Everything You Need to Know About Early Voting in Virginia

Take advantage of voting early! You don’t need an excuse; just check the hours and location at your local registrar’s office.

As of Friday, Sept. 17, you can vote early in person in Virginia ahead of the Nov. 2 election. There is a race for the governor’s mansion, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates, in addition to many local elections.

Below we explain everything you need to know about early voting in the state:

Q: When is the first day of early voting?

A: The first day of in-person early voting is Friday, Sept. 17. 

Q: When is the last day of early voting?

A: The final day to vote in person is Saturday, Oct. 30. Polls close at 5 p.m. 

Q: Where do I go to vote early?

A: Registered voters can vote in person at their local voter registrar’s office. Click here to find yours.

Q: When can I vote early?

A: You can vote weekdays in most locations. Note that locations additionally open Saturdays, Oct. 23 and 30.

Q: What do I need to bring with me?

A: You’ll have to provide your name and address and show an ID. Acceptable IDs include a driver’s license, DMV-issued ID card, employee ID card with a photo, US Military ID, government-issued ID card, or recent utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck containing your name and address.

Q: How do I register to vote?

A: The deadline to register to vote in this November’s election was Tuesday, Oct. 12.

Q: Which offices are up for election in Virginia? Who is running?

A: There are three statewide elections: governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Districts will elect House of Delegate members, and most localities will vote for city- and county-wide offices, as well. To find out who is running for office in your area, check out this spreadsheet, organized by city and county, or search for your locality’s sample ballot. 

Q: I just moved, but I’m already registered to vote. How do I update my voter registration?

A: Whether you’ve moved within the Commonwealth or from another state, update your voter registration or apply for an absentee ballot on the Virginia election website. The deadline to update your voter registration was Tuesday, Oct. 12.

Q: I don’t want to vote at the registrar, but I want to vote early. What should I do?

A: You have two options. Make an online absentee ballot request, and return it to your local registrar’s offices via mail or in-person drop off. Alternatively, you can request an absentee ballot in person and return it via mail or in person. Either way, the deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you was Friday, Oct. 22. Any in-person requests must be made at the local voter registration office by 5 p.m.

Have more questions? Virginia’s Citizen Portal provides a centralized location for current and prospective voters. 

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include ID requirements for voting.