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Virginia voter guide: What you need to know for the 2021 general election

Rick Massimo | rmassimo@wtop.com

September 17, 2021, 5:21 AM

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Voting in Virginia’s general election starts Friday. Voters will cast ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, the House of Delegates and several local races. Here’s what you need to know:

In-person voting

In-person voting starts Friday and runs through Saturday, Oct. 30.

Election Day is Nov. 2. Polls that day will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you will get to vote.

Assuming you are registered, you can vote in person without an appointment or asking for a ballot in advance. If you want to mail in a ballot, or drop it in a drop box, you won’t have to wait in any lines, but you will have to ask for a ballot first.

Voters heading to the polls are strongly encouraged to wear a mask, although it is not required.

Where to vote in person

If you’re voting in person on Nov. 2, you can find your polling place on the state site.

You need an ID to vote in person. You can find out which ones will work for you on the Virginia Department of Elections site.

Need to register?

You need to be at least 18 years old, or turn 18 on or before Nov. 2. You’ll need your ID, and you can register online on the state site, or at your local Board of Elections. If you don’t know where that is, you can find that online too.

You’ve got until Oct. 12 to register to vote.

Mail-in ballots and drop boxes

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