Requests for absentee ballot applications due Friday, October 23; in-person absentee voting ends October 31

The Virginia Department of Elections announces several upcoming deadlines for voters wishing to vote absentee in the November 3, 2020, General Election.

The last day to request an absentee ballot is Friday, October 23, 2020, at 5pm. Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day, November 3, 2020, and received by the local voter registration office by noon on Friday, November 6, 2020. Voters can also drop off their marked and sealed ballots at their general registrar’s office or polling place up to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters no longer need a reason to vote absentee. Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot, either in-person or by mail. Voters can request a mailed ballot online at www.elections.virginia.gov/voterInformation or they can contact their local voter registration office and ask them to mail them an application. Voters can track the status of their ballot applications online www.elections.virginia.gov/voterInformation.

In addition to regularly scheduled hours, local voter registration offices will be open Saturday, October 24, 2020 and Saturday, October 31, 2020, for early in-person voting. Early in-person voting ends October 31, 2020. Voters do not have to fill out an application to vote in person. Voters can go to their general registrar’s office or satellite voting location, show ID and cast a ballot. More information about what IDs are considered acceptable can be found at www.elections.virginia.gov/voterID.

If you believe you may not safely have a witness present while completing the absentee ballot for the November 3, 2020, Election, you are not required to have a witness present. Also, if you are blind, have low vision, or have impaired manual dexterity, you have the option of voting an absentee ballot using an electronic ballot-marking tool.

Voters with questions about absentee, mail-in and in-person voting or any aspect of the November 3, 2020, election may call the Virginia Department of Elections at (800) 552-9745, email the department at info@elections.virginia.gov, or visit our website at elections.virginia.gov. Voters are also encouraged to follow us on Twitter at @vaElect, Facebook at @VirginiaELECT and Instagram at @va_election.