2026 voter guide
VA
How to vote in Virginia in 2026
Every deadline, rule, and official link — kept simple. When you're ready, build a personal plan with calendar reminders in about a minute.
Key dates
- State Primary
- Tuesday, August 4, 2026
- General Election
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Register online by
- Friday, October 23, 2026
- Register by mail by
- Friday, October 23, 2026(postmarked)
- Register in person by
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Request a mail ballot by
- Friday, October 23, 2026
Deadlines shown are for the November 3, 2026 general election.
Subscribe to these deadlines
One tap adds every Virginia deadline to your calendar — and when rules change, the dates update on their own. No account, no email.
Register to vote
Online: Received by 11:59 PM 22 days before Election Day. By mail: Postmarked 22 days before Election Day. In person: Received by close of business 22 days before Election Day OR. Same-day registration available.
Online — the fastest way
A few minutes on the official site.
By mail
Print, sign, and mail the National Mail Voter Registration Form.
In person
At your local election office — or same-day at the polls.
Already registered? Double-check.
Vote by mail
Any registered voter can vote by mail in Virginia. Received by 5 PM 11 days before Election Day
Returning it: Postmarked by Election Day and received by noon 3 days after Election Day.
Vote in person
Early voting
OfferedEarly voting at your local registrar's office (plus satellite sites) runs from Saturday, September 19 through Saturday, October 31, 2026.
On Election Day — Tuesday, November 3, 2026 — vote at your assigned polling place or vote center.
On your 2026 ballot
4 statewide measures are certified for Virginia's 2026 ballots so far.
Redistricting Map Amendment (April)Constitutional amendment · Redistricting · Apr 21, 2026 · Decided
This amendment would have let the General Assembly, rather than the state's redistricting commission, redraw Virginia's congressional districts between 2025 and 2030 if another state redrew its districts mid-decade. Voters approved it on April 21, 2026, but the Virginia Supreme Court voided the results on May 8, 2026, ruling that the legislature violated procedural requirements when placing it on the ballot.
A yes vote means: Allowed the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts between 2025 and 2030 if another state redrew its districts mid-decade.
A no vote means: Kept congressional map-drawing with the Virginia Redistricting Commission on the regular ten-year schedule.
Remove Constitutional Same-Sex Marriage Ban AmendmentConstitutional amendment · Marriage · Nov 3, 2026
This amendment would remove the provision in Virginia's constitution defining marriage as only between one man and one woman. It would instead recognize marriage as a vital personal right and prohibit the state from denying a marriage license to two adults based on their sex, gender, or race.
A yes vote means: Removes the same-sex marriage ban from the constitution and bars denying marriage licenses based on sex, gender, or race.
A no vote means: Keeps the current constitutional language defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
Right to Reproductive Freedom AmendmentConstitutional amendment · Reproductive rights · Nov 3, 2026
This amendment would add a right to reproductive freedom to Virginia's constitution. It defines that right as the ability to make and carry out one's own decisions about all matters related to one's pregnancy.
A yes vote means: Adds a right to reproductive freedom to the Virginia Constitution.
A no vote means: Does not add a reproductive freedom right to the constitution.
Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Upon Release AmendmentConstitutional amendment · Voting rights · Nov 3, 2026
Currently, Virginians convicted of a felony lose the right to vote unless the governor individually restores it. This amendment would make people convicted of felonies lose their voting rights only while incarcerated, with rights restored automatically upon release.
A yes vote means: Restores voting rights automatically to people with felony convictions when they are released from incarceration.
A no vote means: Keeps the current system, in which the governor must restore a person's voting rights.
All 2026 ballot measures, state by state →
Statewide measures only, from Ballotpedia's certified list (checked Jul 6, 2026). Local measures appear on your county sample ballot.
Quick answers
Can I register to vote online in Virginia?
Yes — Virginia has official online registration (deadline: Friday, October 23, 2026 for the general election). It usually takes a few minutes.
Do I need an excuse to vote by mail?
No — any registered voter in Virginia can request a mail ballot, no excuse needed.
Can I register on Election Day?
Yes — Virginia offers same-day registration. Online: Received by 11:59 PM 22 days before Election Day. By mail: Postmarked 22 days before Election Day. In person: Received by close of business 22 days before Election Day OR. Same-day registration available.
When are the 2026 elections?
State Primary: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 · General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Turn this into your plan
Three questions, then every Virginia deadline lands on your calendar with reminders.
Make your voting planCompiled from official state sources, vote.gov, and Ballotpedia (2026 calendars). Rules occasionally change — when it matters, confirm with the Virginia election office. Found an error? Tell us.