[Archived] Absentee Voting Deadlines for March 1 Presidential Primaries

Virginia voters who qualify for an absentee ballot for the March 1 Democratic or Republican Presidential Primary may request to have absentee ballots mailed to them, or they may cast  absentee ballots in person. Virginia voters do not register by political party; each voter may vote in either Primary, but not both.

Absentee Voting By Mail

The deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is Tuesday, February 23, at 5 p.m. Absentee ballot applications may be submitted online through the Virginia Department of Elections, https://vote.elections.virginia.gov.

Absentee ballot applications may also be printed and submitted in person, or by mail, fax (703.838.6449) or email (VoteAbsentee@alexandriava.gov), as long as they are received by the 5 p.m. deadline on February 23. Applications are available at alexandriava.gov/Elections, or by contacting the Alexandria Voter Registration Office at 703.746.4050. 

Absentee Voting in Person

The deadline for casting an absentee ballot in person is Saturday, February 27, at 5 p.m. To cast an absentee ballot in person, go to the Alexandria Voter Registration Office at 132 North Royal Street, Suite 100.

In-person absentee voting hours are Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on the following two days:

• Monday, February 22, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 23, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There are many reasons registered voters may qualify 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).

For sample ballots and more information on absentee voting, see alexandriava.gov/Elections or call 703.746.4050.

Photo ID Requirements for Absentee Voting

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

Acceptable forms of photo identification include:

• Valid Virginia Driver’s License or DMV-issued Photo ID Card
• Valid United States Passport or Passport Card
• Valid military ID
• Other government-issued photo ID card (from the U.S. Government, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or a local government within Virginia)
• Valid student photo ID card from any public or private high school or college in Virginia
• Valid employee photo ID card

Voters who do not have acceptable identification may apply for an ID (and receive a temporary ID) when they go to cast their in-person absentee ballots.

Election Day Voting

On Tuesday, March 1, all regular polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. You may check your registration status and polling place location through the Virginia Department of Elections https://vote.elections.virginia.gov.

For more information, contact Anna Leider, General Registrar, at 703.746.4050 or anna.leider@alexandriava.gov.

                                                                                                        # # #