Elections

A step-by-step guide on registering to vote in Virginia in 2025

Learn how to check your voter registration status and register to vote with this simple list.

Photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash

Learn how to check your voter registration status and register to vote with this simple list.

So youโ€™re ready to vote in Virginiaโ€ฆ or are you? Thankfully, itโ€™s easy to find out if youโ€™re registered to vote in the commonwealthโ€”and itโ€™s a quick click away if you discover you arenโ€™t.ย 

You can check your registration status with a brief visit to the Virginia Department of Elections website. The secure online form will request your first and last name, date of birth, last four digits of your social security number, and address of where you live in Virginia. Itโ€™ll also ask that you check a box stating that youโ€™re requesting the information for yourselfโ€”not on behalf of someone else.ย 

After you submit the form, youโ€™ll be able to double check your voter registration. Youโ€™ll also be able to see important information, like which districts youโ€™re in, contact info for your local general registrarโ€™s office, and where to cast your ballot.ย 

If you arenโ€™t registered to vote, youโ€™ve come to the right place.ย 

How and where to register

  • Online with ID: If you have a valid Virginia driverโ€™s license or state ID, you can register online via the Virginia Department of Elections website.
  • In-person: If youโ€™d like to register in person, visit your local voter registration office and provide a valid form of photo ID from this list. You can find your local office using this tool. Voter registration forms may also be available at some public libraries, Virginia DMV offices, and government offices throughout the state. You can also download the registration form and return it in person.ย 
  • By mail: To register by mail, print the voter registration form from the Virginia Department of Elections and mail it to your local voter registrar by the deadline listed below. Find your local office here.
  • Election Day registration: Virginia residents may register to vote on Election Day with a provisional ballot. To do so, visit your local polling place during open hours on Election Day and speak to a poll worker. Find your local polling place here.ย 

When to register

You must submit your online voter application at least 22 days before an election. The same goes for in-person, online, and by-mail voter registration deadlines.ย 

Here are a couple of important dates to keep in mind:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 is the in-person, online, and by-mail voter registration deadline
  • Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 is Election Day

If youโ€™re planning to cast a ballot in the 2024 election, nowโ€™s a great time to register to vote.



Keep Dogwood free for everyone

If you found this story useful, would you consider supporting Dogwood?

Every day, our team works to provide Virginians with free, fact-based reporting about the issues, policies, and decisions shaping life across the commonwealth. We believe everyone deserves access to trustworthy local newsโ€”not just those who can afford a subscription.

That's why you'll never hit a paywall here (though we may ask you to sign up for our newsletter). But keeping our journalism free depends on readers who believe informed communities are worth investing in.

If our reporting has helped you better understand what's happening in Virginia, please consider making a donation today. Every contribution helps us continue reporting, informing, and serving communities across the state.

Amie Knowles
Amie Knowles Newsletter Editor
Support our team

Categories:

Authors

  • Sophie Boudreau is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience covering lifestyle, culture, and political topics. She previously served as senior editor at eHow and produced Michigan and Detroit content for Only In Your State.