Voting in Virginia

Are you registered to vote in Virginia? Check your registration status, update your new address, and check your voter history on the Virginia Department of Elections website. 

If you haven’t registered to vote yet, follow these instructions to make sure you can cast a ballot on November 3rd!

Voting by Mail

Due to the current public health crisis, the Virginia Department of Elections is encouraging all voters to vote by mail in the upcoming elections. Effective July 1, 2020, voters do not need an excuse to vote absentee. ​

You can apply to vote by mail on the Department of Elections website; OR download a paper form from the Department of Elections’ Voter Forms page; OR obtain a paper form at your county registrar’s office. You can submit your vote by mail application form by mail, fax, or email. To find your local registrar’s contact information, use this Look-up Tool.

The deadline to request your vote by mail ballot is October 23, 2020 at 5pm. Don’t wait until the last minute! Apply to vote by mail on the Department of Elections citizen portal today!
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Your ballot must be returned to your County Registrar by 7pm on Election Day. If you plan to send it back by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by noon the third day following Election Day. Some counties offer ballot drop-off boxes, so be sure to check your local registrar’s website for up-to-date information! 

Registrars will begin sending out vote-by-mail ballots on September 18, 2020. 

In-Person Early Voting

You can vote early at your local registrar’s office beginning 45 days before Election Day (September 18, 2020) and ending the Saturday before Election Day (October 31, 2020). 

You do not need to have a reason or fill out an application to vote early in-person. 

At your registrar’s office or satellite voting location, you’ll be asked to provide your name, address, and an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID confirmation statement affirming your identity. Please visit this site for the full, expanded list of acceptable forms for ID. 
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Accessible equipment and/or curbside voting will be made available upon request. 

Voting on College Campuses

Register at School or Home

Students have a choice about where to register to vote. Students attending college may register at their campus address or choose to remain registered or register at their permanent or home address.
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You may only be registered and vote in one location.

Registering to Vote Does Not Affect Your:

Federal Financial Aid

• Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA

Status as a Dependent on Your Parents’ Taxes

• Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes

Tuition Status

• Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community

Driver’s license or car registration

• With few exceptions, registering to vote in Virginia will have no impact on changing your driver’s license and motor vehicle registration. However, as a full-time student in Virginia, you may have to make changes regardless of whether you register to vote in Virginia. For more information contact the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.​