DANVILLE, Va. – Danville voters head to the polls Tuesday to fill seats on city council and elect school board members.

Danville Registrar Peggy Petty says interest has been high, based on the number of absentee ballots her office has received. More than 2,400 absentee ballots have been cast in advance of the election. She says a typical council race attracts between 4,000 and 5,000 voters but concedes that today’s turnout is “problematic,” given the backdrop of the coronovirus outbreak.

The election was delayed for two weeks by the governor because of the pandemic and Petty says poll workers are taking special precautions. The voter will be asked to hold up a picture identification; workers will be wearing gloves; and each voter will be provided with a new, throwaway pen to cast their ballot.

Voters are asked to wear face masks, maintain a six-foot distance between others, and not bring children to the polls.

Nine candidates are vying for five seats on Danville City Council. The candidates are Sheila Baynes, Larry Campbell, Gordon Lyles, Barry Mayo, Thomas Motley, Sherman Saunders, Fred Shanks, Lee Vogler and Madison Whittle. Campbell, Saunders, Shanks, Vogler and Whittle currently hold the five seats.

Five candidates are seeking the four seats on the Danville School Board. The candidates are Philip Campbell, Tedd Goldean, Renee Hughes, Tyrell Payne and Charles McWilliams III.

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.