Starting Friday, voters across Virginia can begin casting their ballots in this year’s critical elections for the White House, a U.S. Senate seat, and  the state’s 11 congressional districts that will not only impact the future of the commonwealth but also help shape next year’s gubernatorial race.

Virginia’s 45-day early voting period starts Friday, which is one of the longest in the country. Senator Aaron Rouse is chairman of the committee that oversees voting laws in Virginia, and he says Democrats will continue to reject Republican efforts to roll back early voting.