Virginia voting guide

Key Dates

• Sun., Oct. 18 Sunday early voting at registrar offices
• Fri., Oct. 23 Last day to register or update registration for a regular ballot (online, mail postmark, in person by 5 p.m.); last day to apply for a mail ballot (5 p.m.)
• Sat., Oct. 24 Saturday early voting; same-day registration with provisional ballot available from now through Election Day
• Sun., Oct. 25 Sunday early voting
• Sat., Oct. 31 Last day of early in-person voting (5 p.m.)
• Tues., Nov. 3 Election Day, 6 a.m.–7 p.m.; last day to drop off mail ballot (7 p.m.) or postmark it
• Fri., Nov. 6 Noon: mailed ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 must arrive; deadline to fix ballot problems or turn in ID for a provisional ballot

Your Voting Checklist

• Vote early in person from Fri., Sept. 18 to Sat., Oct. 31.
• Vote by mail. Any voter can vote by mail.
  Request a ballot by Fri., Oct. 23. Request a mail ballot
  Return it by Tues., Nov. 3.
  Problem with your ballot? Your registrar will contact you. Fix it by noon on Friday, November 6. Track your ballot
• Vote on Election Day, Tues., Nov. 3, 6 a.m.–7 p.m. Find your polling place
• Bring the right ID. You must show an ID to vote in person.
  • Virginia driver's license or DMV ID card
  • U.S. passport
  • Virginia voter photo ID card
  • Student photo ID from a Virginia school or any college
  • Work ID with photo
  • Other U.S., Virginia, or local government ID
  • Voter confirmation document
  • Utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check with your name and address
  No ID? You can sign an ID Confirmation Statement and vote a regular ballot. See the official ID rules
• Review your sample ballot before you go.
• Have a past conviction?
  • You can't vote while in prison for a felony.
  • Most people can register again as soon as they get out.
  • People convicted of murder or manslaughter still need the governor to restore their rights.
• Make a plan and bring three people. Make a plan

What’s on Your Ballot

These are the biggest races in Virginia this year. Please note, we do not endorse any candidates.

Ballot measures

• Amendment 1: Reproductive freedom (constitutional amendment). Would add to the Virginia Constitution a right to make your own decisions about prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage care and fertility care. It would protect patients and health workers from punishment for these decisions. The state could still restrict abortion in the third trimester, except when the patient's health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive.
  Yes means these reproductive health rights go into the state constitution. Lawmakers could limit abortion only in the third trimester, with health and nonviable-pregnancy exceptions.
  No means the constitution does not change. Abortion rules stay in state law, which the General Assembly can change.
• Amendment 2: Marriage (constitutional amendment). Would remove Virginia's 2006 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, say two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender or race, and require all legal marriages to be treated equally. The ban is not enforced today because of U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
  Yes means the same-sex marriage ban comes out of the constitution, and marriage equality is written in.
  No means the 2006 ban language stays in the constitution (still unenforceable under current federal law).
• Amendment 3: Voting rights restoration (constitutional amendment). Would add a fundamental right to vote to the constitution. People convicted of a felony could not vote while in prison but would get the right to vote back automatically when released. It would also replace the ban on voting by people found 'mentally incompetent' with a narrower rule for people found unable to understand the act of voting.
  Yes means voting rights come back automatically on release from prison, for everyone, without the governor's approval.
  No means the constitution does not change. The governor keeps the power to decide restoration (now limited by a federal court order to a few offenses).

Protect the Vote

• Apply to be a poll worker and support free and fair elections.
• Watch the count. Take a training to learn how to observe the polls.
• If anyone tries to stop you from voting or something at your polling place seems wrong:
  • Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
  • Call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) (Spanish)
  • Call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) (Asian languages)
  • Call 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) (Arabic)
  • Call Virginia Department of Elections: 800-552-9745
  • If you’re in line when polls close, stay in line. You can still vote.
  • If your name isn’t on the list, ask for a provisional ballot.
  • Know your rights

Organizations to Support

• New Virginia Majority. Multiracial organizing group working on voting rights, immigrant rights, housing and rights restoration in Virginia.
• Virginia State Conference NAACP. State NAACP branch network working on voting rights, rights restoration and civic engagement for communities of color.