Early voting period now open in Virginia

The wait is finally over for Virginians who want to get a head start on casting their votes in this year’s election.

Early voting sites across the commonwealth will accept ballots for November’s general election from Sept. 20–Nov. 2.

VPM News also has a generalized guide for voting in 2024 (y en Español). Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Am I registered to vote?

Well, are you? The Virginia Department of Elections (ELECT) maintains the voter registration database statewide — check your voter registration status here.

That tool will provide the most up-to-date status of an individual’s voter registration within the commonwealth.

Virginia’s voter registration deadline for a regular ballot is Oct. 15. But since 2022, Virginia has permitted same-day voter registration. So if you’re eligible to vote but haven’t registered yet, you can do so at both early voting polling stations and Election Day polling stations.

However, same-day registered voters will cast provisional ballots — which are counted differently and subject to approval by the local election board regardless of when they’re cast. Click here to read more about same-day voter registration.

Do I have to do anything special to vote early?

Nope! The primary differences between early voting and Election Day voting are:

1. You’ll vote at your local elections office or another polling station — that’s usually not the one you’d visit on Election Day.
   
2. Those offices operate during business hours or special Saturday voting hours, when applicable, not the Election Day polling times (6 a.m.–7 p.m.).
   
3. Early votes are usually counted ahead of Election Day instead of on or after Nov. 5.

Where can I vote early?

Ballots can be cast at local general registrar offices or satellite polling stations, if available.

Registrar offices are open Monday–Friday, though their operating hours vary by location. Click here to find yours on ELECT’s website.

What do I need to bring to early voting?

Voters must show valid identification, which may be a photo ID but doesn’t have to be.

Here’s a shortlist of accepted IDs for voting:

• Virginia driver’s license, U.S. military ID or passport
• Tribal identification issued by one of Virginia’s 11 recognized tribes
• Recent utility bills, bank statements or paystubs/paychecks with the voter’s name and address
• Local, state or federal government documents with the voter’s name and address
• An ELECT-issued voter registration card

Click here for the full list in English | Lista en español

People without IDs who are eligible and wish to vote must sign a statement affirming their identity before casting a regular ballot. Otherwise, they will cast a provisional ballot.

Who’s running this year?

In 2024, the United States will elect a new president and vice president. There are six candidates for each office that will appear on the ballot in Virginia.

Statewide, one U.S. Senate race and most U.S. House of Representatives races are contested. There is also a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot about expanding a tax exemption for some veterans and surviving military spouses.

When it comes to local elected offices, ballots will vary by where you live. The state department of elections does not usually post sample ballots. Some localities do post or plan to post samples for their residents — like the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Otherwise, the following organizations offer virtual sample ballots: Ballotpedia, an elections wiki sponsored by the Lucy Burns Institute in Wisconsin; and Vote411, an election information tool run by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

Will I still get a sticker if I vote early?

Early voters should still receive an "I Voted" sticker, though whether it's a locality's newest sticker for Election Day 2024 will vary by where you vote. Ask your local elections office!

Read more VPM News coverage of the 2024 election.