When you vote absentee, you are given your ballot before Election Day. That’s why absentee voting is sometimes called early voting. Before this year, you could only vote absentee if you had a specific reason you could not vote in person. Now, anyone can vote absentee.
How Do I Vote Absentee?
You can register to vote absentee online, by mail, or in person. You can vote absentee in person or by mail. If this is your first time registering to vote, there will be a 5 day waiting period before you can request an absentee ballot.
Voting Absentee By Mail:
If you vote absentee by mail, your ballot will be mailed to you with instructions for how to fill it out. After you fill it out, you will return it by mail in the envelope provided.
When Do I Need to Request My By-Mail Absentee Ballot?
If you want to vote absentee by mail, you must request your ballot by 5:00 PM on Friday, May 28, 2021.
When Do I Need to Return My By-Mail Absentee Ballot?
At the latest, your ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and it must arrive by noon, 3 days after Election Day to be counted.
Voting Absentee In-Person:
When you vote absentee in person, you go to your Local Registrar’s Office, or Absentee Satellite Site, where you will be given an absentee ballot to complete on the spot. You will fill it out and submit it right away.
What is the Last Day I Can Vote Absentee In-Person?
If you want to vote absentee in person, you must vote by 5:00 PM on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
Where Can I Vote Absentee In-Person?
Local Registrar’s Offices always offer in-person absentee voting. Because of Coronavirus, some localities have also opened extra locations to vote absentee in person, called Absentee Satellite Sites. If you think absentee in-person voting is a good choice for you, check with your Local Registrar’s Office to see if there are Absentee Satellite Sites near you.
Accessible Absentee Voting:
If you are blind or have low vision or have impaired manual dexterity, you have the option of voting an absentee ballot using an electronic ballot marking tool. If you choose this option for voting absentee, your ballot will be delivered electronically and will include screen reader technology. If you are interested in using this service to vote absentee, mark the section on your absentee ballot application indicating you need assistance voting your ballot. Your General Registrar’s office will contact you with information on how to take advantage of this option.
For more information, please contact your General Registrar’s office. You can find contact information on the Virginia Department of Elections’ online lookup tool.
Emergency Absentee Voting
If you miss the deadline to vote absentee or cannot vote in person because of a personal emergency, like being in the hospital or experiencing a death in your family, you can apply for an Emergency Absentee Ballot so that you don’t miss your opportunity to vote.
Resources
Fact Sheets
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Exercising Your Right to Vote in 2020
In this episode, advocate Joliefawn Liddell, and two of our legal interns, Mary Grace Whitten & Camille Karabaich, share with us all about the updated voting laws in Virginia. A lot of things have changed as of July 1, 2020, and due to COVID-19, so tune in to stay up to date with all the new procedures and deadlines. You can find out more information about voting in Virginia on our Voting page.
How can dLCV help?
dLCV can provide information, technical assistance and, in some cases, legal representation. You can reach our Office by calling (800) 552-3962.
Our services are free of charge. Advocates are available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. Call 1-800-552-3962 (toll-free) or 804-225-2042 to request assistance OR complete the Online Request for dLCV Services. If you don’t speak English, we have access to a “language line” that helps us communicate with you in your own language.