APPLYING TO VOTE ABSENTEE

• Apply online for a Virginia absentee ballot >>>

• All PAPER absentee application forms can be found on our Voter Forms page >>>

• Military and overseas voters can find specific information regarding absentee voting on our Military and Overseas page.

• After applying, you can check to see if your absentee application was received, your ballot sent or received by going to our citizen portal.

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APPLY IN-PERSON

Before visiting your local registrar’s office, check your registration status or call your registrar’s office (phone numbers available on Virginia voter registration application). Also review the application to insure you have all of the information necessary to complete the process. If you are not already registered, you will have to wait five days after registration before you can be issued an absentee ballot (exception for military and overseas voters only). If you have a Virginia DMV license or ID card, you can register online using our OAB application.

• Within 45 days prior to the election in which you wish to vote, visit your local registrar’s office to vote absentee in-person.

• At the registrar’s office, fill out an Absentee Application. You must show an acceptable form of photo ID. To view a complete list of acceptable IDs, please visit our Voting In-Person page.

• After completing the application, you will be allowed to vote absentee in-person using a voting machine in the registrar’s office. Accessible equipment and/or curbside voting is available upon request.

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APPLY BY MAIL, FAX OR EMAIL

• Download and complete the Absentee Ballot Application form (.pdf).

• Return the completed and signed form to your local registrar’s office by mail, fax or scanned attachment to an email. Contact information for your local general registrar’s office is available using our online lookup tool.

• After the registrar processes your application, you will receive your ballot in the mail.

• Carefully review the instructions to complete and return your ballot to your local registrar by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

• If you have a Virginia DMV license or ID card, you can register online using our OAB application.

• In state elections only some first-time voters who registered by mail may vote absentee by mail only if the reason code is 1A, 2A, 2C, 3A, 3B, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, or 7A, or the voter is 65 or older and qualifies under another reason (reason codes listed below). For federal elections see section titled " **Special Federal ID Requirements for Certain First Time Absentee By Mail Voters."

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COMPLETING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION

COMPLETE IN-PERSON

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An application completed in person can be made up to three days before the election in which the applicant wishes to vote and completed in the office of the local registrar. The applicant signs the application in the presence of a registrar or the secretary of the electoral board. Some large localities offer satellite locations for in-person absentee voting. Check with your local registrar for locations and times.

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An applicant generally cannot both register to vote in person and vote absentee in person at the same time. If you register to vote in person, your absentee ballot cannot be issued until five days after you are registered. The only exception is absent military and overseas voters eligible under a federal law.

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Registered voters who vote absentee in person are subject to the same rules that apply to voting at the polls. If acceptable identification is not provided, a provisional ballot will be offered and the voter is allowed until the following Friday by noon after the election to provide a copy of acceptable identification to the electoral board. Provisional voters receive a notice to remind them of the deadline and right to attend the electoral board meeting.

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COMPLETE BY MAIL, FAX OR EMAIL

Applications can be sent by mail to the office of the local registrar. The signed and completed application must be received by the local registrar located in the city or county that you are registered to vote by 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on the Tuesday prior to the election in which the applicant wishes to vote. A completed and signed application can also be transmitted electronically by fax or as scanned attachment to an email. Contact information for your local general registrar’s office is available using our online lookup tool.

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In state elections only some first-time voters, including one under age 65 caring for a family member confined by illness, cannot vote absentee by mail. First-time voters who registered by mail may vote absentee by mail only if the reason code is 1A, 2A, 2C, 3A, 3B, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, or 7A, or the voter is 65 or older and qualifies under another reason (reason codes listed below). Check with your registrar to confirm absentee by mail eligibility. If your absentee ballot never arrives or there is not enough time to make another request, you can vote curbside on or before Election Day if you have a physical disability or are over age 65. For federal elections see section titled " **Special Federal ID Requirements for Certain First Time Absentee By Mail Voters."

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**SPECIAL FEDERAL ID REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN FIRST TIME ABSENTEE BY MAIL VOTERS

For persons who registered to vote in Virginia by mail, federal law requires them to show identification (ID) when voting for the first time in a federal election if they did not send a copy of one of these IDs with their voter registration applications. Recent legislation has eliminated the differences in acceptable identification for in-person voting. Therefore, the special federal ID requirements only apply to certain absentee voters by mail who will be notified by a notice explaining the requirements sent with their absentee ballot. Voters who receive a notice about this special requirements need to include a copy of any of the following types of ID with the voted ballot:

1. A current and valid photo ID (for example a driver’s license);

2. or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck that shows name and address;

3. or another government document that shows name and address (for example a voter card). If the voter returns an absentee ballot by mail without a copy of one of these forms of ID, the absentee ballot will be treated as a provisional ballot and counted only if the voter provides a copy of ID to the electoral board by the deadline applicable to all voters.

If the voter returns an absentee ballot by mail without a copy of one of these forms of ID, the absentee ballot will be treated as a provisional ballot and counted only if the voter provides a copy of ID to the electoral board by the deadline applicable to all voters.