As Election Day 2025 approaches, Botetourt County voters will see a full slate of local, district, and statewide contests on their ballots this election season. Leading up to next Tuesday’s decisions, candidates were given the opportunity to submit letters to the editor under the same guidelines as other readers. Please see Page 4 of this week’s edition to read more from some of the individuals appearing on Tuesday’s ballot and visit FincastleHerald.com’s Opinions tab to read more from previous weeks’ letters.
An important note: depending on where they live, residents will vote in races for the Board of Supervisors and School Board in the Amsterdam and Buchanan Districts, along with several Town Council and mayoral contests in Troutville and Buchanan, including special elections to fill unexpired terms.
All county voters will also help decide the 37th District seat in the House of Delegates, as well as statewide offices for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general.
Who’s running in Botetourt County?
Only voters registered in these districts or towns are allowed to vote for the following offices:
Board of Supervisors – Amsterdam District
- Tim Snyder (R)
- Linda George (publicly announced as a write-in)
Board of Supervisors – Buchanan District
- Linda Rottman (R)
School Board Member – Amsterdam District
- Anna L Weddle
School Board Member – Buchanan District
- Jenny P. Wilson
- Kathryn H. Beard
Member Town Council — Troutville (3 seats) 2-year term
- Laura C. Bumgarner
- Jonathan T. Simmons
- Vickie L. Abbott
Special Elections for unexpired terms:
Member Town Council, Troutville (1 seat) – term expires December 31, 2026
- Write-in only
Mayor, Troutville (1 seat) – term expires December 31, 2026
- Write-in only
Member Town Council, Buchanan (1 seat) – term expires December 31, 2026
- Shean C. Bowers
- Spring Alissa Witt
House of Delegates 37th District – 2-year term
- Andrew W. Hartless (D)
- Terry L. Austin (R)
Statewide elections
Governor – 4-year term
- Abigail D. Spanberger (D)
- Winsome Earle-Sears (R)
Lieutenant Governor – 4-year term
- Ghazala F. Hashmi (D)
- John J. Reid, II (R)
Attorney General – 4-year term
- Jay C. Jones (D)
- Jason S. Miyares (R)
Statistics show that voter turnout in Botetourt has risen steadily over the past several election cycles. In the November 2017 governor’s race, 12,505 of the county’s 23,752 registered voters cast ballots, a turnout of 47 percent. Four years later, during the November 2021 governor’s race, turnout climbed to 66.4 percent, with 17,149 voters participating out of 25,822 registered. That election marked only the second time no-excuse early voting was available, and 4,613 voters chose to cast ballots early.
The 2024 presidential election brought even stronger participation, with 22,058 of 27,297 registered voters turning out, an 81 percent rate. Early voting continued to grow in popularity, accounting for 9,398 of those ballots— roughly 43 percent of the total.
Early voting activity has also increased significantly in the weeks leading up to Election Day. By this time in October of 2021, 2,538 voters had already cast ballots. That figure rose to 6,525 by this time last year. As of October 25, 2025, 3,801 voters had voted early, reflecting steady engagement even in a non-presidential year.
Overall, Botetourt County’s voter participation shows a clear upward trend, with more residents taking advantage of early voting and higher overall turnout in both gubernatorial and presidential elections.
Early in-person voting will still be available now through Saturday, Nov. 1, ending at 5 p.m.
Voting can be done at the Department of Elections & Voter Registration Office, located at 2 East Main Street in Fincastle, at the corner of Roanoke and Main Streets. The office will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additionally, special hours will be offered, this Saturday, Nov. 1, with the office open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the final day of early voting.
For voter election information, visit https://www.botetourtva.gov/405/Election-Information.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
