Virginia 2020 VBM Guide

Requesting a Mail-In Ballot and Voting by Mail in Virginia

Deadline to Request a Mail-in Ballot: October 23rd at 5:00 PM (received by)

Deadline to Submit a Mail-in Ballot: Postmarked by November 3 and received by noon on November 6

Go Online – They can visit https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/

Submit a Ballot Request Form – They can mail, fax, or email a scanned copy of this form to their local voter registration office through the Department of Elections. Voters without a printer may submit handwritten requests if they contain all the proper information.

**Paper forms must be signed by the voter (unless the voter is disabled and needs assistance; see below).

In Person – At the office of the general registrar and signed by the applicant in the presence of a registrar.

Find each local voter registration office contact information at
https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/PublicContactLookup.
Anyone may vote by absentee ballot in Virginia.

Can you assist voters in requesting a ballot?

Virginia law does not specifically address third party collection of applications for mail ballots. With respect to assistance completing the application form, unless the applicant is disabled, all applications for absentee ballots must be signed by the applicant. If the applicant is unable to sign the application, a person assisting the applicant will note this fact on the applicant signature line and provide the assistant’s signature, name, and address. The absentee ballot application form also has a space for the applicant to indicate that they will require assistance to vote their absentee
ballot by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.

How can voters return a marked ballot?

Voters can submit their marked ballots by

Mailing it in, with pre-paid postage
Dropping it off at:

An early voting location, such as the County Recorder’s Office or Elections Office

Can you assist voters in returning a marked ballot?

Virginia law does not specifically address third party ballot collection.

A voter who becomes incapacitated can request at any time before 2:00 p.m. on November 2 to vote by emergency ballot and can additionally designate a representative to deliver the ballot to the voter and return the marked ballot.¹ The designated representative must be at least 18 years old and cannot be an elected official, a candidate for elected office, or the deputy, spouse, parent or child of an elected official or candidate.

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 Virginia legal professional.

Last updated October 2020

For more information, visit
www.fairelectionscenter.org

If you have questions or are experiencing problems voting, call the Election Protection Hotline and speak with a volunteer to get help.

Virginia 2020 VBM Guide

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