CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Thousands of Virginians did their civic duties by voting in yesterday's primary elections.

In the Charlottesville area, many voters cast their ballot early.

"Once a vote is banked it's banked, that's someone I don't have to worry about turning out on Election Day," J. Miles Coleman of UVA Center for Politics said.

Tuesday's primary election saw the highest number of early voters since it became an option for everyone.

A total of 2,700 people voted early and 1,000 voted absentee, while 4,000 people voted on Election Day.

Charlottesville Registrar Taylor Yowell said people like the convenience.

"One, it gets done early so if you get busy on Election Day and don't have the opportunity to go out your vote is already cast and it's not something you're rushing to do. But, two, just having the opportunity and access to go out at any point when it's convenient," she said.

Coleman said progressives are more likely to vote early.

"Republicans, thanks to Donald Trump, generally tend to be suspicious of early voting. While Democrats are the ones more excited to get out and vote early," he said.

In the 11th District Senate race, Coleman said Sally Hudson was the more progressive candidate. She won just over half of the early vote.

Creigh Deeds got about 54 percent of the election day votes, giving him the win.

Coleman says heading into November, he expects to see the same trend.

"Assuming we have divided government, assuming Republicans don't pass any rollbacks over early voting, it's something that Virginians are getting used to," he said.

The general election is Nov. 7.