Going into the November general election, a race that has yielded a stream of unexpected storylines, we can learn from the results of the 2020 election, a contest that set voting records and upended norms. More than 158 million Americans cast a ballot in the 2020 race, continuing a trend of higher turnout rates.

Virginia voters are beginning to cast their ballots in a contentious presidential election year, with several competitive congressional races on the ballot. Here’s what to know about the Nov. 5 election as early voting begins in the state.