Fredericksburg Election: Rules, Deadlines In Year Of Coronavirus

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The city of Fredericksburg voter registrar's office is gearing up for the November general election, which has new rules for voting due to the coronavirus crisis. The office is encouraging voters to request an absentee ballot now.

City of Fredericksburg voters may return their absentee ballot, absentee application, or voter registration application to the Official Voter Drop Box in front of Executive Plaza at 601 Caroline Street.

Absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 election will begin to be mailed out the week of Sept. 14 to voters who have submitted an application. Absentee ballots will be mailed continuously through the application deadline of Oct. 23. Absentee ballot applications are processed daily, the voter registrar's office said.

Among the elected offices that Fredericksburg residents will be casting ballots for in the November general election are president, U.S. senator and Virginia's 1st congressional district. State constitutional amendments also will be on the ballot.

Here are important dates to remember for the Nov. 3 general election:

• Friday, Sept. 18 — Early Voting begins.
• Tuesday, Oct. 13 — Last day to register/update registration and vote in the Nov. 3 election.
• Friday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. — Application deadline to request Vote by Mail ballot be mailed to you.
• Saturday, Oct. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — Early voting in the Registrar’s office.
• Monday-Saturday, Oct. 26-31, 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. — Early voting in the Registrar’s office.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 — Election Day polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voter registration is available online in Virginia. Residents can also apply online to vote absentee.

A Virginia DMV issued I.D. is required to complete all online voter registration and Vote by Mail applications. A DMV I.D. signature is used to sign an online application.

Residents without a Virginia DMV issued I.D. may print out an application and then complete the application, print, sign and date, and return to the Voter Registrar’s office at 601 Caroline Street, Suite 500-AFredericksburg, VA 22401. Paper voter registration applications must be returned by mail or in person. Paper Vote by Mail applications may be returned by mail, in person, or by email at vote@vote.fredericksburgva.gov, or by fax at 540-373-8381.

Here is other information to remember for all Fredericksburg residents

• Individuals may walk-in to their local Registrar's office up to 22 days before Election Day to register to vote. If this day falls on a Sunday, they have up to 21 days before Election Day to register.
• Mail-in voter registrations must be postmarked 22 days before Election Day. The deadline is extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday.
• Virginia residents can resister to vote and apply to vote absentee by mail on the Virginia Department of Elections website. Online registration is required to be completed 22 days before Election Day.
• The Virginia DoE must receive mail-in and online absentee voting applications 11 days before Election Day, in order for the applicants to be eligible to vote absentee by mail.
• Ballots can be mailed out to applicants starting 45 days prior to Election Day.
• Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by noon three days after Election Day in order to be counted.

SEE ALSO:

• Mail-In Voting In Virginia: Deadlines, How To Get A Ballot