Every year is an election year in Virginia, and this year’s elections mainly focus on the federal kind, as opposed to local races: Voters will choose representation in Congress, as well as a president and vice president.
Some localities will still have local elections for city council, boards of supervisors and school boards, though.
Early voting is set to open on Sept. 20 at local voter registration offices throughout Virginia.
More information on how to get in contact with your local election officials can be found on the Virginia Department of Elections (ELECT) website.
If you like the tradition of going to the polls, or if you have the day off, in-person voting on Election Day might be for you.
Voters must show valid ID — which does not necessarily have to include a photo. Acceptable forms include a Virginia driver’s license, U.S. passport or student ID issued by a Virginia school.
A voter whose name is in the pollbook may sign an ID confirmation statement to vote on a regular ballot.
Ahead of Election Day, here are some other important dates to keep in mind.
Now until Nov. 5
Contact information for local registrar’s offices is available on the ELECT website. Voters can also check their polling place using the registration check tool.
September 20
In-person early voting begins 45 days before Election Day at your local registrar’s office or a satellite voting location listed for your precinct. You do not need to present any reason for voting early.
There is also the option for curbside voting, if requested.
October 15
This is the last day to register or change your address to vote on a regular ballot.
October 16
Same-day voter registration opens. Any person who is eligible to vote but didn't register by Oct. 15 may now register and cast a provisional ballot.
October 25
If you would rather vote from the comfort of your couch — or want the flexibility to vote whenever and wherever — the deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 25 at 5 p.m.
Voters who use an absentee ballot don’t have to leave their home, but they must put their ballot in the mail by Election Day — local registrars may count votes they receive in the mail for a limited period after Election Day, but only if they are postmarked by Nov. 5 or earlier.
Absentee ballots can also be left at registrar’s offices or in drop boxes. ELECT officials have included instructions in absentee ballot mailings on where drop-off locations can be found.
Virginia does not have a witness requirement for absentee ballots. Instead, voters must provide their birth year and last four digits of their Social Security number.
Did you know that you can also track your absentee ballot once it has been mailed? Virginia has a system for that!
October 26
Early Saturday voting opens at local voter registration offices across the commonwealth. (Some localities open before this date.)
November 2
If you're the type to get things done as early as possible, you’re in luck. Early in-person voting is underway and will be available until Saturday, Nov. 2 at local registrars and satellite polling stations.
November 5
Polls will open on Nov. 5 at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. As always, anyone standing in line by the time polls close will be allowed to vote.
Voters who miss the Oct. 15 registration deadline are not out of options. Virginia opened same-day registration in 2022, which permits unregistered and eligible Virginians to vote using a provisional ballot up until polls close on Election Day.
According to an elections department training document, provisional ballots “provide a way for people to vote whose voter registration or qualifications to vote are in question.” They are also available to registered voters without an ID, or for anyone who shows up at the polls and finds that their name isn’t in the pollbook.
Instead of being counted by a machine, provisional ballots will be validated and counted — or denied — by local electoral boards in public meetings beginning the day after Election Day. Voters who cast a provisional ballot will be notified and may attend these meetings, but they are not required to be present for their ballot to be counted.
The boards may deny a ballot if they think a voter is ineligible, cast multiple ballots, voted in the wrong precinct and more. But voters who successfully register after Oct. 15 with required ID and information will generally not be denied.
If a provisional ballot is denied for any of the reasons listed above, there is a workflow in place to ensure it does not count. It's detailed in the agency's publicly available GREB Handbook.
Read more 2024 elections coverage.
