Register to Vote

Your active involvement as a registered voter can have a profound impact in our community. Below, you will find information on how to register to vote, registration deadlines, and how to determine if you are already registered. You will also find information on how to vote by absentee ballot.

Qualifications to Apply to Register to Vote

Individuals applying to register to vote must be:

• Be a resident of Virginia (A person who has come to Virginia for temporary purposes and intends to return to another state is not considered a resident for voting purposes)
• Be a U. S. Citizen
• Be 18 years old (Any person who is 17 years old and will be eighteen years of age at the next general election shall be permitted to register in advance and also vote in any intervening primary or special election)
• Does not claim the right to vote in any other State
• Not currently declared mentally incompetent by a court of law
• If convicted of a felony, your right to vote must have been restored

Where to Apply to Register to Vote

Apply to Register to Vote in Person

Persons eligible to register can obtain a registration application at any of the following locations:

• Local voter registration office
• Register online
• State or local government offices when applying or recertifying for Aid to Dependent Children, Food Stamps, WIC, Medicaid, or Rehabilitation Services
• Government offices in the State that provide State-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to person with disabilities
• Armed forces recruitment offices
• Public libraries
• State Board of Elections office
• Department of Motor Vehicles offices
• Voter Registration Drives

The completed application can be filed with the local registration office or mailed to the address printed on the form. Application for registration can be submitted using a Virginia Voter Registration Application form or a National Voter Registration Application form.  Military and other persons residing outside of the United States should contact the Federal Voting Assistance Program for registration information.

*Once you have submitted your registration form, you should receive a voter registration card in the mail.  If you do not receive one, contact your local Registrar's Office to make sure that your application has been processed.

Voter Application Deadlines

Election Types	Registration Deadlines
Code of Virginia §§ 24.2-416
General	29 Days before election
Primary	29 Days before election
Special	13 Days before election
Special (Called by the Governor)	7 Days before election

Am I Registered to Vote?

To determine your voter registration status, please visit the online form to confirm status.

How Do I Apply for an Absentee Ballot?

To obtain an absentee ballot application:

Overseas Personnel (Military & Non-Military) See Absentee Voting Procedures for Overseas Personnel (Military & Non-Military)

You can contact your local Voter Registration Office to request an absentee ballot application. You can either return the completed application to your local voter registration office either by mail or fax. The absentee ballot application must be received in your local voter registration office by the Tuesday before election day to receive a ballot by mail.

Alternatively, you can download The Virginia Absentee Ballot Application (on-line fillable pdf format). Or, if you are an absent active duty military voter (or spouse/dependent) or overseas voter you should  download the Federal Post Card Application instead of the Virginia application.  You must have the Adobe™ Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view or print either portable document formatted (pdf) application.  If you do not have Adobe™ Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download and install the Adobe™ Acrobat Reader free of charge.  After downloading the application form: 1) print the form, 2) read the instructions accompanying the form, 3) fill out the requested information on the form carefully, 4) sign the form and, 5) mail or fax the completed application  to your local general registrar's office by the Tuesday before election day to receive a ballot by mail.  (Note, if you email or fax the Federal Post Card Application, you must then mail the signed original to your local registrar, as it also serves as your registration application.)

Completing an absentee ballot application

Virginia law prescribes that Applications for absentee ballots shall be completed in one of the following manners:

• In Person. An application completed in person shall be made not less than three days prior to the election in which the applicant offers to vote and completed only in the office of the local general registrar. The applicant shall sign the application in the presence of a registrar or the secretary of the electoral board.
• By mail, electronic or telephonic transmission to a facsimile device
• Applications can be made by mail, electronic or  by fax, if one is available to the office of the local general registrar. If a facsimile device is not available locally contact us . The application shall be sent to the appropriate local general registrar not less than seven days prior to the election in which the applicant offers to vote.