Wondering how to cast a ballot safely this fall?
A local registrar explains the difference between the four ways that you can vote in the upcoming presidential election
Presidential elections bring elevated attention to the political process, which not only brings heightened levels of excitement, energy, involvement and participation, but also heightened levels of misinformation, confusion and frustration. These negative aspects of a presidential election are unnecessary. With the information below, Virginians can feel knowledgeable and confident about Virginia’s election process.
If you are not registered to vote or are unsure, you need to fix that! The deadline to register to vote in Virginia is Tuesday, Oct. 13. You can go online to elections.virginia.gov to register online or to obtain an application to print, complete and mail in. You can also obtain an application by calling your registrar’s office.
Once you are sure you are registered, determine how you want to vote. There are four ways to vote in Virginia:
1. In person on Election Day, Nov. 3.
Virginia voters may vote in person on Election Day, Nov. 3. Regular polling places will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. If voters are in line at the polling place at 7 p.m., they will still be able to vote. Do not get out of line if you are in line at 7 p.m.
Once there, voters will be asked to provide their name, address and an acceptable ID. If a voter does not have an acceptable form of ID, the voter can complete a statement affirming their identity.
A voter will then be checked in and provided a ballot. The voter will mark that ballot and deposit it into the ballot box.
2. Early, in person.
Any voter is able to go to a local early voting location, such as the Registrar’s Office, beginning Sept. 18. Once there, the process for voting early, in person before Election Day, is the same as voting in person on Election Day.
3. Absentee, receiving and returning a ballot by mail.
If a voter wishes to vote by mail, the voter must first request an absentee ballot. A voter can do this online or by using a paper application.
Once the registrar’s office has processed the request for an absentee ballot, the ballot will be mailed to the voter. A qualified military or overseas voter may also receive their ballot by email.
The voter should mark their ballot and return it following the instructions that came with the ballot. The ballot can be tracked through the U.S. Postal Service.
After the registrar’s office receives the ballot, they will mark it as returned in the state’s voter registration system.
Some believe that absentee ballots are not counted. This is not true! All properly returned and completed absentee ballots will be counted and be a part of the final results.
4. Absentee, receiving a ballot by mail but returning it in person.
Finally, voters can also receive their ballot by mail and then return it in person. A voter would follow the steps listed above to request a mailed ballot, complete and seal it as instructed, and then return it in person to the registrar’s office.
The General Assembly is also considering legislation to allow the use of drop boxes for voters to return their ballots.
Voters should call their registrar’s office or visit the office’s website for options to return their ballots in person.
Many Virginia localities need citizens to step up and work as election officials on Election Day or in the registrar’s office before Election Day. Interested citizens should contact their local registrar’s office to let the office know they are ready to help support democracy in their communities.
On Election Night, and the days afterward, you can follow results online at elections.virginia.gov.
Walt Latham is the general registrar for York County. He is also the immediate past president of the Voter Registrars Association of Virginia.