December 26, 2024

Virginia’s statewide general election is Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know to vote.

Virginia #Virginia

Virginia’s statewide general election is Tuesday, and here’s a rundown of everything voters need to know to cast a ballot:

This year’s election will be the first for state lawmakers under new district boundaries that were redrawn in 2021. All 140 state House and Senate seats are up for election, meaning party control of the General Assembly is at stake. Local county races are also on the ballot in some parts of the state. Read more about who’s running in The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2023 election guide.

The general election is Nov. 7.

Polling hours

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters can cast ballots as long as they are in line by 7 p.m.

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What’s on the ballot?

Redistricting means voters will cast ballots in new Virginia House and Senate districts for the first time. Voters can check which districts they live in at vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation. Local registrars also provide sample ballots on their websites.

Voters can also view information about the new districts by visiting whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/. After entering an address, the website will show the lawmaker representing the district in the “current” tab, and the new district information in red font in a “new in 2024” tab.

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Voter registration

Though the deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration has passed, voters can still register through Election Day and cast a provisional ballot. Their vote is counted after their registration is approved. Voters can check their registration status at vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation.

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Where to vote

Polling locations are printed on voter registration cards. Voters can also look up polling places online at vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation.

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What to bring

Voters have to provide an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID confirmation statement to cast a ballot.

Some acceptable forms of identification include a Virginia driver’s license, U.S. military ID, valid student ID, tribal ID or a U.S. passport. The full list is available at elections.virginia.gov/media/formswarehouse/voter-id.

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Curbside voting and other voting accessibility options

Voters who are 65 or older or voters with a disability can have a ballot brought to their vehicle. Voters with a disability can also use an accessible voting machine when voting in person. Election officials can assist with reading or completing forms.

The full list of voter rights can be found at elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/voter-rights.

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Mail-in and absentee ballots

Absentee ballots can be returned to the local registrar’s office or a drop-off location by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the registrar’s office by 12 p.m. on the third day following the election.

Contact information for local registrar’s office can be found using the search tool at vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation.

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Problems at the polls

There are several options for filing complaints related to registration or the voting experience.

If a voter meets the requirements to vote but is being denied, they can ask an election official to contact the voter registrar’s office before leaving the polling place. The voter registrar may be able to resolve the problem immediately.

Voters can also call the Department of Elections at 800-552-9745, preferably before the polls close.

The Department of Elections administers a formal grievance process under the Help America Vote Act for voters who believe that their voting rights have been violated. Voters must fill out a complaint form within 10 days of the incident, have it notarized and mail it to the deputy commissioner.

For informal complaints, voters can file an online form for any incident at the polls.

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Results

The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press will post results online Tuesday evening as they become available. Look for results from the election in Thursday’s print editions.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com

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