Early Voting for 2025 Virginia Primary Begins May 2

Virginia voters can begin casting ballots early for the June 17 primary election starting Friday, May 2, as the state’s 45-day early voting window officially opens.

All Virginia localities offer early in-person voting, but voters may only cast ballots in the jurisdiction where they are registered. Registrar offices that are closed on the official start date, Saturday, May 3, are required to open on Friday, May 2, to ensure access.

To vote early in person, registered voters must visit a designated early voting location in their locality and present an acceptable form of ID before casting a ballot. Each county or city sets its own early voting sites and schedules. Some areas offer multiple locations and weekend hours. Curbside voting is available for voters over 65 and individuals with disabilities.

Voters are encouraged to check their locality’s website or contact their general registrar’s office for specific early voting sites, hours of operation, and the location of drop boxes. A full list of acceptable voter IDs is available at elections.virginia.gov.

Absentee Voting

Absentee ballots will also begin being mailed no later than May 2. Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail, online through the Virginia Citizen Portal, in person, or by contacting their local registrar. The deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot is June 6.

Voters do not need to provide a reason to vote absentee. Ballots can be returned by mail, dropped off at a registrar’s office, placed in an official drop box, or delivered at a polling place on Election Day. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by June 17 and received no later than noon on June 20.

For voters with visual or dexterity impairments, an electronic absentee marking tool is available upon request.

Voter Registration Deadlines

The deadline to register to vote and cast a regular ballot is May 27. After that date, voters may still register and vote through Virginia’s same-day registration process, which requires casting a provisional ballot either at an early voting site or on Election Day at their assigned polling place.

What’s on the Ballot

This year’s election includes Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor and attorney general. Both parties will hold primaries for various House of Delegates seats and local offices, but only districts with more than one qualified candidate will appear on the ballot. Since each party has only one qualified gubernatorial candidate, there will be no primary for governor.

All 133 Virginia cities and counties will hold a Democratic primary, while 31 jurisdictions will host Republican primaries.

A full list of candidates and primary races is available at the Virginia Department of Elections website under Candidates & Referendums.

Key Dates for the 2025 Primary Election

• May 2 – Early voting begins
• May 27 – Deadline to register to vote and cast a regular ballot
• May 28 – Same-day registration begins (provisional ballot required)
• June 6 – Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail or online
• June 14 – Final day of early voting
• June 17 – Primary Election Day
• June 20 – Mailed ballots must be received by noon
• June 23 – Deadline for local boards to certify provisional ballots
• July 1 – State Board of Elections certifies results

For more information about early voting, registration, or absentee ballots, contact your local registrar’s office or the Virginia Department of Elections at 1-800-552-9745 or info@elections.virginia.gov.