Get Set To Vote, Virginia!

• Be a resident of Virginia (a person who has come to Virginia for temporary purposes and intends to return to another state is not considered a resident for voting purposes).
• Be a U. S. Citizen.
• Be 18 years old (any person who is 17 years old and will be eighteen years of age at the next general election shall be permitted to register in advance and also vote in any intervening primary or special election).
• Not be registered and plan to vote in another state.
• Not currently declared mentally incompetent by a court of law.
• If convicted of a felony, your right to vote must have been restored."

Fill out a form to request information on restoration of rights here. Restoration of rights has been politically contentious in Virginia and apparently some rights that were restored have been rescinded. If your rights were restored at some point, double check to make sure you still have them.

• "Local voter registration office
• Download a PDF copy of the registration form
• State or local government offices when applying or re-certifying for Aid to Dependent Children, Food Stamps, WIC, Medicaid, or Rehabilitation Services
• Government offices in the State that provide State-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to person with disabilities
• Armed forces recruitment offices
• Public libraries
• Virginia Department of Elections office
• Department of Motor Vehicles offices
• Voter Registration Drives"

You may also use the national form https://www.eac.gov/voters/national-mail-voter-registration-form/.

Keep in mind that either way your application must be delivered by the deadline.

"There are many different types of photo IDs that voters can use when they vote. All of the acceptable forms of photo ID can be used up to a year after ID has expired. These photo IDs include:

• Valid Virginia Driver's License or Identification Card
• Valid Virginia DMV issued Veteran's ID card
• Valid United States Passport
• Other government-issued photo identification cards (must be issued by US Government, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth)
• Tribal enrollment or other tribal ID issued by one of 11 tribes recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Valid college or university student photo identification card (must be from an institution of higher education located in Virginia)
• Valid student ID issued by a public school or private school in Virginia displaying a photo
• Employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the ordinary course of the employer's business"

If you have none of the above and need a free Voter ID, fill out the form available at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/Files/Forms/VoterForms/VoterPhotoIdApplication.pdf and take it in person to a General Registrar's Office. You will need your Social Security number.

Be absolutedly certain that you are registered, that your registration is current and functioning.

Have one of the following reasons (Note: "First-time voters who registered by mail may vote absentee by mail only if the reason code is 1A, 2A, 2C, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, or 7A, or the voter is 65 or older and qualifies under another reason"):

• 1A, Student attending college or university outside of locality of residence in Virginia; Provide: Name of college or university
• 1B, Spouse of student attending college or university outside locality of residence in Virginia; Provide: Name of college or university
• 1C, Business outside County/City of residence on Election Day; Provide: Name of employer or business
• 1D, Personal business or vacation outside County/City of residence on Election Day; Provide: Place of travel (VA county/city or state or country)
• 1E, I am working and commuting to/from home for 11 or more hours between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM on Election Day; Provide: Name of employer or business and Election Day hours of working and commuting (AM to PM)
• 1F, I am a first responder (member of law enforcement, fire fighter, emergency technician, search and rescue)
• 2A, My disability or illness
• 2B, I am primarily and personally responsible for the care of a disabled/ill family member confined at home; Provide: Family Relationship
• 2C, My pregnancy
• 3A, Confined, awaiting trial; Provide: Name of institution
• 3B, Confined, convicted of a misdemeanor; Provide: Name of institution
• 4A, An electoral board member, registrar, officer of election, or custodian of voting equipment
• 5A, I have a religious obligation
• 6A, Active Duty Merchant Marine or Armed Forces; Provide: Branch of service
• 6B, Spouse or dependent living with a member of 6A; Provide: Branch of service
• 6C, Temporarily residing outside of US; Enter your last date of residency at your Virginia voting residence only if you have given up that address permanently or have no intent to return
• 6D, Temporarily residing outside of US for employment or spouse or dependent residing with employee; Provide: Name of business or employer
• 7A, Requesting a ballot for presidential and vice-presidential electors only (Ballots for other offices/issues will not be sent); Provide: New state of residence and date moved from Virginia. Only eligible if you moved less than 30 days before the presidential election.
• 8A, Authorized representative of candidate or party serving inside the polling place
• 9A, Granted a protective order issued by or under the authority of a court of competent jurisdiction; Provide Name of the county or city in Virginia or the state of the issuing court.

You can find out about Emergency Absentee Voting on the state site at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/absentee-voting/.

If you have a Virginia DMV or ID card you can register online at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal/index.html.

You will find the printable form for voting absentee at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/Files/Forms/VoterForms/VirginiaAbsenteeBallotApplication.pdf. You'll need to know where you are registered, and pay careful attention to which (listed) address you're returning the form. You should have your Social Security number, or at the very least the last four digits. Leave time for your application to be processed and your ballot to be delivered. You must have one of the qualifying reasons (if you are a first time voter there the list is shorter; pay attention to the instructions) and provide any required "supporting information".

"The signed and completed application must be received by the local registrar located in the city or county that you are registered to vote by 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on the Tuesday prior to the election in which the applicant wishes to vote. A completed and signed application can also be transmitted electronically by fax or as scanned attachment to an email. Contact information for your local general registrar's office is available using our online lookup tool."

As usual, make sure your registration is current and has not been stricken.

You can appeal the denial of your application for voter registration using the form found at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/Files/Forms/VoterForms/AppealOfDenialRequest.pdf

There have been efforts by criminal fraudsters to suppress voter turnout by sending people to the wrong polls or telling people that they could vote by text message. (There is not a place in the U.S. where you can vote by text or online.) Be sure that your information on when and where to vote comes from official sources.