Virginia Governor's Election: Early Voting Deadline Coming Up

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The June 13 primary election in Virginia is quickly approaching, and early voting deadlines are even sooner. Residents have until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6 to request an absentee ballot.

Your local registrar must receive your ballot by 7 p.m. on June 13. The Department of Elections advises voters to consider that U.S. Postal Service's First Class delivery takes two to five days.

In-person absentee ballots can also be cast at their local election official’s office through Saturday, June 10. Find your local voter registration office here. (Sign up for breaking news and a newsletter from your local Virginia Patch. iPhone users can download the Patch app in the App Store.)

Voters eligible to vote absentee are:

• Those working and commuting for 11 or more hours, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on June 13
• Those physically unable to go to the polls because of an illness or disability
• Caregivers for disabled or ill family members
• First responders

See a full list of eligibility for absentee voting here.

As of June 4, the Department of Elections counted 9,779 Democratic and 5,163 Republican absentee ballots that have been returned.

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Voters can also take steps to prepare for Election Day next week. See a sample ballot here, and find your local polling place here.

"The biggest reminder we give people is to take an acceptable photo ID," Edgardo Cortés, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections, told Patch. He said voters can get a free ID at their local registrar if needed.

He also noted that primary voters are often surprised that they can choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot at the polling place. "We don't register by party, and so you're allowed to vote in either primary you choose, but you can only vote in one of them," said Cortés.

In the governor's race, polls indicate Democrats Tom Perriello and Ralph Northam are in a toss-up, while Republican Ed Gillespie leads Corey Stewart and Frank Wagner.

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