Update: Long Poll Lines Order of the Day in Manassas, Manassas Park

At 7:30 p.m. the Virginia State Board of Elections announced it will "pause" reporting election returns until 8 p.m. due to long lines throughout the Commonwealth.

"In consultation with officials from both the Republican and Democratic Party, the Virginia State Board of Elections has agreed to pause reporting until 8:00pm to ensure voters are not unduly influenced by preliminary results," said an email from the SBE. "Results will commence shortly thereafter."

Long before the polls open at 6 a.m. on the crisp autumn morning of Election Day, more than 100 people queued in the parking lot of Weems Elementaryto cast their votes.

By 10:30 a.m. this morning, more than a 1,000 of the 3,600 people registered to vote at that precinct had cast votes, poll chief Mary Jo Dick said.

She's been working the polls for some 13 years and this is the most people she's seen, Dick said.

"It is very impressive," she said, looking out on the long lines that formed as more people flooded into the Weems gym. 

Even though there are only five machines and the lines are long, people moved in and out within an average of 20 mintues, poll workers said.

Mariella Gonzales said she voted for the very first time Tuesday. Orginally from Bolivia, Gonzales said she's been living in the U.S. for 10 years.

"It is my first time, so I brought help," she said, smiling down at her young daughter, Nirka Yala. "(I voted) to have a better president ... to have a better life in the future." 

Exiting Weems just behind Gonzales was 90-year-old Carmen Cabo, who brought an entourage of people with her to the polls.

"My country needs more people like me," she said.

"She was so cute, she said, 'I'm not dying until I vote,'" Joesphine Test, Cabo's daughter said.

Test said they voted because it was the right thing to do.

"I just think that we do need some change. If you feel a certain way about something, you shouldn't just say it at home, you should go out and vote," Test said.

In Manassas Park, several people apparently echoed Test's sentiments.

Crowds of people are the order of the day in the small city that boasts just two voting precincts—Manassas Park High School and the Manassas Park Community Center.

"We've had long lines, which is good," Manassas Park Voter Registrar Patricia Brendel said Tuesday morning.

Polls are open until 7 p.m.

Stay with Patch for more Election Day updates.