against former lobbyist Ed Gillespie (R). The 2014 Senate run is Gillespie's first attempt at seeking public office. He has previously worked behind the scenes for former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, for former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and as chairman of the Republican National Committee.

In the Commonwealth, polls open at 6 a.m. Virginia’s 10th Congressional District is expected to be the closest contest among Virginia’s 10 congressional districts — Barbara Comstock (R) and John Foust (D) are sparring to succeed retiring Frank Wolf in Congress.

Virginia's 10th Congressional District is expected to be the closest contest among Virginia's 11 congressional districts -- Barbara Comstock (R) and John Foust (D) are sparring to succeed retiring Frank Wolf in Congress. Comstock, a Fairfax County delegate and former aide to Wolf, also served as co-chair of Romney's Virginia presidential campaign. Foust has been a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors since 2007, having won a re-election in 2011.

For the first time, voters in Virginia will be required to show photo ID. The IDs are not required to show the voter's address. See a full list of acceptable forms of ID here (PDF).

Polls in the Commonwealth will close at 7 p.m.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:

Starting at 7 a.m., D.C. voters have the choice between three mayoral candidates: Democrat Muriel Bowser and Independents David Catania and Carol Schwartz.

The 2014 election is Schwartz's fifth bid for mayor, though she spent many years serving on the D.C. Council and the school board. Bowser, who managed to beat incumbent Vincent Gray this spring for the Democratic nomination, has served on the Council for years, winning the support of labor unions and President Barack Obama alike. Catania, another mainstay on D.C. Council, has championed education.

If elected, Catania would become the city's first openly gay mayor. History will be made even if he loses -- if either Bowser or Schwartz are elected, they will become just the second woman to serve as D.C. mayor.

A handful of close contests are expected Tuesday as D.C., Maryland and Virginia voters head to the polls.

Voters will also get to decide whether marijuana will be legalized in the District. If they approve Question 71, it would become legal to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and share (but not sell) up to an ounce of marijuana to anyone age 21 or older. The measure would also make it legal to use or sell drug paraphernalia related to marijuana.

The ballot initiative is widely expected to pass, although it will have to go through Congress for approval. 

In D.C., polls close at 8 p.m.

MARYLAND:

The Maryland gubernatorial race has gotten particularly close during the past several weeks, as both candidates -- Anthony Brown (D) and Larry Hogan (R) -- gained endorsements and stump speeches from notable politicos like former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama for Brown, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former President George H.W. Bush for Hogan. 

The Maryland gubernatorial race has gotten particularly close during the past several weeks, as both candidates — Anthony Brown (D) and Larry Hogan (R) — gained endorsements and stump speeches from notable politicos like Former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama for Brown, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Former Pres. George H.W. Bush for...

Polls have shown Brown leading, but the race is believed to be competitive.

In Maryland, polling places will close at 8 p.m.

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