Election Information

On June 18, Virginians will vote to determine who will be the nominees state and local offices including the  United States Senate and House of Representatives, mayor, city council, county boards, and board of supervisors up for election. Let your voice and opinion be heard by showing up at your polling location between 6 am and 7 pm.

You may also request an absentee ballot until  May 28 or vote early in person at your local registrar until June 15.

Voter Registration Deadline: 22 days before Election Day to vote a regular ballot.

After the deadline you may also register in-person and vote a provisional ballot during early voting at the office of the general registrar or their satellite office in your locality, or on Election Day at your precinct’s polling place. Advanced registration is recommended.

2024 Election Information

Presidential Primary Election: March 5, 2024

  • Voter Registration Deadline: February 12, 2024
  • Mail Ballot Application Deadline: February 23, 2024

Primary Election: June 18, 2024

  • Voter Registration Deadline: May 28, 2024
  • Mail Ballot Application Deadline: June 7, 2024

General Election: November 5, 2024

  • Voter Registration Deadline: October 15, 2024
  • Mail Ballot Application Deadline: October 25, 2024

Students have a decision about where to register to vote.

You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family’s home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.

You may only be registered and vote in one location.

Virginia’s voter registration form requires applicants to provide their full Social Security number when registering to vote. However, applicants who register online must provide both their Virginia-issued driver’s license or ID number and their full Social Security number.

Virginia law requires voters who cast a ballot in person to present ID. However, voters who do not have an acceptable form of ID can vote by signing a statement affirming their identity. Please note, the expiration date on a Virginia driver’s license or ID card will not be considered.

An acceptable form of ID can be:

  • A Virginia driver’s license or ID card issued by the Virginia DMV, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID or any other photo ID issued by Virginia, one of its political subdivisions, or the U.S. government
  • Voter confirmation documents or ID issued by the Department of Elections
  • A non-photo ID issued by Virginia, a political subdivision of Virginia, or the United States
  • A valid student ID issued by a public or private high school or school of higher learning in Virginia
  • Current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or government document containing the voter’s name and current address, and issued within the previous 12 months
  • A valid employee ID card containing a photograph of the voter or
  • A tribal ID issued by any of the 11 recognized tribes in Virginia

A full list of acceptable IDs can be found at: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/in-person-voting/

By Mail: All Virginia voters may vote by mail. If you have a Virginia driver’s license or ID card, you can request an absentee ballot online. If you do not have a Virginia driver’s license or ID card, you will need to fill out a paper application and email, mail, or fax it to your local registrar’s office.

  • Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: Your registrar must receive your absentee ballot request application by 5:00 p.m. on the 11th day before Election Day. A copy of the request form is available at: elections.virginia.gov/registration/voter-forms/.
  • Completed Mail-in Ballot Return Deadline: Completed mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received before noon on the third day after Election Day. Absentee ballots can also be dropped off in-person at a drop-off location by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Please contact your local registrar’s office for drop-off locations.

Voters with disabilities can receive their absentee ballot electronically. More information is available at: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/accessible-voting/.

Early In Person: Any voter can apply for an in-person absentee ballot at their local Board of Elections office or satellite voting location and cast their absentee ballot at the same time, beginning 45 days before an election until 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday before Election Day. If you are not registered, you may still participate in early voting by registering at the office of the registrar or their satellite office in your locality prior to casting your ballot.

Find your local Board of Elections and Registrar Office here:

vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/PublicContactLookup

Find Early Voting Office Locations here:

https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/early-voting-office-locations/

Election Day: Voting sites will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by close of polls, you have a right to vote. Voters with disabilities and voters ages 65 and older may vote curbside. More information is available at: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/accessible-voting/.

If you did not register by the deadline to vote a regular ballot, you may still register to vote on Election Day at your precinct’s polling location and then cast your ballot.

Does Registering to Vote Affect my 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.

Does Registering to Vote Affect my Status as a Dependent on my 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.

Does Registering to Vote impact my Tuition Status?

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

Will registering to vote in Ohio affect my driver’s license or car registration?

As a full-time student in Ohio, you may be required to obtain an Ohio driver’s license and update your car’s registration, regardless of whether you register to vote there. For more information, contact the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles.

Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Wisconsin legal professional.

Last updated February 2024

Learn more About the VA General Assembly

The Virginia General Assembly is Virginia’s state legislative body.

The Senate of Virginia consists of 40 members who serve terms of four years. Each senator represents about 200,000 constituents. The Lieutenant Governor is the presiding officer of the senate.The President pro tempore and Clerk of the Senate are both elected by the Senate.

The Virginia House of Delegates consists of 100 members who each serve a term of two years. Each Delegate represents about 80,000 constituents.The Speaker of the House presides over the House. The Clerk of the House is elected by the house and the Sergeant at Arms is appointed by the Clerk. The house also includes 14 standing committees.

The Constitution of Virginia allows the General Assembly to establish administrative agencies and commissions to support the legislative process. These include the Auditor of Public Accounts (APA), the Division of Capitol Police (DCP), the Division of Legislative Automated Systems (DLAS), the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), and more.

  1. Bills originate in the Senate or the House of Delegates.
  2. The bill is then drafted by the Division of Legislative Services.
  3. The bill is ordered printed and referred by the Senate Clerk or the House Speaker to the appropriate Standing Committee.
  4. The Committee then reports the bill, with or without amendments, to the originating body (Senate or House of Delegates).
  5. Over the course of three reading periods, the bill is introduced, amended, engrossed, and voted on.
  6. If passed, the bill must repeat this process in the other chamber.
  7. The bill is then sent to the Governor for approval
  8. The Governor can:
  • Sign the bill into law
  • Amend the bill and return it to the General Assembly
  • Veto the bill and return it to the General Assembly
  • Take no action and the bill becomes law without the Governor’s signature.

Policy Updates

In February 2024, Fair Elections Center submitted testimony in support of Virginia HB 1490 which would give local governments more flexibility to establish additional voter satellite offices while protecting existing in-person voting access set out by the Virginia Code. The bill also provides that reductions in dates or hours cannot be enacted within 60 days of a general election.

Litigation Updates:

In April of 2023, Fair Elections Center filed a lawsuit against Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Secretary of the Commonwealth Kay Coles James, challenging Youngkin’s resurrection of an unconstitutionally arbitrary system for restoring voting rights to people with felony convictions.

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