Alexandria Voter Guide 2020: Deadlines, Candidates, How To Vote

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Nov. 3 election is quickly approaching in Alexandria, and voters have already begun submitting absentee ballots through early voting locations, mail and drop boxes. This year, Alexandria voters will decide on races for president, U.S. House and U.S. Senate as well as state constitutional amendments.

The voter registration deadline is coming up on Tuesday, Oct. 13. That deadline also applies to voters to update their address. Voters can register or check their status at vote.elections.virginia.gov, or email voters@alexandriava.gov, or call 703-746-4050.

Alexandria voters can also register in person at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (132 North Royal Street, Suite 100) by 5 p.m. on Oct. 13. Applications may also be downloaded at alexandriava.gov/Elections and printed, signed and mailed to the Office of Voter Registration and Elections, 132 N. Royal St., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22314. Applications must be postmarked on or before Oct. 13.

Early/Absentee Voting

Absentee voting by mail and in person began on Sept. 18. Due to a new state law that took effect on July 1, all registered Virginia voters can have no-excuse absentee voting.

Friday, Oct. 23 is the deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail. Voters can submit an application online through the Virginia Department of Elections, call the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 703-746-4050 to receive an application, or download one online. If you are returning a printed application, send it to the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration and Elections by mail (132 North Royal St., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA. 22314), fax (703-838-6449) or scanned email attachment (VoteAbsentee@alexandriava.gov).

For absentee ballots returned by mail, they must be postmarked by Nov. 3 or delivered in person by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Alternatives to returning an absentee ballot by mail are taking it to any in-person voting site during voting hours, the 24/7 secure drop box outside the Office of Voter Registration and Elections, or any polling place on Nov. 3 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drop boxes will also be available at other in-person early voting locations during voting hours and all polling places on Nov. 3 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For early voting in person, voters only need to show up at an early voting location with an acceptable form of ID. From Sept. 18 through Oct. 31, in-person early voting is available at the Office of Voter Registration & Elections, 132 North Royal Street, Suite 100 (across from City Hall).

Hours are:

• Monday - Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 23, 30: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Oct. 26, 27, 29: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

Later in October, additional early voting locations will be available.

Beatley Library, 5005 Duke Street

• Friday, Oct. 23: Noon–6 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 24, 31: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Oct. 26, 27, 28, 29: Noon–8 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 30: Noon–6 p.m.

Minnie Howard School, 3801 West Braddock Road

• Saturday, Oct. 24, 31: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

George Washington School, 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue

• Saturday, Oct. 24: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Preparing for Election Day

For those voting in person on Nov. 3, you can check your polling place at vote.elections.virginia.gov and see Alexandria's precinct map at www.alexandriava.gov/Elections. For the Nov. 3 election, the voting location for the Ladrey Senior Building Precinct will be the Charles Houston Center (901 Wythe Street), and the voting location for the Hermitage Precinct will be the John Adams School (5651 Rayburn Avenue).

An acceptable form of identification is required to vote in person, but it no longer has to be a photo ID. Examples of accepted IDs include a Virginia driver's license or DMV-issued photo ID, U.S. passport, and copy of a utility bill, paycheck or other government document showing the voter's address.

What's on the Ballot

A sample ballot is now available for City of Alexandria voters. Below are the candidates on the ballot and proposed Virginia constitutional amendments.

President and Vice President

• Joseph R. Biden, President and Kamala D. Harris, Vice President - Democrat
• Donald J. Trump, President and Michael R. Pence, Vice President - Republican
• Jo Jorgensen, President and Jeremy F. "Spike" Cohen, Vice President - Libertarian

Member, United States Senate

• Mark R. Warner - Democrat
• Daniel M. Gade - Republican

Member House of Representatives, 8th District

• Donald S. Beyer Jr. - Democrat
• Jeff A. Jordan - Republican

Constitutional Amendment #1

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to establish a redistricting commission, consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth, that is responsible for drawing the congressional and state legislative districts that will be subsequently voted on, but not changed by, the General Assembly and enacted without the Governor's involvement and to give the responsibility of drawing districts to the Supreme Court of Virginia if the redistricting commission fails to draw districts or the General Assembly fails to enact districts by certain deadlines?

Constitutional Amendment #2

Should an automobile or pickup truck that is owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent service connected, permanent, and total disability be free from state and local taxation?

Important dates for the Nov. 3 general election

• Friday, Sept. 18 — Early voting begins.
• Tuesday, Oct. 13 — Last day to register to vote or update registration for the Nov. 3 election.
• Friday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. — Application deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed.
• Saturday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. — Deadline to vote early in person.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. — Deadline to return completed ballot to registrar. If returning your ballot by-mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the registrar by noon on the third day after the election.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 — Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Elections.