Voting and Elections

Eligibility Requirements

• You must be at least 17 and turning 18 before Election Day.
• If convicted of felony, your right to vote must be restored.
• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must be a Virginia resident.
• If you are a college student, you can vote absentee in your home state OR register to vote in Virginia.
• You must not be declared mentally incompetent by a court of law.

For additional information, please contact the Virginia Department of Elections.

Polls are open from 6:00AM to 7:00PM on Election Day. Anyone in line at 7:00PM will be allowed to vote.

Election Day is a state holiday in Virginia.

Absentee Voting

How to Request Absentee Ballot

Request absentee (mail-in) ballot online.

Request absentee ballot using paper form.

When Will I Receive My Absentee Ballot?

Ballots can be mailed to applicants beginning 45 days prior to the election date.

How Can I Submit My Absentee Ballot?

You can submit your absentee ballot by mail, fax or email. Please note that there are special federal ID requirements for certain first-time absentee voters.

Voters may also turn in their absentee ballots in-person at your local registrar's office.

Note: no excuse is needed to vote absentee in Virginia.

Can I Track My Absentee Ballot?

Yes, you can use this Absentee Ballot Tracker.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements for Emergency Absentee Voting?

Voters can submit an emergency absentee ballot if they meet any of the following requirements:

• Your hospitalization or illness;
• The hospitalization, illness or death of a spouse, child or parent;
• Other emergency found to justify receipt of an emergency absentee ballot.

Voter requirements for casting an emergency absentee ballot:

• You may cast an emergency absentee ballot at any time prior to 2:00PM on the day preceding the election.
• If you are approved for an emergency absentee ballot, your general registrar will give your emergency absentee ballot to your designated representative for delivery to you.
• You will fill in the ballot in front of your designated representative.
• The emergency absentee ballot will be counted if the ballot is received by the general registrar prior to the closing of the polls.

For More Information:

Absentee Voting Guidelines (Virginia Department of Elections)

Early Voting

How Can I Vote Early?

You may vote early in-person at your local registrar's office starting 45 days prior to the election and ending the Saturday before the election. You do not need a reason or fill out an application to vote early.

At the registrar's office (or satellite voting location), you must provide your name and address and present an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID Confirmation Statement. Additional information about acceptable forms of ID can be found here.

Additional Early Voting Locations

Registration Deadline

(This section will be updated once information on the registration deadline for the next election is available).

Online Voter Registration

To register to vote online, you must have a current and valid driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver photo identification card issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and a signature on file with DMV. You are also required to provide your Social Security Number.

You may register to vote online here.

Mail-In Voter Registration

Print out a registration form (available in English, Spanish, Korean or Vietnamese)

Send your registration form to your local registration office.

Registration forms are also available at:

• Local registration office
• State or local government offices when applying or re-certifying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, or Rehabilitation Services.
• Government offices in the State that provide State-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to person with disabilities.
• Armed forces recruitment offices.
• Public libraries
• Virginia Department of Elections office
• Department of Motor Vehicles offices
• Voter Registration Drives

Am I Registered to Vote?

Check your registration status.

IDs Required to Vote

You can show any of the IDs listed below to vote:

• Voter confirmation documents
• Virginia driver's license (Virginia law allows expired driver's license to be used for voting purposes)
• United States passport
• Virginia DMV-issued photo ID
• Employer-issued photo ID
• Student ID issued by any college or university in the U.S.
• A U.S. or Virginia government-issued ID
• Tribal enrollment or other tribal photo ID
• Virginia Voter Photo ID card

Full list of accepted IDs

What If I Do Not Have an ID on Election Day?

If you arrive at your polling place without an accepted ID, you can sign an ID Confirmation Statement or use a provisional ballot. You are then required to submit a copy of a valid ID by noon the Friday after the election. You will be provided instructions on what to do so that your vote counts.

Federal

President/Vice President (every 4 years, next election is 2024)

Senator (every 6 years for staggered terms)

Representative (every 2 years)

State

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General (every 4 years, next election is 2021)

Commonwealth Attorney, Commissioner of Revenue, State Treasurer, Sheriff (every 4 years, next election is 2023)

State Senator (every 4 years)

State Representative (every 2 years)

Statewide ballot measures

Municipal

School board and other boards/commissions

Mayor or First Selectman

Town Clerk

Registrar of Voters

Tax Collector

Treasurer

Aldermen or Selectmen

Constable

Local ballot measures