Voter Registration - ID Requirement - Acceptable Forms of ID - Early Voting - Absentee Voting - Provisional Voting - Sample Ballots - Type of Primary

State Contact Information

Virginia State Board of Elections
200 North 9th Street, Suite 101

Richmond, Virginia 23219-3485

Phone: 804 864-8901

Fax: 804 371-0194

Web: http://www.sbe.virginia.gov

Voter Registration

Obtaining a Voter Registration Application

• Local voter registration office

• Online

• State or local government offices when applying or recertifying for Aid to Dependent Children, Food Stamps, 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

• State Board of Elections office

• Department of Motor Vehicles offices

• Voter Registration Drives

The completed application can be filed with the local registration office or mailed to the address printed on the form. Application for registration can be submitted using a Virginia Voter Registration Application form or a National Voter Registration Application form. Military and other persons residing outside of the United States should contact the Federal Voting Assistance Program for registration information.

*Once you have submitted your registration form, you should receive a voter registration card in the mail. If you do not receive one, contact your local Registrar's Office to make sure that your application has been processed.

You can also check your voter registration status and polling place location online.

Close of registration: 29 days before an election.

ID Requirement

All voters are required to show a valid form of identification – photo and non-photo ID accepted.

First-time voters, who registered after January 1, 2003 and did not provide identification with their application, will need to show identification at the polls when voting in a federal election.

If you do not have an ID with you at the polling place, you may still vote if you sign an Affirmation of Identity statement, depending on your registration status. See “Provisional Voting” below.

Acceptable Forms of ID

• Virginia voter identification card

• Valid Virginia driver’s license

• Military ID

• Any Federal, state or local government-issued ID

• Employer issued photo ID card

• Social Security Card

First-time voters mentioned above will need to show any of the following forms of ID:

• A valid photo ID

• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter.

Early Voting/ absentee voting in person (restricted)

A registered voter may vote early in person if he meets one of the qualifications for absentee voting, which are listed in the "Absentee Voting/Vote By mail" section below. Early in person voting usually begins 45 days before the election and will end three days before the election.

The voter must first complete an application for an absentee ballot at his/her local Voter Registration Office and may then vote in the same visit. A directory of registrar's offices is available at www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Voter_Information/Local_Voter_Registration_Offices/Index.asp

Absentee voting in person begins approximately 45 days before a November General Election and approximately 30 days before other elections and ends on the Saturday before the election.

Absentee Voting/Vote by Mail (restricted)

In Virginia, voters are required to state a reason for his/her desire to vote absentee. Voters must complete a separate absentee ballot application for each election in which he/she intend to vote absentee.

Registered Voters eligible to vote by Absentee Ballot are:

• Students and their spouses

• Those temporarily confined

• Those absent from the County on business or vacation

• Those working and commuting to and from home for 11 or more hours between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.

• Active duty military, their spouses and dependents

• Electoral board members, registrars, and election officers

• Those temporarily residing outside of the U.S.

• Those with a physical disability or illness

• Those who are the primary caretaker of a confined family member

How to vote absentee:

• You can contact your local Voter Registration Office to request an absentee ballot application. You can either return the completed application to your local voter registration office either by mail or fax. Alternatively, you can download and complete an absentee application from the Virginia Board of Elections’ website at www.sbe.virginia.gov.

Special procedures:

• • First-time voters who submitted their voter registration applications by mail on or after January 1, 2003 must vote in person (either in-person absentee or at the polls on Election Day).

Deadline to request an absentee ballot: The absentee ballot application must be received in your local voter registration office by the Tuesday before Election Day if delivered by mail or 3 days before Election Day if delivered in person.

but may only vote for one candidate per officect inif delivered in person

Click here to check your absentee status.

Provisional Voting (in-precinct)

A provisional ballot can be considered a temporary ballot. Federal law provides for voters whose eligibility is in question to cast a ballot. A provisional ballot is not counted until voter eligibility can be determined by election officials. In Virginia a registered voter casting a provisional ballot must do so at their precinct in their registered county.

A voter is asked to vote a provisional ballot at the polls due to one of the following reasons:

• When the voter’s name is not on the poll book, the voter believes he is registered in that precinct, and the registrar’s office cannot be contacted to verify that the voter is registered.

• A voter has moved within the county, but did not re-register to vote.

• Records indicate that the voter requested an absentee ballot and the voter fails to turn in the absentee ballot at the polls on Election Day.

• When a voter who registered by mail on or after January 1, 2003, and did not mail in a copy of their ID at that time, fails to show one of the federally-required forms of ID when voting for the first time in a federal election.

• When the normal voting hours are extended by court order.

Sample Ballots

Provision of sample ballots may vary by county. Please contact your local voter registration office for more information about the distribution of sample ballots. However, sample ballots will be printed in the local newspaper and will be posted at your polling place on Election Day.

Click here for information about your election districts candidates.

Type of Primary (open)

Virginia does not have party registration. Voters may vote for the candidate of the party of their preference but may only vote for one candidate per office.