FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — In-person voting in Virginia for the Nov. 5 general election begins Friday morning and continues through Saturday, Nov. 2. Thirteen electoral college votes are at stake in Virginia in the presidential contest, but so much more is at stake.
The Fairfax County Government Center is usually very popular with early voting. They are anticipating long lines again this week.
In addition to the 2024 Presidential Race, Virginia residents will be voting in all 11 congressional districts, a U.S. Senate seat and House representative are also up for grabs.
The ballot also includes an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia and a handful of local offices.
Former president Donald Trump lost in Virginia, by a five-point margin in 2016 and by a 10-point margin when he first faced Biden in 2020.
But things could bode well for Republicans this time around, as the Commonwealth appears much less blue than it was 10 to 15 years ago.
The Trump campaign is treating the commonwealth as a battleground, a swing state.
Vice President Kamala Harris has a bit of an advantage, using several election offices that were started up last year by the Biden-Harris ticket. Back then, a University of Mary Washington survey found that 40% of those asked wanted to see the Democrats in control of Virginia’s House of Delegates and Senate, while 37% favored Republican control. But a year since that survey so much has changed with the landscape of this election.
Here are some key dates as we get closer to Election Day:
VA GENERAL & SPECIAL ELECTIONS:
- Oct. 15 – Deadline to register to vote and cast a regular ballot
- Oct. 25 – Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail or online
- Nov. 2 – Last day of early voting
- Nov. 8 – All mailed ballots must be received by the general registrar’s office by noon
Requested absentee ballots will be mailed starting today, including ballots to registered military and overseas voters.
Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot in person, by mail, online (Citizen Portal), or by contacting the general registrar’s office in that voter’s jurisdiction, according to VDOE. The deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot is October 25.Day. Curbside voting is also available for those with disabilities and those over 65 who wish to vote in person. Contact your general registrar’s office for more information regarding voting hours, additional locations, and ballot drop boxes.
Voters with questions about absentee or early in-person voting can call their general registrar’s offices or the Department of Elections at 1-800-552-9745, or email info@elections.virginia.gov.
