Early voting in Virginia starts Sept. 19, kicking off weeks of deadlines and rules for voters who want to vote before Election Day.
Every ballot in Virginia will include a choice for a new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegate representative.
Voters in Hampton Roads’ eight cities will see constitutional officers – such as sheriffs and treasurers – on their ballots.
Voters in the region’s counties will see county and school board seats on their ballots.
To take care of all of that before Nov. 4, voters have the option to go to their local registrar’s office to cast an early ballot.
Early voting runs until Nov. 1, the Saturday before Election Day. Voting eligibility rules haven’t changed since last year. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 24, but Virginia allows same-day registration.
Same-day registration requires specific documentation before a ballot is included in the final vote tally.
Find your registrar’s business hours, address and contact information below:
In larger localities, cities and counties may have satellite voting locations. These locations don’t always open on Sept. 19 and may only operate on certain days leading up to Election Day.
Here are satellite early voting locations as reported to the Virginia Department of Elections:
If you don’t live in Hampton Roads and are looking for your early voting location, visit the Department of Elections’ website to find registrar offices for the entire state and check early voting locations outside of WHRO’s coverage area.
Can’t make it during early voting or Election Day?
If you’re out of town — but not serving in or affiliated with the military — or just won’t be able to cast an in-person ballot leading up to or on Election Day, Virginia still has mail-in absentee voting.
The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 24. That process can be done online or in person at a registrar’s office.
Once you receive your ballot and fill it out, you must return it to your local registrar’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. You may also return your ballot to a designated drop-off location. Those locations will be noted with your mailed absentee ballot.
If you have to return your absentee ballot by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the registrar’s office by noon on the third day following the election. This year, that day is Friday, Nov. 7.
Military and overseas voting
If you’re in the military or an “overseas citizen,” like a military dependent who’s been stationed outside of the U.S., you can register to vote and apply to vote absentee electronically as long as you have an ID card issued by the Virginia DMV.
If you don’t have an ID issued by the Virginia DMV, but still think you should be eligible to vote in Virginia elections, you can apply to register to vote and vote absentee using the federal postcard application.
It can be returned to the Virginia Department of Elections via email.
If you’re already registered and have applied for your ballot but don’t receive it in time to return it by Election Day, you may use a Federal Write-in Absentee ballot, or “back-up” ballot.
The website will ask you a series of questions to identify what belongs on your ballot, but you can double-check on the state’s website as well.
