General Election 2019: Fairfax County Absentee Voting, Deadlines

FAIRFAX, VA — Virginia General Assembly and Fairfax County elected positions will be on the ballot for voters in the Nov. 5 general election. Absentee voting will open on Friday, Sept. 20, and voters should be aware of other election-related deadlines.

Absentee voting is available in-person or by mail. In-person absentee voting will be open through Saturday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. The deadline for mailed absentee ballots to be received by the Voter Registration Office is Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. The deadline to submit an application for an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.

Who can vote absentee

Absentee voting is an alternative to voting on Election Day for those unable to make it to the polls. A Virginia resident can cast an absentee ballot if he or she is:

• A student attending college or university outside of locality of residence in Virginia
• A spouse of student attending college or university outside locality of residence in Virginia
• Have personal business, work or vacation outside the county of residence on Election Day
• Working and commuting for 11 or more hours, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., on Election Day
• A "first responder" (firefighter, law enforcement, emergency medical technician, search and rescue)
• Have a disability or illness
• A caregiver for a family member confined at home.
• Pregnant
• Confined (awaiting trial or convicted of a misdemeanor)
• An electoral board member, registrar, officer of election, or custodian of voting equipment
• Attending a religious obligation
• Active Duty Merchant Marine or Armed Forces
• Spouse or dependent living with a member of Active Duty Merchant Marine or Armed Forces
• Temporarily residing outside of US
• Temporarily residing outside of US for employment or spouse or dependent residing with employee
• An authorized representative of candidate or party serving inside the polling place
• Granted a protective order issued by or under the authority of a court of competent jurisdiction

How to vote absentee in person

An acceptable form of photo identification is required for in-person voting. Residents can obtain a free voter photo ID at the Fairfax County Office of Elections during normal business hours or at these upcoming events.

Here are the in-person voting locations and times:

Fairfax County Government Center, Conference Rooms 2/3, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035

Sept. 20-Oct. 16

• Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Thursdays: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 5 and 12: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Closed on Sundays and Oct. 14 (Columbus Day)

Oct. 17-Nov. 2

• Weekdays: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Saturdays: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310

Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton, VA 22079

Mason Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003

McLean Governmental Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101

Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306

North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston, VA 20190

Providence Community Center, 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031

Sully Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, VA 20151

West Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152

Oct. 17-Nov. 2

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 3 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 19, 26, and Nov. 2: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

How to vote absentee by mail

Residents who choose to submit an absentee ballot by mail must first apply. The quickest way to submit an application is online at vote.elections.virginia.gov. Paper applications can be downloaded online or picked up at county governmental centers, the Fairfax County Government Center and Fairfax County library branches.

The Voter Registration Office must receive an absentee ballot application by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Completed applications can be mailed emailed as a scanned attachment to absenteeballot@fairfaxcounty.gov, mailed to the Office of Elections, PO Box 10161, Fairfax, VA 22038, or faxed to the Office of Elections at 703-324-3725.

Once you receive your absentee ballot, return the completed ballot to the Office of Elections no later than 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

What's on the ballot

All 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and all 40 Virginia Senate seats are up for grabs in 2019. Control of the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate hangs in the balance. Republicans have a 21-19 majority in the Senate and 51-49 majority in the House. During 2017 elections, Democrats gained 15 seats in the House.

In Fairfax County, there will be races for the Board of Supervisors, School Board, Commonwealth's Attorney, Sheriff, and Soil and Water Conservation Director for the Northern Virginia District. A school bond referendum will be on the ballot.

Check sample ballots by Fairfax County district at fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/upcoming.

Other things to know before Election Day

• The voter registration deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 15. Register to vote at vote.elections.virginia.gov or in person at the Office of Elections during business hours.
• Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.
• Look up your voting precinct and polling place at vote.elections.virginia.gov or see maps on Fairfax County's election website.
• An acceptable form of photo identification is required to cast a ballot at your polling place.