Casting A Ballot

Be ready to vote in the next election.

I’d like to vote by mail. What do I need to do?

Request an absentee ballot.

You can request an absentee ballot online. If you would like to use a paper application, print the Virginia Absentee Ballot Application or call your local voter registration office to have the application sent to you.

Watch your mail for your absentee ballot.

Ballots can be mailed out to applicants starting 45 days prior to Election Day. Track the progress of your ballot online.

Complete and return your absentee ballot.

You can return your ballot by mail or deliver it to a drop box or to your local voter registration office. You can also have someone deliver it for you.

I’d like to vote in person. What do I need to know?

Know where and when to vote.

Where and when you vote depends on whether you would like to vote on Election Day or during Early Voting.

• On Election Day, you may vote only at the location assigned to your address. Your voting location is open from 6 AM to 7 PM on Election Day, and you can find it online or on your voter card.

• You can also vote during a period called Early Voting, which begins 45 days before Election Day. Early Voting for the November 3, 2026 elections starts on September 18, 2026; the last day is October 31, 2026. You can vote early at your local voter registration office, and some localities may offer early voting in additional locations. Find your voting location online.

Know that the workers at your voting location will ask you to show an ID.

Check the list of acceptable forms of identification. If you don’t have an ID or don’t have it with you, you can sign an ID Confirmation Statement. Or, you can vote without showing an ID, but your vote will count as a provisional ballot. To learn about provisional ballots, visit this list of plain language definitions and scroll down to the question, “What is a provisional ballot?”.

Know about accessible voting machines.

Every voting location in Virginia must have at least one voting machine equipped for individuals with disabilities. You have the option to use the accessible voting machine or to use a paper ballot to mark your selections. All voters are offered the paper ballot, but if you would like to use the accessible voting machine, you should ask for it.

Look up the type of accessible voting machine available in your city or county by visiting this website.

Know that you are allowed to have someone help you fill out your ballot.

You may bring someone to your voting location to help you vote. However, that person cannot be your boss or your union representative.

Know that you can vote from your vehicle.

With curbside voting, you can request to have a ballot (or accessible equipment) brought to your vehicle instead of entering a polling place. Curbside voting is available for voters with any disability, as well as for voters 65 and older. If you would like to use curbside voting, make sure to use the designated parking space at the polling location and follow the instructions on any signs posted there.

FAQs

Do I need an excuse to vote by mail or during Early Voting?

No. Any voter can vote by mail or during Virginia’s Early Voting Period. You do not need a reason to vote by mail or during Early Voting. However, you do need to apply to vote absentee by mail. You can apply online, or if you would like to use a paper application, print the Virginia Absentee Ballot Application or call your local voter registration office to have the application sent to you.

I am blind, have low vision, or have manual dexterity issues and want to vote by mail. What are my options?

When you complete the Virginia Absentee Ballot Application, check the appropriate box to indicate that you need assistance marking your ballot or that you would like to vote independently using an electronic ballot marking tool with screen reader assistive technology. You will need access to a computer to use the electronic ballot marking tool. When your absentee ballot is delivered to you, it will contain specific instructions, envelopes, and forms for the option you selected. For more information, contact your local voter registration office.

Do I need to “show” ID when I use an absentee ballot to vote?

Yes, but only if you are a first-time voter and if you are voting in a federal election. If this requirement applies to you, a notice and a list of acceptable forms of identification (ID) will be included in your absentee ballot package. You will need to enclose a copy of your ID when you return your absentee ballot. Acceptable types of voter ID include a voter card, a bank statement, and a photo ID.

Can I use accessible voting equipment at my polling place?

Yes. Every voting location in Virginia must have at least one voting machine equipped for individuals with disabilities. The equipment must provide the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and independence) that is provided to other voters. Don’t hesitate to ask the election workers if you would like to use the accessible voting equipment.

The accessible voting machines used in Virginia are ballot marking devices, which have features such as screen contrast adjustment, large text, Audio-Tactile Interfaces (ATI), and headphones so that a voter can have the ballot read to them. The ballot marking device produces a printed copy of the voter’s choices.

The type (manufacturer/model) of ballot marking device varies by locality. To learn about the type of ballot marking device available in your county or city, visit The Verifier tool created by Verified Voting, an organization that promotes the responsible use of technology in elections. Information on some of the ballot marking devices is shared in the recording of the September 7, 2023 webinar co-hosted by Verified Voting and REV UP Virginia called, “Learn About Accessible Elections for Virginia Voters.”

What about other accommodations?

Virginia polling places, including early voting locations, must meet state and federal accessibility standards. You should find the following:

• Accessible parking spaces
• Curbside voting
• Signs showing an accessible entrance and route in building
• Accessible voting booth with chair
• Seating available for voters waiting to vote
• Sufficient space for voters in wheelchairs
• Notepads available to communicate in writing
• Magnifier for election material and the ballot

I thought curbside voting was available only to people with physical disabilities. Is that true?

No, people with any type of disability may vote without leaving their vehicle. Curbside voting is also available for people age 65 or older.

Some people find it helpful to bring someone who can enter the voting location to ask for assistance or to call ahead to alert the election workers of the time you plan to arrive. However, it is not necessary to do either. Make sure to use the designated parking space at the polling location and follow the instructions on any signs posted there.

I don’t drive, but I would like to vote in person. How can I get to the polls?

Plan ahead! Decide whether you would like to vote during the Early Voting period or on Election Day. Ask a friend for a ride or schedule one. Research other options, which may include discounted rides to the polls via ride sharing companies like Lyft, free rides sponsored by local candidates and political parties, and paratransit. Paratransit is a shared ride service for disabled individuals who are unable to use public transportation due to their disability. For more information on paratransit, check with your local transit system.

I have made a mark on my ballot that I did not intend to make. What can I do?

If you are voting in person, ask an election worker for a fresh ballot. If you are completing an absentee ballot, contact your local voter registration office to request a fresh ballot. It’s very important to ensure that your ballot clearly reflects the candidates and ballot measures that you are voting for.

Learn how to ask your voting questions via text, WhatsApp! and Facebook.

The National Association of the Deaf operates an ASL Voter Assistance Hotline: 301-818-VOTE (301-818-8683)

How do I make a complaint about my registration or voting experience?

• View the Virginia Department of Elections’ Voter Complaints page for information on several ways you can submit a complaint. 
• You can contact your local voter registration office. 
• You can contact the Accessibility Coordinator at the Virginia Department of Elections at [email protected] or (800) 552-9745, (804) 335-6445, or TTY 711

More Election and Voter FAQs from the Virginia Department of Elections

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What’s Happening

• Questions or problems voting? Call or text a nonpartisan hotline!
  If you are having trouble voting, or just have questions, you can call or text a hotline to call a trained Election Protection volunteer. You can also use WhatsApp, Facebook, and email to send a message. If you use ASL, the National Association of the Deaf operates an ASL Voter Assistance Hotline.
• Three proposed Constitutional amendments are on the ballot in Virginia this November 3 Election
  The proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution deal with reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and restoring voting rights. They will appear on your ballot as Question 1, Question 2, and Question 3.
• Join us for a statewide Candidate Forum on issues that matter to the disability community
  Hear directly from candidates for U.S. Senate running in the upcoming general election. This virtual event will be held on October 7, 2026 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. ASL interpretation will be provided.