Voting in Virginia
Look below for information and FAQs on:
Important Dates
Election Day: November 4th, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.Click here to check to see if you are registered to vote in Virginia, find where your polling place is, or to find the status of your absentee ballot application.
I submitted an application to register to vote but have not received my voter card. Am I registered?
Maybe. You should check here to see if your application has been approved. Many people do not receive voter cards even though their applications have been approved by the registrar.
If your name does not appear on this list, you may still be registered and eligible to vote. You should go to the polls on Election Day. The poll workers may have your name listed on a supplemental registration list, and if not, you can still vote on a provisional ballot.
What do I need to bring when I go vote?
Although not everybody needs ID to vote, it is best to play it safe and bring at least one form of valid photo or non-photo ID. Valid ID includes:
If you have previously voted in Virginia, or if you included a valid ID with your registration application, you are not required to present ID at the poll. You can sign an “affirmation of identity” instead.
Note: Having an ID will make check-in much faster. For a complete list of acceptable identification, click here.
Can I vote if I have no ID?
If you have previously voted in Virginia, or if you included valid ID with your mailed-in registration, you can sign an “Affirmation of Identity” and vote as normal.
If you are a first-time voter in Virginia and you registered by mail, you must show ID to vote. Otherwise, you will have to vote on a provisional ballot.
Voting Absentee
NOTE: The deadline for voting absentee in person or requesting an absentee ballot by mail has passed. If you have already requested a ballot they must be returned to the registrar by 7 p.m. on November 4.
I missed the deadline to vote absentee, but I have an emergency and can't make it to the polls on Nov 4th. What can I do?
If you missed the November 1st deadline for voting absentee, but find yourself in an emergency situation you may still be eligible to vote absentee. There are a few, very limited, situations in which a voter can vote an “emergency” absentee ballot in his/her local registrar’s office up until 2:00 on the day before the election. Certain hospitalized and incapacitated voters are also eligible to have someone pickup a ballot for them, deliver it to them in the hospital or at home, and return it to the registrar’s office by close of polls on election day. For more info click here.
Information on Polling Locations
When is my polling location open?
Unless otherwise specified, all polling locations in Virginia are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on November 4th.
Can I vote at a different polling location?
No. You must vote in the polling location for the precinct of the address you listed when you registered to vote.
If I Moved Recently
Can I still vote if I have moved since I registered?
Probably. If you moved within Virginia after November 6, 2007, and you have not sent a change of address notification to the registrar, you may vote in your old precinct.If you moved between November 2, 2004, and November 6, 2007, and you did not notify the registrar of your change of address, you may be able to vote in your old precinct only if you moved within the same registrar’s jurisdiction and the same congressional district.
Can I wear my Obama or Warner gear when I go to vote?
Virginia has a law that prohibits voters from wearing buttons, T-shirts, etc., that support candidates within 40 feet and inside of the polling place. Your best bet is to leave your campaign gear at home.
If you do wear something showing your support for Obama, Warner, or any other candidate, you may be asked to remove it. You will need to take it off if asked. However, this should not stop you from voting. Simply remove the button, or turn your T-shirt inside out, and cast your vote.
Can I ask for help while I'm at the polls?
Anyone can ask for a demonstration of how to use the machines. You can also ask for assistance if you have a problem with the booth, but the election officials must leave before you vote.
Elderly, disabled, blind, or illiterate voters can ask for special assistance.
If the polls close while I'm in line, do I still have the right to vote?
Yes. As long as you are standing in line at 7 p.m. on Election Day, you have the right to vote.
Can my kid come into the polls with me?
Yes, if your child is age 15 or younger.
Will I be voting using a machine or a paper ballot?
That depends. Some polling locations don't use paper ballots. Instead, they use touch-screen machines. Other polling locations only use paper ballots. You fill out these ballots and then insert them into a machine that reads your ballot. There are some circumstances where a polling location will have to turn to emergency ballots. In such an emergency, voters will be asked to use paper ballots.
What if my name isn't in the poll book?
The first thing to check is whether you are in the correct precinct. You can check your location here. The Election Official at the polling location should also help you identity whether you are in the right place.
If you are in the correct location, the election officials will next check all lists and supplemental information provided to them. If your name still isn't found, the election officials will call the Registrar, who can check additional official records for your name.
Once your name is found, it will be added to the poll book and you can vote normally. If your name is not found, you may vote on a provisional ballot.
What if the poll book incorrectly shows that I have moved or already voted when I haven't?
Discuss the situation with the Election Official at the polling location. If the Election Official's materials show that you moved or that you already voted, the Official should contact the Registrar.
If the Registrar finds the correct information, the poll book will be corrected and you can vote normally. If the Registrar cannot correct the problem, you can request to vote on a provisional ballot.
What is a provisional ballot? When would I fill one out? Are they counted the same?
A provisional ballot is a paper ballot that you fill out if some aspect of your registration or identity cannot be validated. Provisional ballots are only counted the day after the election, once all questions about your status have been resolved. You can attend the counting to make sure your vote counts.
Rides to the Polls
How can I get a ride to the polls?
You can request a ride to the polls by calling (877) 582-6226 or by signing up here.
Additional voting FAQs:
For More Information
To report a problem click here.
You can also call the Campaign for Change at (877) 582-6226 or email us at virginia@barackobama.com
To contact the Virginia State Board of Elections call (804) 864-8901 or visit http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms
Please see this website for more information on U.S. Military Voter Services.
