Everything Loudouners Should Know About The Democratic Primary

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — With Virginia's Democratic presidential primary just over a week away, localities in the state are trying to ensure the voting process runs as smoothly as possible to avoid anything resembling the debacle in Iowa at its caucuses two weeks ago. Loudoun County officials are offering detailed information about the March 3 primary to limit confusion among its residents.

For starters, Loudoun County is informing voters that only the Democrats are holding a presidential primary on March 3. The Republican Party is not holding a primary in Virginia but will select delegates to its national convention at a state convention.

The county also has come up with a handy list of six things voters show know about the March 3 Democratic primary:

1. All registered voters in Loudoun County are eligible to vote in the primary election as Virginia does not register by party affiliation.

2. Polls in Loudoun County, as they will be in the rest of the state, will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. The last day to vote absentee in person is Saturday, Feb. 29. Absentee voting is taking place at the Loudoun County Office of Elections and Voter Registration, 750 Miller Drive SE, Suite C in Leesburg.

3. Voters will cast their ballots at their normal polling location. Note that voters who reside in Lovettsville and previously voted at the Lovettsville Community Center will now vote at the Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station. Anyone who is not sure about where to vote may check their voter registration card or look up their polling place and related information online at vote.elections.virginia.gov. A list of polling places in Loudoun is available at loudoun.gov/polls. Also, curbside voting is available at all polling places for individuals who have mobility issues.

4. IMPORTANT! Voters are required to show an acceptable form of photo identification at their precinct. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a Virginia DMV-issued driver’s license, a U.S. passport, a student photo ID from a college or university located in Virginia, or a government-issued photo ID. Voters who do not have one of these forms of photo ID are eligible for a free Virginia Voter Photo ID Card. More information is available online at loudoun.gov/VoterID.

5. Only the candidates running for the Democratic nomination for president will be on the ballot. The ballot includes the names of all candidates who had filed at the time of printing. As of this time, no candidates have officially notified the Virginia Department of Elections that they have withdrawn. A sample ballot is online at loudoun.gov/presidentialprimary.

6. Stay informed before, during and after the election. Text LCVOTES to 888777 to receive text alerts from the Loudoun County Office of Elections and Voter Registration or sign up for the Election Update category through Alert Loudoun, the county’s email and text notification system. Follow the Office of Elections and Voter Registration on Facebook and Twitter.