Absentee Voting

Early Voting In-Person

You can vote early at our office beginning 45 days before Election Day and ending at 5 pm on the Saturday before Election Day. You do not have to have a reason or fill out an application to vote early. You must provide your name and address and show an acceptable form of ID. Accessible equipment and curbside voting are available upon request.

Absentee by Mail

You can vote absentee in Virginia if you are a registered voter in Virginia. Call, write, or stop by any voter registrar’s office in Virginia and ask for an absentee application, visit the Virginia Department of Elections to apply online or print and complete a paper absentee application form (PDF). Once your application is complete, submit it to our office either in person or by mail, fax, or email. 

An application for an absentee ballot may be accepted at the latest of: 

• 12 months before an election
• The day following any election held in the twelfth month before the election in which the applicant is applying to vote

The registrar must receive your application by 5 pm two Fridays (11 days) before the election. Military and overseas voters can find specific information regarding absentee voting here Version Options Absentee Voting Headline. 

You will receive instructions with the ballot. Vote the ballot as soon as you receive it and put it in the envelope provided. You may deliver it in person or mail it. The electoral board must receive your ballot at the Revercomb Building, Suite 102, by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Important: First-class mail is not one-day delivery. It is strongly recommended that you place your marked ballot in the mail at least 7 days before the election for our office to receive it before the election.

Emergency Absentee Voting Due to Hospitalization, Illness or Other Emergency

You may cast an emergency absentee ballot if one of the following situations applies to you:

• You were unable to apply for an absentee ballot by the deadline due to your hospitalization or illness, or the hospitalization, illness, or death of a spouse, child, or parent, or other emergency found to justify receipt of an emergency absentee ballot; or
• You will be unable to vote on Election Day due to your hospitalization or illness, the hospitalization, illness or death of a spouse, child or parent or other emergency found to justify receipt of an emergency absentee ballot that occurred after the deadline for applying for an absentee ballot.

The Process and Requirements

You may request to vote emergency absentee before 2 pm on the day preceding the election. If you are approved for an emergency ballot, your general registrar shall provide the absentee ballot to your designated representative for delivery to you. You shall mark the ballot in the presence of your designated representative. The ballot shall be counted only if the ballot is received by the general registrar before the close of polls.

Emergency Absentee Voting Due to Unexpected Obligation

You may cast an emergency absentee ballot if:

• You are either an officer of election who was assigned after 12 pm on the Saturday before the election to work in a precinct other than your own; or
• You had an obligation arise after 12 pm on the Saturday before the election due either to: 1) your business, profession, or occupation; 2) the hospitalization of you or a member of your immediate family; or 3) the death of a member of your immediate family.

Voter Requirements

You must apply and vote in person by 2 pm on the day preceding the election.