Will I Need to Bring a Photo ID on Election Day?

by Mary Ann Barton

Wondering what sort of identification you'll need to bring to your polling place on Election Day on Tuesday?

Virginia's new photo ID law, passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Bob McDonnell earlier this year, doesn't go into affect until July 2014.

For now, acceptable forms of ID include a voter registration card, a valid Virginia driver's license and military ID. The State Board of Elections has created a handy chartto let you know what's acceptable on Tuesday.

If you bring ID that is unacceptable, you will be offered a provisional ballot. After completing the provisional ballot, the individual voting will be given written instructions from the election officials on how to submit a copy of his/her identification so that his/her vote can be counted. 

A voter will have until noon on the Friday following the election to deliver a copy of the identification to the local electoral board. Voters may submit a copy of their ID via fax, email, in-person submission, or through USPS or commercial delivery service. The copy of the ID must be delivered to the electoral board by noon on Friday, or the provisional ballot cannot be counted. A Friday postmark will not be sufficient if the copy of the ID is not delivered to the electoral board by noon on Friday.

The written notice given to the voter will provide the necessary information, including email, fax, and address of where the ID should be delivered.