Register to Vote
Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we recommend absentee voting as the safest way for you to cast your vote this November.
October 12th, 2020 is the deadline for registering to vote in the general election.
NOTE: The deadline to register to vote also applies to updating your voter registration address. Generally the deadline for registration is three weeks before a general election and shorter for special elections to fill vacancies. If your address change is not submitted to the office of the general registrar by the applicable deadline for the election in which you wish to vote, you may not be able to vote. Please notify the general registrar of address changes promptly.
Eligibility
To be eligible to vote in Virginia, you 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 at 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 currently declared mentally incompetent by a court of law.
If convicted of a felony, your right to vote must have been restored.
Application
If you are eligible to register to vote, you can obtain a registration application at any of the following locations:
Download a PDF copy of the registration form (En Español) (Tiếng Việt) (한 국어)
State or local government offices when applying or re-certifying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, or Rehabilitation Services.
Government offices in the State that provide State-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to person with disabilities
Armed forces recruitment offices
Public libraries
Virginia Department of Elections office
Department of Motor Vehicles offices
Voter Registration Drives
The completed application can be filed with the local registration office or mailed to the address printed on the form. Application for registration can be submitted using a Virginia Voter Registration Application form or a National Voter Registration Application 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 form, you should receive an information card or other correspondence confirming your registration status. If you do not receive one, contact your local Registrar’s Office to make sure that your application has been processed. You can also check for your voter record online.
Please note that an information card or other correspondence confirming your voter registration status does not qualify as photo identification. For information on qualified identification for voting in person, or how to obtain a Voter Photo Identification card, please visit: elections.virginia.gov/voterID or call toll free at (800) 552-9745 or TTY: 711
To improve your chances of successful registration, please do the following:
Complete all information blocks on the application. If any information requested does not apply to you, indicate such by writing the word “NONE” or “NA” in that space.
Sign and date the registration application.
Submit your completed application by mailing it to the appropriate address, or delivering it to your local registration office. Mailing addresses for General Registrars can be found using our lookup tool.
Be sure to provide your Social Security number!
The Voter Registration Application can be mailed via the U.S. postal service or hand-delivered to any official registration office.
If mailed, 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. On the final day of registration for an election all general registrar offices close at 5:00 p.m.
Applications postmarked or received after the deadline will be held and processed after the election.
For questions concerning completing the application and voting on Election Day, call your local registration office.
Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we recommend absentee voting as the safest way for you to cast your vote this November.