State of Virginia Voting Requirements & Information

Statewide Voter Information

 

U.S. Domestic Voters

None on Record

Registration

You can register to vote or update your registration information:

  • online
  • by mail
  • in person at your elections office

Election Day Voting

Polling places are open from 6am to 7pm on Election Day.

Find my polling place

Early Voting

A registered voter who qualifies to vote absentee may do so at their local registrar’s office (on a voting machine) beginning 45 days prior to Election Day.

Some large localities offer satellite locations for in-person absentee voting. Check with your local registrar for locations and times for each election.

Absentee Voting

You can request an absentee ballot in Virginia if you are a registered voter and you meet any of the following requirements:

  • You are requesting a ballot for presidential and vice-presidential elections only
  • Your new state of residence and date moved from Virginia is less than 30 days before the presidential election
  • You are an authorized representative of candidate or party serving inside the polling place
  • You are a student (or spouse of student) attending college or university outside of locality of residence in Virginia
  • Your business or employer is outside County/City of residence on election day
  • You have personal business or vacation outside County/City of residence on election day
  • You are working and commuting to/from home for 11 or more hours between 6am and 7pm on election day
  • You are a first responder (member of law enforcement, fire fighter, emergency technician, search and rescue)
  • You have a disability or illness
  • You are primarily and personally responsible for the care of a disabled/ill family member confined at home
  • You are pregnant
  • You are confined, awaiting trial
  • You are confined, convicted of a misdemeanour
  • You are an electoral board member, registrar, officer of election, or custodian of voting equipment
  • You have a religious obligation
  • You are active Duty Merchant Marine or Armed Forces
  • You are the spouse or dependent living with a member of active duty Merchant Marines or Armed Forces
  • You are temporarily residing outside of the US
  • You are temporarily residing outside of US for employment or the spouse or dependent residing with employee

Note that in most situations you cannot both register to vote and vote absentee on the same day.

You are eligible to vote in Virginia if you:

  • Are a U.S citizen
  • Are a resident of Virginia
  • Are at least 18 years old by Election Day

You are NOT eligible to vote in Virginia if:

  • You have been legally declared "mentally incompetent" by a court
  • You are registered to vote in another state

Restorative Requirements

  • If you have been previously convicted of a felony crime, you may vote in Virginia if your voting rights have been restored

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Virginia you should provide:

  • Your Virginia Driver's License or State ID Number (online applicants only)
  • Your Social Security Number

Voting In-Person

In Virginia, you need to show a valid Photo ID to vote. You can use any ID from this list:

  • Valid ID with photo issued by a Government Agency
  • Valid Local Government issued ID
  • Valid Employee ID
  • Valid US Passport
  • Valid Virginia Driver's License
  • Valid non-driver's ID
  • Valid Tribal ID
  • Valid Student ID
  • Valid Military ID
  • Veteran's ID
  • Government issued nursing care facility ID card
  • Photo ID issued by the Department of Elections

All accepted forms of ID may be used up to one year after expiration.

Voters unable to provide accepted Photo ID may vote by provisional ballot.

Domestic Voter

 In-Person Mail Fax Email Online

Voter Registration

 - -

Absentee Ballot Request

Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

 - - -

Blank Ballot To Voter

 - - -

Overseas & Military Voters

None on Record

Overseas Voters

U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:

  • Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.

Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.

Military Voters

Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.

  • If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.

To vote as a service member or eligible family member:

  • Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • Complete Social Security Number

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • Complete Social Security Number

Overseas Voter

 In-Person Mail Fax Email Online

Voter Registration

 -

Absentee Ballot Request

 -

Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

 - - - -

Blank Ballot To Voter

 -
Absent military and overseas citizens may request blank ballots sent to them electronically by providing an email address or fax number on their application. Some localities send a link to a website for the voter to download their ballot materials for return by mail. Returning a Ballot: The oath on the envelope must be witnessed. If using the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, this witness requirement still applies.

Military Voter

 In-Person Mail Fax Email Online

Voter Registration

 -

Absentee Ballot Request

 -

Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

 - - - -

Blank Ballot To Voter

 -
Absent military and overseas citizens may request blank ballots sent to them electronically by providing an email address or fax number on their application. Some localities send a link to a website for the voter to download their ballot materials for return by mail. Returning a Ballot: The oath on the envelope must be witnessed. If using the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, this witness requirement still applies.

 

Register to Vote   Request Absentee Ballot