How To Register To Vote

Connor Merk, Editor
March 27, 2019

Rules:

Be a citizen of the United States
Be a resident of Virginia and of the precinct in which you want to vote
Be 18 years old (any person who is 17 years old and will be eighteen years of age at the next general election shall be permitted to register in advance and also vote in any intervening primary or special election).

Virginia law requires all voters to provide an acceptable form of photo identification (photo ID) when voting in person at their polling place.

Acceptable Photo ID:

Virginia driver’s license
Virginia DMV-issued photo ID
U.S. passport
Employer issued photo ID
Virginia Voter Photo ID card (these are FREE at local voter registration office)
Other U.S. or Virginia government-issued ID
Student ID from a Virginia school, college, or university
Tribal enrollment or other tribal photo ID

Steps To Register:

1. Go to https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/Registration/Eligibility

2. Answer the questions on the first page, which include:

Are you a citizen of The United States of America?
What is your residency status?
Are you currently registered to vote in any other state?
Have you ever been convicted of a felony
Have you been judged mentally incapacitated and disqualified to vote?

3. Click next and fill in the general identity information, which includes your Social Security number, and DMV customer number.

4. Continue on with the online application.

The Deadlines to register to vote are:

General Elections – Twenty-two (22) days before election day

Primary Elections – Twenty-two (22) days before election day

Special Elections – Thirteen (13) days before election day

Absentee Voting:

Current Virginia law states that you need a reason in order to vote absentee. Those reasons include, being a student who attends college, personal business, vacation, commuting to work, first responder, or religious obligation. To see the whole list of reasons visit here.

*Beginning in fall 2020, Virginians will be able to vote early without providing an excuse from October 24 through October 31.