Virginia Elections

A primary election is an election used either to narrow the field of candidates for a given elective office or to determine the nominees for political parties in advance of a general election.

In Virginia elections, primaries happen before a general election at the national-level, state-level, and local-level elections. The Virginia primary election is an open primary system. Virginia law allows you to vote in only one political party primary election when multiple political party primary elections are held on the same day.

Each primary has a separate ballot listing different candidates. The voter must indicate which ballot he would like to receive.

As per Virginia Department of Election’s guidelines, to be eligible to register to vote in Virginia, an individual must be:

• A U.S. citizen and a resident of Virginia
• Be 18 years old; however, a 17-year-old can register to vote but cannot vote unless they are 18 years old by the general election.
• Not registered and plan to vote in another state
• Not currently declared mentally incompetent by a court of a law
• Convicted of a felony, your right to vote must have been restored

The deadline to register to vote or update existing voter registration is Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Can I register to vote in Virginia if I have been convicted of a crime?

Any person convicted of a felony loses their right to vote in Virginia. That right can only be restored by the Governor of Virginia. The Department of elections provides additional information regarding restorations of rights through the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Virginia voter registration can be done via mail, online, or in person at the following locations:

• You may register on the official Virginia Department of Elections’ page
• You may request a Virginia Voter Registration Application from your local general registrar
• You may register to vote at your local Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office
• You may contact a candidate campaign, political party, or other organization with voter outreach

For The Virginia 2024 Gubernatorial Primary Election held on June 8, 2021

• You can vote during early voting or on the day of election by mail or in-person
• Early voting for the primary election will start on Saturday, April 24, 2021, through Monday, June 5, 2021. Each voting center will open from 6 am to 7 pm. Any voter in line by 7 pm is allowed to vote
• You need to vote at your assigned polling station on Election Day

For The Virginia 2024 Primary Election held on June 18, 2024

• You can vote during early voting or on the day of election by mail or in-person
• Early voting (in-person) for the primary election will start on Friday, May 3, 2024, through Saturday, June 15, 2024. Each voting center will open from 6 am to 7 pm. Any voter in line by 7 pm is allowed to vote
• You need to vote at an allocated polling station on Election Day
• If voting on Election Day is difficult for you, you have the option to vote through absentee ballot.

Virginia allows early voting. For both the 2024 Primary and General Elections, you must vote at your assigned polling place.

Early voting typically permits citizens or residents to cast ballots at a polling place in person before elections. In states like Virginia that permit early voting, voters are given plenty of opportunities to cast their ballot by Election Day.

States that do not permit early voting also allow all or some citizens to vote early via mail-in voting sometimes referred to as “absentee voting.” While some states have no excuse for mail-in voting, others require a valid excuse. However, voters must know their respective early voting laws.