[Archived] Absentee Voting Opens for Eligible City Voters on September 19

Absentee voting for the November 4, federal election begins on Friday, September 19. Many Alexandria voters are eligible to vote absentee, for example, if they are:

• Away for personal business, work, vacation, active military service or at school.
• Working and commuting for 11 or more hours between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day. Take into account those days when traffic is heavy or the weather is bad and it takes longer than usual to get to and from work.
• Physically unable to go to the polls because of an illness or disability.
• A caregiver for a confined family member.
• A “first responder” (firefighter, law enforcement, emergency medical technician, search and rescue).

To learn more about these, and other circumstances in which absentee voting is an appropriate option, go to alexandriava.gov/Elections and click on “Absentee Voting,” or call 703.746.4050.

Absentee Voting in Person

The deadline for voting absentee in person is Saturday, November 1, at 5 p.m.
In-person absentee voting hours and locations are as follows: 

Office of Voter Registrations and Elections, 132 N. Royal Street, Suite 100
Opens for absentee voting on Friday, September 19

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Monday, October 13)
Saturdays, October 25 and November 1, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Extended evening hours:

Wednesday, October 15          8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 16             8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Monday, October 20               8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 21              8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 22          8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Monday, October 27               8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 28              8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 29          8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 30             8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke Street

Opens for absentee voting on Saturday, October 25

Saturday, October 25             10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday, October 27               1 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 28              1 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 29         1 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 30            1 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 31                 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, November 1           10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

ID Requirements for Absentee Voting

Virginia's new photo ID requirements apply to absentee voters who cast their absentee ballot in person. They do not apply to absentee voters who request an absentee ballot by mail.

Acceptable forms of photo identification include:

Valid Virginia Driver’s License or DMV-issued Photo Identification Card

• Valid United States Passport or Passport Card
• Valid Military ID
• Other government-issued photo identification card (from the U.S. Government, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or a local government within Virginia)
• Valid student photo identification card from an institution of higher education located in Virginia
• Valid employee photo identification card

Voters who do not have acceptable ID may apply for an ID (and receive a temporary ID) at the same time they come to cast their in-person absentee ballot.

Absentee Voting By Mail

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by mail is Tuesday, October 28. Applications must be received in the Voter Registration Office by 5 p.m. on that day. Absentee ballot applications are available online at alexandriava.gov/Elections, or by contacting the Alexandria Voter Registration Office at 703.746.4050. Completed (signed) absentee applications can be submitted in person or by mail to the Voter Registration Office (132 N. Royal Street, Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22314); or they can be sent by fax (703.838.6449), or scanned email attachment to VoteAbsentee@alexandriava.gov.

Mailed absentee ballots must be received by the Voter Registration Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4. The ballot may be returned by mail or delivered personally by the voter.

General Election Information

In Alexandria, the November 4 ballot will include: U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and a proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution.

The voter registration deadline for this election is October 14. You may submit or update your registration information online at vote.virginia.gov.

For additional information, including voter registration requirements, sample ballots, and photo ID requirements, visit alexandriava.gov/Elections.

Anna Leider
General Registrar
City of Alexandria
703.746.4050
anna.leider@alexandriava.gov