Election 2016: Monday Is the Last Day to Register to Vote in Virginia

If you plan to vote in the Nov. 8 election, today — Monday, Oct. 17 — is your last day to register to vote in Virginia. Here's what you need to know to make it by the deadline Monday.

• You can register online Monday until midnight: Cameron Sasnett, the general registrar for Fairfax County, notes this is the first presidential election when Virginia residents have been able to register online. Fairfax County has seen 117,000 transactions for voter registration since Aug. 23, he said. "It is very robust," he said Monday. In all, the county has nearly 700,000 registered voters as of Monday, he said. Here's information from the State Board of Elections about registering to vote in Virginia:
• If mailed, your application must be postmarked no later than the deadline (Monday, Oct. 17).
• If delivered in person, either by the applicant or a third party, the application must be received by the deadline. On the final day of registration for an election all general registrar offices close at 5 p.m. In Fairfax County, you can also deliver it to any of the satellite voting spots which open Monday at 2 p.m. (Check with your local elections office to find the location nearest you if you're dropping your registration off in person.)
• For questions concerning completing the application and voting on Election Day, call your local registration office.
• Check your voter registration record online.
• For other questions contact the Virginia Department of Elections.
• The Department of Elections has extended their customer service hours and is available to answer your voter related questions from the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call them at 800-552-9745 and select Option 1.

Are you eligible to vote? To be eligible to register to vote in Virginia a person must:

• Be a resident of Virginia (a person who has come to Virginia for temporary purposes and intends to return to another state is not considered a resident for voting purposes).
• Be a U. S. citizen.
• Be 18 years old (any person who is 17 years old and will be 18 at the next general election shall be permitted to register in advance and also vote in any intervening primary or special election).
• Not be registered and plan to vote in another state.
• Not currently declared mentally incompetent by a court of law.
• If convicted of a felony, your right to vote must have been restored.

Persons eligible to register can obtain a registration application at any of the following locations:

• Online Registration
• Local voter registration office
• Download a PDF copy of the registration form
• State or local government offices when applying or re-certifying for Aid to Dependent Children, Food Stamps, WIC, Medicaid or Rehabilitation Services
• Government offices in the state that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to person with disabilities
• Armed forces recruitment offices
• Public libraries
• Virginia Department of Elections office
• Department of Motor Vehicles offices
• Voter Registration Drives

The completed application can be filed with the local registration office or mailed to the address printed on the form, according to the State Board of Elections. Application for registration can be submitted using a Virginia Voter Registration Application form or a National Voter Registration Application form. Military and other persons residing outside of the United States should contact the Federal Voting Assistance Program for registration information.

Once you have submitted your registration form, you should receive an information card or other correspondence confirming your registration status. If you do not receive one, contact your local Registrar’s Office to make sure that your application has been processed. You can also check for your voter record online. Please note that an information card or other correspondence confirming your voter registration status does not qualify as photo identification. For information on qualified identification for voting in person, or how to obtain a Voter Photo Identification card, please visit: elections.virginia.gov/voterID or call toll free at (800) 552-9745 or TTY: 711

Move recently? Make sure your address is up to date

Please note: The deadline to register to vote also applies to updating your voter registration address. Generally the deadline for registration is three weeks before a general election and shorter for special elections to fill vacancies. If your address change is not submitted to the office of the general registrar by the applicable deadline for the election in which you wish to vote, you may not be able to vote. Please notify the general registrar of address changes promptly.