The presidential election might seem like it's all anyone is talking about — especially with the first Harris-Trump debate tonight — but it's not resulting in groundbreaking new voter registrations in Virginia.

Why it matters: That might not be a bad thing considering the state's already high registration rate.

The big picture: About 188,000 Virginians registered to vote from January to August, per an analysis from the Virginia Public Access Project.

• That's the lowest number recorded in the same timeframe for the past four presidential elections, or since 2008.
• The peak was in 2016, when Virginia recorded 256,000 new registrations between January and August.
• The second-lowest number was in 2020 with 202,000 new registrations.

Yes, but: Virginia currently has the highest number of registered voters ever recorded by the state's Department of Elections.

• As of Sept. 1, Virginia has nearly 6.3 million people registered to vote compared to 6.1 million last year.
• Close to 6.8 million Virginians are 18 years or older, per July 2023 Census estimates.

Zoom in: Voter turnout in presidential elections has also consistently gone up since 2012, which had 71% of registered voters vote, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

• In 2020, it was 75%.

What's next: In-person voting starts Sept. 20 and the last day to register to vote is Oct. 15 (though registration is open through Election Day to vote via provisional ballot).

Keep reading for how many registered voters Virginia had in 2008

City of Richmond homeowners saw the smallest average increase in home values in more than six years.

Why it matters: Those assessed values translate into real tax bills Richmonders pay each year.

State of play: The average increase in assessed value of a Richmond home is 6.8% for next year's tax bill, down slightly from last year's 7.7% increase, according to this year's proposed real estate assessments.

• And it's far below the 12.9% or higher average increase Richmonders saw each year between 2020 and 2022.

Zoom in: 6.8% is the average increase across the city's 82 neighborhoods, but 10 neighborhoods still got hit with double-digit increases.

• At 14.9% and 13.79% respectively, Downtown and Scott's Addition saw the highest percentage increases.
• Homes in Shockoe (0.22%), Carytown (0.53%) and Hull Street (0.91%) saw the smallest increases, all coming in below 1%.

Fun fact: The residential neighborhoods that have the highest average home value are:

• The Fan ($1.8 million);
• The Museum District ($1.06 million);
• Windsor Farms ($832,000);
• Westover Hills ($723,000).

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🤑 The Quick N Easy in the Near West End sold the most lottery tickets in Richmond in fiscal year 2024, with around $2.5 million in lottery sales. (The Richmonder)

The D.C. sniper, who killed 10 people in a series of shootings in 2002, is being transferred from a supermax prison in Virginia for the first time in 22 years to another SW Virginia correctional center in Oakwood. (WTOP)

• He's scheduled to be resentenced in Maryland in December.

🫢 Henrico-based LL Flooring, previously Lumber Liquidators, reversed its decision to go completely out of business after deciding to sell back over half its 430 stores to its old founder. (BizSense)

• Bankruptcy court has to approve the deal, and it's unclear what will happen to the 419 Richmond-area employees laid off last week.

👟=PR= Run & Walk running apparel store opened its second Richmond-area location inside Boho Studio in Forest Hill. (Instagram)

Joe's Inn will be recognized as an "iconic" Virginia restaurant this week alongside five others in the state that have been around for 50 or more years.

Why it matters: At 72 years young, Joe's blows half of the other restaurants being honored out of the elderly eatery water.

• Plus, the Fan District spot best known for their massive plates of pasta still keeps things fresh (see also their recently viral Roséderade cocktail).

The big picture: Gov. Youngkin and the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association — the state restaurant and hotel trade association — will present six honorees with a VRLTA lifetime legacy membership on Thursday.

Zoom in: The inaugural honorees are:

• The Red Fox Inn & Tavern, Middleburg, opened in 1728.
• Texas Inn, Lynchburg, opened in 1935.
• Joe's Inn, Richmond, opened in 1952.
• Black Angus, Virginia Beach, opened in 1954.
• Pierce's BBQ, Williamsburg, opened in 1971.
• L'Auberge Chez Francois, Great Falls, opened in 1976.

Yes, but: Joe's isn't the oldest restaurant in Richmond, or even in the Fan.

• That honor belongs to Sally Bell's Kitchen, which opened 100 years ago this year.
• New York Deli (opened in 1929) and Helen's (around since 1935) aren't far behind her, though.
• The oldest in the region is the Half Way House in Chesterfield, which has been serving Founding Fathers, Civil War generals and at least one French marquis since 1760.

Tell a friend who loves old things

🤠 Sabrina here. Our Axios colleagues sometimes post up with their stuffed animal mascot somewhere in their city and have readers guess where they are.

And when I saw this on my Monday morning walk, it got me thinking:

• What should Axios Richmond's mascot and its name be?
• Can you guess where this pic was taken? (Hint: it's in the Fan).

Hit reply with your answers, especially if your vote for mascot is a possum.