facesleague
bar
of the Fairfax Area





WOTB


LWVVA Action Alerts









             

Vote411

Visit Vote411.org to: 

  • Register to Vote
  • Get Election Information
  • Find Candidate information
  • Locate your Polling Place
  • ...and more!
Provided by the League of Women Voters Education Fund. Search by Topic area, or by State!

Frequently Asked Questions About Voting In Virginia

red square Registration a spacered square Voting   a spacered square Voter ID a spacered square N. VA General Registrars

a space
a space REGISTERING TO VOTE
    Am I eligible to vote?

      You are eligible to register to vote if you are:

      • A citizen of the United States
      • At least 18 years of age by the next general election
      • A resident of Virginia
    When is the next election?
    When can I register to vote?

      You may register year -- round except during the 29 days prior to a general or primary election. Registration will be permanent under most circumstances.

    How do I register to vote?

      In person, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday - Friday at the:

    Fairfax County General Registrar's Office
    12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323
    Fairfax, Virginia 22035-0081
    phone 703-222-0776

    or call 703-324-4700 for other registration sites.


    By mail, pick up a Virginia Voter Registration Application at the following sites:
    Forms:

  • Voter Registration Form (Note: This is a PDF file and you must have Acrobat Reader to view it.)
  • Department of Motor Vehicles offices
  • Military recruitment offices
  • Public assistance agency offices
  • Public schools
  • Public libraries
  • District Governmental Centers, Board of Supervisors offices
  • Citizens Assistance in the County Government Center lobby
  • Judicial Center information desk

    • Mail the application to:

    Office of the General Registrar
    12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323
    Fairfax, VA 22035-0081

    PLEASE NOTE: Virginia law requires that those who register by mail, rather than in person, must vote in person the first time they vote. Exempt from this requirement are military service members and dependents, overseas citizens, full-time students, and disabled persons.

    Online, download and print the Virginia Voter Registration application form found at
    the Fairfax County Electoral Board and General Registrar's web site.
    What information do I need to fill out the voter registration form?

      Registering either in person or by mail requires your full legal name, home address, birth date, social security number, and complete address of any previous registration.

      Yes or No questions on the voter registration application include: (1) Are you a citizen of the United States? (2) Have you ever been convicted of a felony? (3) Have you ever been judged by a circuit court to be mentally incapacitated?
    Do I have to state my political party preference?

      No, Virginia does not register voters by political party.
    I'm registered, but moving. Will I be able to vote in the next election?

      Registered voters must notify their general registrar in writing of any change of address to insure their privilege of voting. Full legal name, home address, date moved to the address, birth date, social security number, complete address of previous registration and a signature must be provided. Voters moving to another city or county must complete a new voter registration application to update their address.

| Return to top of page | N. VA General Registrars | Disclaimer |

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY
    How will I know where to vote after registering?

      The Registrar's Office determines eligibility and confirms acceptance of a registration application by mailing to the registrant a voter information card. The voter information card includes election districts and the name and address of the voting location. Citizens should check with the voter registrar if they are not notified within a reasonable time of the status of their voter applications.

      Find your polling place online
    On election day when do the polls open and close?

      Virginia polls are open from 6:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.
    Will I need to show identification (ID) to vote in Fairfax County on election day?

      Yes. In Fairfax County voters are required to provide an identification (ID) to vote. Legislation adopted this year by the Virginia General Assembly requires you to provide identification (ID) at the polls (or to sign an Affirmation of Identity) in order to vote.


    What is an acceptable form of Voter ID?

      Acceptable forms of identification will be:

      • Virginia voter identification card
      • Virginia driver's license or special ID card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles
      • Valid United States passport
      • Military ID
      • Any Federal, state or local government issued ID
      • Employer issued photo ID card Social Security Card
    What happens if I fail to bring the acceptable identification (ID) to the polls? May I vote?

      A voter who fails to bring acceptable ID to the polls may still vote after signing, under oath, an Affirmation of Identity, which is the voter's certification in writing that the name and address information provided to the election officials at the polling place is correct.
    I will be out of town on election day. Can I vote absentee?

      Any registered voter who expects to be away or otherwise physically unable to go to the polls on election day may request an absentee ballot.  NOTE: You must complete a separate absentee ballot application for each election in which you intend to vote absentee
      (Exceptions exist for military and overseas voters)

        ABSENTEE BALLOT INFORMATION

        By Mail: Application forms may be requested from the General Registrar's Office beginning ten months before the general election and are also available at registration sites and government centers. Mail applications must be received by the General Registrar at least FIVE DAYS before an election. Voted ballots must be received in the office by 7:00 p.m. Election Day to be counted.

        In Person: In-person registration is available before an election. Call the Registrar's office for ballot availability. In Fairfax County, satellite locations are available before general elections. IN-PERSON ABSENTEE VOTES MAY BE CAST THROUGH THE SATURDAY BEFORE EACH ELECTION DAY.

        Online: Download and print the application form found at the Electoral Board and General Registrar's web site. Mail applications must be received by the General Registrar at least FIVE DAYS before an election. Voted ballots must be received in the office by 7:00 p.m. Election Day to be counted.

    Forms: Deadlines & Dates:
    • Last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail is the Tuesday before the election
    • Last day to vote absentee in-person is the Saturday before the election

    Who Can Vote Absentee:
    ---------------------

    WINvoteª system
    New Voting Equipment ~ November General Election

    The Advanced Voting Solutions, WINvoteª system, a state-of the-art touch screen machine about the size of a large lap top computer, will replace the aging Shouptronic-1242 voting machines, which the county has used since 1988. Click on the link below to the Fairfax County Electoral Board and General Registrar's web site to learn more about the new voting machine.

    WINvoteª system