An analysis by the nonpartisan and non-profit Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) shows Republicans may have a significant enthusiasm gap in Virginia over Democrats when it comes to early voting.

According to an analysis of data released on Friday by the State Board of Elections, VPAP found that "seven of the 10 localities reporting the fastest rate of absentee voting this year compared to four years ago were won by Republican John McCain" while "seven of the 10 localities reporting the slowest pace of absentee balloting this year were carried by Democrat Barack Obama."

According to the Virginia State Board of Elections, 60,612 voters have mailed in an absentee ballot or delivered a ballot in person to date. In 2008, Obama won nearly two-thirds of the 511,933 absentee ballots cast in Virginia, according to the Board of Elections. 

Fairfax City, Norfolk, Newport News are some of the localities that staunchly supported Obama in 2008, but they are among the 10 localities reporting the slowest pace of absentee balloting in 2012. 

Absentee balloting runs through the Saturday before the election in Virginia.