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RICHMOND, VA
– A false rumor has been circulating about Virginia’s absentee ballots not being
counted if one candidate is winning the election by a large margin. This rumor is false.
In Virginia
all absentee ballots, properly cast, will be counted. Voters may vote
absentee either by mail or in person. For a ballot to be considered ‘properly
cast’ the voter must follow the specific instructions included with the
ballot. For example, the absentee
ballot must be sealed in a signed envelope and placed in another envelope for
mailing purposes. If the envelope is not sealed then it would not be
considered properly cast.
In order to vote by absentee ballot, voters
must apply. Applications are available
online at the State Board of Elections web site. To vote by mail the application is due by 5:00
p.m. on October 28. The last day to vote absentee in person at your local
registrar is November 1. Identification
is required for in person absentee voting.
For a full list of acceptable forms of identification go to the State
Board of Elections web site.
All absentee ballots must be submitted to
the local registrar’s office or assigned precinct by the time the polls close
at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 4. All absentee ballots,
properly cast, will be counted.
There
are 17 different categories by which a registered voter may qualify to vote absentee. Under Virginia law a registered voter who answers ‘yes’ to one
of the following questions may qualify to vote by absentee ballot.
- Does your work day, including your commute time, keep you away
from home for 11 hours or more?
- Are you the primary caregiver for a family member confined at
home?
- Are you disabled or suffering from an illness?
- Are you a student away at school or a spouse of a student?
- Are you pregnant?
- Will you be away for business reasons?
- Are you temporarily residing outside of the United States?
- Do you have a religious obligation?
- Will you be away on vacation?
- Are you a member of the U.S. Uniformed Services on active duty or
are you the spouse of an active duty service member?
- Will you be serving as an election official?
- Will you be confined either awaiting trial or already convicted
of a misdemeanor?
- Are you requesting a ballot for presidential and vice
presidential electors only?
To obtain a Virginia Absentee Ballot
Application go to the State Board of Elections web site at www.sbe.virginia.gov.
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