With the expected high voter turnout and potential for people to have to wait in line to vote on Election Day, the Virginia State Board of Elections wants to ensure that registered voters are aware of the 17 different categories by which they may qualify to vote by absentee ballot.   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?

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.  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.

“We are strongly encouraging qualified voters to consider voting by absentee ballot,” said Nancy Rodrigues, Secretary of the State Board of Elections.  “We fully anticipate there will be a record turnout at the polling places.  We want to make sure all registered voters have access to the election process and that those voters who qualify to vote by absentee ballot are aware of this option.  It’s all part of our effort to make sure Virginians are as prepared as possible for Election Day.”

Currently, there are over 4.9 million voters registered in Virginia and since January more than 300,000 new voters have registered.

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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