Yes, Virginia, you can register to vote after Oct. 15

Photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash

By Amie Knowles

October 18, 2024

Virginia offers same-day voter registration. You can visit your polling place in person, register to vote, and then immediately cast your ballot.

Virginia’s voter registration deadline came and went… right? Well, not exactly.

The deadline to register online and by-mail passed on Tuesday, Oct. 15. That means if you’d hoped to fill out your registration over the internet or through your mailbox, you’ll need to shift gears—but all hope isn’t lost.

Virginia offers same-day voter registration. That means that now through Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5), you can visit your polling place in person, register to vote, and then immediately cast your ballot.

It’s a fairly new opportunity. According to the Virginia Department of Elections, the change took place in 2022, providing Virginians with the ability to register at any time, up to and including Election Day. In previous years, voter registration closed 21 days before an election, and there was no way to register after the deadline passed.

If you’re planning to register during early voting, you have until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, to cast your ballot. During the early voting period, you may complete your registration at your local general registrar’s office or, if applicable to your area, at a satellite voting location.

If you’re waiting until Election Day to register to vote, your time slot to do so spans from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. You can register to vote only at your local polling precinct on Election Day.

Amie Knowles

Amie is Dogwood's community editor. She has been in journalism for several years, winning multiple awards from the Virginia Press Association for news and features content. A lifelong Virginia resident, her work has appeared in the Martinsville Bulletin, Danville Register & Bee and NWNC Magazine.

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CATEGORIES: Election 2024

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