VOTER REGISTRATION

 

ELIGIBILITY FOR VOTER REGISTRATION

 

To be eligible to register to vote in Virginia a person must...

  • 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 by the next general election shall be permitted to register in advance and also vote in any intervening primary or special election.
  • Not be registered and plan to vote in another state
  • Not be currently declared mentally incompetent or incapacitated by a court of law
  • Have your voting rights restored if convicted of a felony

 

 

HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE

 

To register to vote or update your voter registration record (e.g., a name or address change), simply fill out and submit a voter registration application. To apply, you can...

  • Submit an application to register to vote online through the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal. *
    • *Requires a Virginia Driver's license or state ID number
  • Download a Virginia Voter Registration Application or a National Voter Registration Application to print, complete, and submit to your local Voter Registration Office.
  • Find and contact your local Voter Registration Office to request an application in person, by phone, by email, or by fax.
  • Participate in a voter registration drive conducted by a third party.
  • Request to complete a voter registration application at:
    • A Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office
    • A state or local government office when applying or re-certifying for Aid to Dependent Children, Food Stamps, WIC, Medicaid, or Rehabilitation Services
    • A government office that provides state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to person with disabilities
    • An armed forces recruitment office
    • A public library
    • A State Board of Elections office

Completed applications can be filed with your local registration office or mailed to the address provided on the 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 application, you should receive a voter registration notice in the mail. If you do not receive one, contact your local Voter Registration Office to make sure that your application has been received.

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION

 

To improve your chances of successful registration, complete all information blocks on the application. If any information requested does not apply to you, indicate such by writing the word “NONE” or “N/A” in that space.

Sign and date the registration application, then submit your completed application by mail or in person at your local Voter Registration Office.

Failure to complete the application properly could result in your registration being delayed or denied; note that you must provide your social security number, if any, when applying to register to vote in Virginia. Therefore, if you do not provide your social security number, your application for voter registration will be denied. State and local voting officials will use your social security number as a unique identifier to ensure that no person is registered in more than one place. Records containing your social security number will not be open to inspection by the public. Your social security number will appear on reports produced only for official use by voter registration and election officials, and for jury selection purposes by courts.

There is no voter registration by political party in Virginia.

 

 

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES

 

In Virginia, there is a statewide deadline by which to register to vote or update your existing registration for every election. Those deadlines are the following:

  • For General Elections: 10 Days before Election Day
  • For Primary Elections: 10 Days before Election Day
  • For Special Elections: 10 Days before Election Day
  • For Special Elections Called by the Governor, Speaker of the House of Delegates, or President pro tempore of the Senate: 6 Days before Election Day

Should you choose to submit your voter registration application by mail, the application must be postmarked no later than the deadline.

If delivered in person, either by the applicant or a third party, the application must be received by the deadline.

Applications postmarked or received after the deadline will be held and processed after the election.

To remain a qualified voter, the law requires you to notify the General Registrar of any change in your name or address. This must be done before the registration deadline for the next election. More information can be found on our Election Dates & Deadlines page.

 

 

THIRD-PARTY VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES

 

There are state-issued guidelines for conducting a third-party voter registration drive. The Virginia Department of Elections (ELECT) also has a Recommended Checklist for Voter Registration Drives available for additional guidance.

Individuals or organizations requesting 25 or more Voter Registration Applications from ELECT or local voter registration offices must register and complete ELECT-certified training. Certification expires each year on June 30 and can be renewed by completing training annually.

For more information, visit the Registration Drive Training website published by the Virginia Department of Elections.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

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