VOTER REGISTRATION

 

DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY TO REGISTER

 

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

 

 

APPLY 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 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 "registration by political party" in Virginia.

 

 

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: 22 Days before Election Day
  • For Primary Elections: 22 Days before Election Day
  • For Special Elections: 13 Days before Election Day
  • For Special Elections Called by the Governor: 7 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. Please review important election dates for deadlines specific to voter registration and absentee voting in upcoming elections in Virginia.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

  • If you are already registered to vote in Virginia and would like to do any of the items listed below online, visit the Virginia Department of Elections website.
    • Update your registration address
    • Apply to vote absentee by mail
    • Join the permanent absentee mailing list
    • Find your polling place
    • Check your voting history
  • Have more questions about registration in Virginia? Check out the registration information webpage published by the Virginia Department of Elections.
  • Are you a Culpeper County resident with questions about your registration or voting? Contact us!
  • For any additional questions, contact Virginia State Board of Elections.

 

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